Gus Malzahn’s Masterclass: How the Auburn Legend Made Alabama Look Ordinary Again
Saturday night in Tallahassee felt like déjà vu for anyone who watched SEC football during the 2010s. There was Gus Malzahn, up in the press box, orchestrating another methodical dismantling of Alabama’s defense. Only this time, he was wearing Florida State colors instead of Auburn orange and blue.
The 31-17 upset victory marked yet another chapter in Malzahn’s ongoing love affair with beating the Crimson Tide. And honestly? The man might just be Alabama’s kryptonite at this point. What did he do to get the job done?
The Preparation That Made All the Difference
While most coaches were probably catching up on Netflix the night before the season opener, Malzahn and Quarterback Tommy Castellanos were grinding until 10 p.m., studying film like their lives depended on it. That level of preparation showed from the opening drive.
“He’s played against Alabama 12 or 13 times and won six times,” Castellanos said postgame, practically grinning. “He just knows them very well. We had a good game plan set up. He knew exactly what they were gonna do and when they were gonna do it, and it worked.” Six wins against Alabama. Let that sink in for a moment. Nick Saban built a dynasty, and Malzahn figured out how to crack the code more than any other coach in the sport.
The Art Of Alabama-Beating
What makes Malzahn so dangerous against Alabama isn’t just his offensive creativity – though watching his RPOs slice through that Crimson Tide defense was poetry in motion. It is his understanding of Alabama’s psychology and tendencies.
During his Auburn years, Malzahn pulled off some of the most memorable wins in Iron Bowl history. The “Kick Six” in 2013 remains one of college football’s most iconic moments. But that dramatic finish overshadowed something more important: Malzahn had consistently found ways to make Alabama’s talent advantage irrelevant.
Saturday’s victory wasn’t as theatrical as Chris Davis returning a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown. But in many ways, it was more impressive. This was systematic destruction – 230 rushing yards, efficient passing, and a defense that forced Alabama into uncomfortable situations all night long.
The Social Media Victory Lap
Never one to miss an opportunity for perfectly crafted trolling, Malzahn hit Twitter after the game with a simple message: “Felt like old times tonight!!” accompanied by a skewer emoji – a not-so-subtle reference to those Auburn glory days.
His buddy Bruce Pearl, Auburn’s basketball coach, couldn’t resist joining the party with his own social media celebration. Because when you’ve spent years battling Alabama in your own sport, you appreciate anyone who can hand them an L. The beauty of Malzahn’s post-game tweet wasn’t just the trolling – it was the confidence. This wasn’t lucky. This wasn’t a fluke. This was a man who knows exactly how to prepare for Alabama, and he proved it once again.
Why This Victory Matters More Than Most
Sure, it’s Week 1, and college football is full of early-season surprises that don’t mean much come November. But this Florida State victory carries extra weight for several reasons. First, it announced that Mike Norvell’s program has officially turned the corner. The Seminoles looked like a completely different team from the one that struggled through recent seasons. Malzahn’s offensive system, combined with Castellanos’ dual-threat ability, created matchup problems that Alabama simply couldn’t solve.
Second, it raised serious questions about Alabama’s transition under Kalen DeBoer. Losing to a quality team is one thing. Getting outcoached and outplayed by a program that went 2-10 two seasons ago? That’s concerning.
The Malzahn Effect On College Football
Throughout his career, Malzahn has represented something important in college football – the idea that superior coaching and preparation can overcome raw talent advantages. His Auburn teams regularly punched above their recruiting rankings, and now he’s doing the same thing at Florida State.
The man has turned beating Alabama into an art form. Six victories over the Crimson Tide span multiple decades and coaching positions, proving this isn’t a coincidence or luck. It’s systematic excellence in game planning and execution.
As Alabama fans watched their team struggle to move the ball and get stops, they had to be thinking about those frustrating November afternoons in Auburn when Malzahn’s offense would methodically pick apart their defense. Some nightmares never end – they just change uniforms. Saturday night in Tallahassee proved that Gus Malzahn still knows how to make Alabama look ordinary.
