Alabama-Florida State Rematch Delayed by Lightning in Tuscaloosa

Saturday’s highly anticipated rematch between No. 10 Alabama and Florida State at Bryant-Denny Stadium was placed in a lightning delay before kickoff, with the game originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Lightning was detected within eight miles of the stadium at 1:41 p.m. CT, prompting officials to suspend pregame warmups and clear the field. A second lightning detection at 1:59 p.m. CT reset the 30-minute clock, and additional strikes were reported in the area through the afternoon.

Alabama announced the delay as scattered showers moved through Tuscaloosa. Fans inside the stadium were instructed to exit the seating area and seek shelter in the concourse or their vehicles.

Weather Conditions and Forecast

The National Weather Service had forecast showers and thunderstorms for Tuscaloosa on Saturday afternoon. Temperatures were expected to reach 95 to 100 degrees during the game, creating humid and uncomfortable conditions before the storms arrived.

Under NCAA lightning safety rules, play cannot resume until at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder or visible lightning strike. Each additional strike or sound of thunder restarts that clock, making an exact resumption time difficult to project.

It was not raining in the stadium when the initial announcement was made. Rain began falling over the venue shortly after the first stoppage, and fans were seen seeking cover.

Game Context and Stakes

The game marks the second meeting in a home-and-home series. Florida State stunned then-No. 8 Alabama 31-17 in last season’s opener at Doak Campbell Stadium, a result that set the stage for Saturday’s rematch on Alabama’s home field.

Alabama enters at 2-0 under third-year coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide are coming off a 45-17 win at Kentucky in which they trailed 17-13 at halftime before outscoring the Wildcats 32-0 in the second half.

Florida State is 1-1 and coming off a bye week. The Seminoles opened with a win over New Mexico State before dropping their ACC opener to SMU, 27-24, on a last-minute field goal.

Mike Norvell, now in his seventh year as Florida State’s head coach, holds a 39-35 record and is trying to avoid a third consecutive losing season. The Seminoles have lost 18 of their last 22 games against Power Four opponents since the start of the 2024 season.

Injury Updates

Florida State ruled out true freshmen linebackers Izayia Williams and Daylen Green for the remainder of the season. Senior linebacker Blake Nichelson is expected to miss an extended period, and junior safety Karson Hobbs was previously lost to a torn ACL.

Defensive end Darryll Desir and wide receiver Tae’Shaun Gelsey were listed as questionable for the Seminoles. Senior safety K.J. Kirkland, who missed the SMU game, was seen in pregame warmups and was listed behind CJ Richard on the depth chart.

Alabama expected starting right guard Michael Carroll to return after missing the Kentucky game with a concussion. Running back AK Dear was listed as questionable as he worked back from an ankle injury suffered during the preseason.

Betting Lines and Predictions

Alabama entered the game as a heavy favorite. BetMGM listed the Crimson Tide as 19.5-point favorites, with the moneyline at Alabama -1400 and Florida State +900. The over/under was set at 49.5 points.

Analysts and simulation models widely favored Alabama. ESPN’s SP+ metrics projected a 32-16 Crimson Tide victory, giving Alabama an 84% win probability. A College Football 27 simulation predicted a 58-24 Alabama win.

No updated kickoff time had been announced at the time of the delay.