ATLANTA -- Florida State's already horrific night became a full-scale nightmare late in the fourth quarter.
Seminoles star sophomore quarterback Deondre Francois injured his knee and needed the help of the athletic training staff to get off the field. Once he reached the sidelines, Francois was given treatment and was soon placed in a brace and carted to the locker room.
This likely wasn't the way freshman James Blackman envisioned the start of his career. Furthermore, it's not the way the Seminoles expected to begin the season as they lost 24-7 to Alabama on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
FSU was already losing by 21 points late in the fourth when Francois' injury occurred.
His injury and the potential aftermath is one of a few questions the Seminoles will try to answer in the coming days.
The Seminoles committed several errors with a good number coming on special teams. FSU's miscues allowed the Crimson Tide to expand their lead in the second half.
FSU was held scoreless in the second half. Alabama running back Damien Harris' 11-yard touchdown run in the third was sandwiched between two field goals to give the Crimson Tide with 6:25 left in the game.
The Crimson Tide held a 3-0 lead when Francois and the offense marched for an 11-play, 90-yard drive. Francois found junior receiver Auden Tate for what was then the go-ahead touchdown with 13:41 left. FSU pushed the lead to 7-3 after sophomore Ricky Aguayo drilled the extra point.
Alabama answered on the following drive with a touchdown of its own. Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts found a wide open Calvin Ridley for a 53-yard strike and a 10-7 lead with 11:28 remaining in the half.
FSU was able to drive into the Crimson Tide territory, reaching the 20 with 10 seconds remaining. Francois' pass to Nyqwan Murray was broken up by Tony Brown and set up sophomore kicker Ricky Aguayo's 37-yard attempt. Aguayo's kick was blocked which brought an end to the half.
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