Florida State · ACCFlorida State blows 21-6 lead in loss at Alabama
Three Ashton Daniels interceptions and nine straight Alabama scoring possessions erased 135 yards from Duce Robinson and 80 rushing yards from Ousmane Kromah.
SEP 21, 2026
Straight Alabama scoring possessions
Ashton Daniels against Alabama
Duce Robinson receiving against Alabama
01 · The NewsFlorida State Blows 21-6 Lead
Florida State turned a 21-6 lead into a 50-36 loss at Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 19, dropping to 1-2 as three Ashton Daniels interceptions and nine straight Alabama scoring possessions erased a strong day from the Seminoles’ playmakers.
Duce Robinson caught six of eight targets for 135 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Ousmane Kromah ran for 80 yards and a score, giving him 311 rushing yards and three touchdowns through three games. Micahi Danzy added 89 receiving yards, while Sam Singleton Jr. had 68 before leaving with an injury.
Florida State’s defense opened with consecutive three-and-outs. Alabama then scored on each of its next nine possessions before victory formation, turning the Seminoles’ early lead into a two-touchdown loss.
Daniels threw for 377 yards, but the three interceptions wiped out too much of that production. The offensive line failed to help him in some spots, and Daniels also held the ball too long at times. Florida State’s offense showed it can produce explosive plays; Daniels and the defense could not sustain them against Alabama.
Singleton used crutches to return to the locker room after his injury. Florida State has not announced the severity of the injury or whether he will play against Central Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 26. His status could affect Florida State’s offense.
For Florida State, the immediate problem is clear: the playmakers are producing, but the quarterback and defense have to stop giving those plays back.
02 · The StakesThe Margin Is Gone
Those performances gave Florida State explosive answers on offense, but the loss leaves little room for error before games against Virginia, Louisville and Miami in October. The Seminoles have to find a way to create another defensive stop and protect the ball at quarterback before that stretch arrives.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
Robinson’s breakout was larger than one big Saturday: his 135 receiving yards were nearly double the 75 he totaled across Florida State’s first two games. That jump sharpened the roster problem: the skill players can create enough offense to lead 21-6, but the investment elsewhere has not supported them against Alabama. The calendar gives Florida State one game against Central Arkansas on Sept. 26 before Virginia on Oct. 3, then road games at Louisville on Oct. 9 and Miami on Oct. 17. That 15-day run will test whether the imbalance is opponent-specific or structural.
04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Will Sam Singleton Jr. play against Central Arkansas on Sept. 26?
Singleton’s status determines whether one of the four skill players who drove Florida State’s fast start can take part in the lone game before Virginia, Louisville and Miami. Florida State has not announced the injury’s severity or his availability. The team’s injury update and his participation against Central Arkansas will provide the first answers.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Can Florida State protect the ball?
Watch whether Ashton Daniels avoids the interceptions that wiped out his 377 passing yards against Alabama.
Can the defense get off the field?
The tell is whether Florida State can create stops after Alabama scored on nine straight possessions.