Thomas Castellanos didn’t need a full sentence to light up college football, just six words: “They don’t have Nick Saban anymore.” And boom, that quote alone ricocheted across the CFB world, shaking up social media and barbershop talk equally. With one jab, the Florida State quarterback became both a cult hero and a target, depending on which side of the Crimson Tide fence you sit. Alabama may be entering a new era under Kalen DeBoer, but Castellanos isn’t interested in easing into the moment. 

Moreover, his swagger didn’t stop there. In the same breath, Castellanos proclaimed, “I feel like I tore the ACC up by my damn self the last two years,” and went on to declare that teams “can’t just sit back in zone coverage and watch me.” Quiet confidence? Not for Castellanos. He’s bold and brash, and it’s helped him carve out a reputation as one of the better QBs in the country. But not everyone sees him as the ACC’s one-man army. For some analysts, his highlight tape doesn’t erase questions about consistency, decision-making, and whether his explosiveness can hold up under elite pressure.

On Cain & Company, ESPN’s Tom Luginbill came back with some takes of his own. “My issue with Thomas Castellanos is he has not performed well or displayed the competitive temperament or mental toughness when things don’t go his way,” Luginbill said. He made it clear that the quarterback has to look inside himself before firing shots outside. “Right, and he needs to worry about playing at a consistent level of performance and not be worrying about who the opponent is. I don’t care if you’re talking about Alabama or you’re talking about Southwest Louisiana. Who cares? You have to play at a high level.” Luginbill stated, pointing to Castellanos’ inability to maintain a high level regardless of opponent or circumstance.

Luginbill didn’t stop there, underscoring the fundamentals that define elite quarterbacking. “You can’t be a yo-yo player, up down up down. That’s exactly what he’s been. No matter how exciting he is. No matter how many spectacular plays he makes, the quarterback position is about accuracy and decision-making,” he emphasized. Well, this reminds us of that proverb, “When you shoot a king, you better make sure you don’t miss.” For Castellanos, the first task is to prove he can torch Alabama, and then the rest of the ACC will be waiting for him. 

In his second year with the Eagles, he completed 99 of 161 passes for 1366 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions. The program as a whole struggled in passing offence, and that raised questions regarding Castellanos’ inconsistency in the games as well. But Castellanos is battle-tested, being the first player in Boston College history to surpass 2,000 passing yards and 1000 rushing yards in the same season (2023). His 2024 season dipped somewhat, highlighting his issues with inconsistent play. However, Bill O’Brien’s handling of him in the program largely explains this.

The bravado has made Castellanos a player to watch, but also a player under the microscope. He has made a lot of enemies with one comment, but he’s talking like a Heisman contender. Whether he plays like one will be decided when the hype wears off and the defenses punch back.

Castellanos just made his life more difficult

There was a time when simply facing Alabama meant accepting defeat in spirit before kickoff. That aura, built by Nick Saban, turned “The Process” into gospel in Tuscaloosa. From six national championships to phrases like “rat poison” entering the football lexicon, Saban’s grip on the college football world was unmatched. But 2025 is a new chapter. Kalen DeBoer is now steering a dynasty and is slowly getting the hang of it. It’s into this shifting landscape that Florida State’s Thomas Castellanos fired his shot. And Alabama football won’t tolerate this disrespect.

On The Triple Option podcast, former Alabama RB Mark Ingram II said Castellanos’ shot hit deep: “They’re going to take this to heart, and they’re going to try to punish old Thomas for his remarks.” Ingram pointed to Ryan Williams’ recent comments reaffirming the team’s belief in DeBoer: “Ryan Williams just said in an interview a week or two ago, he was like: Every person, every player who had any doubt about DeBoer or the program and the process that the program is going through is gone, and everyone in that program right now wants to be there. So with that being said, they’re going to take this to heart and they’re going to try to punish old Thomas for his remarks.” Castellanos has questioned Alabama’s entire identity post-Saban. And the players are not taking it well.

And that might be exactly what he wanted. Sure, Castellanos can be up and down. He was phenomenal in 2023, but took a statistical step back in 2024. Yet even with critics like Luginbill calling him out, it’s clear he believes he’s built for this moment. And now, Alabama believes they need to prove something, too. Week 1 just got personal for both sides.