Gus Malzahn couldn’t contain his joy as he roamed the sidelines for Florida State, witnessing his team successfully defeat Alabama, 31–17, in a captivating season opener that resembled a renaissance for his career.

In the wake of the narrow victory, he reflected on social media with a playful jab at Alabama. However, this match carried a deeper significance, contrasting with his fierce past rivalry with the team during his time at Auburn.

Facing the pressure of a tumultuous previous season marked by a 2–10 record and an almost entirely new roster, Florida State required a display of resilience to establish that they were not starting over from scratch, but evolving into a formidable contender.

For Malzahn, the victory served as evidence that his ability to innovate had returned. He was once more able to embrace his identity as a tactician capable of flipping the dynamics of college football.

“When you’re just calling plays, it’s a completely different deal than calling plays and trying to manage a game. I kind of forgot what it felt like,” Malzahn stated in an interview. “You have a lot more time to think about what the upcoming sequence requires after analyzing the opponent’s nuances.”

The timing available allowed Malzahn to revisit past playbooks, pulling forgotten strategies from years past, breathing new life into the offensive schemes at Florida State.

In the game, quarterback Tommy Castellanos backed up his bold preseason affirmations, achieving 230 total yards and a rushing touchdown, showcasing his potential and further proving Malzahn’s insight in recruiting him.

This victory over Alabama not only sparked hope for the future of Florida State’s program but also signified Malzahn’s continuing evolution as a strategic innovator in college football.