The showdown between No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Florida State was dubbed the "GOAT" by the game's organizers, but the results on the field were anything but the greatest game of all time.

The Seminoles' myriad miscues did them in Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, while the Crimson Tide flexed their muscles in all three phases of the game. Simply put, Alabama proved why it deserved its No. 1 ranking, while this version of FSU showed it may not be ready for the preseason hype it garnered.

Here are the three things you need to know about Alabama's win over Florida State and what it means moving forward.

1. Alabama's defense hasn't missed a beat: With two new starting defensive ends, three new starting linebackers and enough new faces to keep your face glued to the media guide, it was the same old, same old from Alabama's defense. The Seminoles managed just 250 total yards, 40 on the ground, pretty much gave up trying to run between the tackles, and quarterback Deondre Francois was sacked three times and hit on virtually every drive.

First-year starting defensive end Raekwon Davis had a sack one week after being shot in the leg, linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton had 3.5 tackles for loss with a sack, and Ronnie Harrison got to Francois on a safety blitz. It takes a lot to rattle a quarterback as even-keeled as Francois, and the Crimson Tide defense -- even with many new key contributors -- was up for the challenge. What's even scarier is that the best is probably yet to come. The Tide got better throughout the course of the regular season a year ago, now they get a couple of tune ups before opening SEC play at Vanderbilt later in the month. 

2. Florida State needs Deondre Francois, badly: Nothing against backup quarterback James Blackman, but if Florida State loses its star sophomore quarterback for a prolonged period of time, the Seminoles will have a hard time rebounding from the loss and staying in the College Football Playoff hunt.

Francois injured his left leg with just over five minutes to play, and he was on crutches in the pop-up tent prior to being carted off. Fisher couldn't comment on the severity of the injury after the game. "Until we diagnose it and see, I don't know," he said. "I've learned to wait. Unfortunately, he's hurt, though."

Don't get wrapped up in Francois' line against Bama because it's not indicative of how important he is to the team. Sure, his two picks were game-changers and he was all over the place in the second half, but that was after being hit and pressured on virtually every drop during the first half. 

Florida State's offensive line looks as inept as ever. If that's going to be the case, you need a reliable quarterback taking the snaps who -- against teams not as freaky as Alabama -- can maintain his composure. 

3. There are so many more offensive weapons for the Tide: No, Alabama's offense didn't look great at times. But it didn't have to. This game felt a lot like the LSU game last year that Alabama won 10-0 -- the defense led the way and allowed the offense to be ultra-conservative until it felt threatened. It never felt threatened. 

Four players caught passes for Brian Daboll's offense -- Calvin Ridley (seven), Bo Scarbrough (one), Damien Harris (one) and Jalen Hurts (one). That's right, one wide receiver, two running backs and the starting quarterback were the only four people to catch passes. There's way more in the tank.

Robert Foster and Cam Sims are both capable of being difference-makers if Ridley gobbles up too much attention, Jerry Jeudy is a hot shot freshman who has superstardom written all over him, and Daboll was hired to bring more creativity to the downfield passing attack. He didn't need it Saturday, thanks to a stifling defense. It's there, though. Waiting. Lurking. 

CBS Sports was here the entire way covering the game with updates, highlights and more. If you are unable to view the application below, please click here.

Thanks for stopping by.