College Recap: USF Battles Alabama Close Through Three Quarters in 42-16 Loss

 TUSCALOOSA, ALA. – The South Florida football team gave No. 4-ranked Alabama all it wanted Saturday in Tuscaloosa, battling in a one-point game through three quarters before the Crimson Tide strung together points late in a 42-16 victory that was much closer than the final score.

Before a crowd of 100,077 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the largest ever to witness a USF football game, on the night the field was dedicated to legendary Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban, USF led Alabama in total yards, 210-209, and trailed by one, 14-13, with under 11 minutes to play in the game. But the Tide strung together 21 points in the final six minutes using big plays of 43, 56 and 29 yards to put the game away.

 

The Bulls were playing their fifth ever game against a top-five ranked opponent and their highest-ranked opponent in a road game since falling at No. 2 Oklahoma in 2002. USF fell 17-3 last year to No. 10-ranked Alabama in Raymond James Stadium in a game that was a one score contest into the final minutes. The teams will complete this series with a return trip for the Bulls to Tuscaloosa in 2026.

 

USF held Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to two yards rushing and 199 passing with two touchdowns while sacking the Heisman Trophy candidate three times. USF collected three turnovers (all fumbles), forced seven punts and caused the Tide to go 5-of-13 on third down. Alabama had just 189 yards through three quarters before finishing with 393. Cornerback DeShawn Rucker led the team with a career-best 10 stops while Mac Harris added seven, a sack and forced a fumble.

 

Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown posted his fifth career 100-yard rushing game, leading USF with 23 carries for 108 yards. But, USF struggled through the air logging 103 passing yards and no touchdowns while settling for field goals on three of four trips in the redzone.

 

USF trailed 14-6 at the half after leading Alabama in offensive yards (158-137) and holding the Tide to 34 yards rushing and forcing four punts.

 

USF kicked off to start the second half and the Tide’s Kendrick Law broke across midfield before Ben Knox forced a fumble that USF kicker Nico Gramatica corralled the on the USF 48. USF moved to the Alabama 35-yard before settling for a 53-yard field goal attempt that missed.

 

After an exchange of punts, the Bulls forced another fumble, this time with Mac Harris punching it out and Tavin Ward recovering on the Tide 33. USF scored five plays later when Ta’Ron Keith plunged in from two yards out, cutting the Alabama lead to 14-13 with 9:35 to play in the third quarter.

 

USF Forced another punt, but the Bulls couldn’t move on offense and punted the ball back. The defense rose again, pressuring Milroe in the pocket and forcing a three-and-out and yet another punt.

 

The Bulls were pinned deep and had a 44-yard Kelley Joiner run called back on a hold, forcing a punt. On first and 12 from the USF 45, Doug Blue-Eli was called for roughing the passer moving the Tide to the USF 30. Alabama drove to the USF4 before Millroe fumbled the snap and Bernard Gooden pounced on it for the Bulls third fumble recovery of the night.

 

USF couldn’t move off their goal line and Jaylen Mbakwe returned the punt 28 yards to the USF34. Alabama extended its lead to 21-13 when Milroe hit Kobe Prentice for a 16-yard touchdown with 10:04 to play.

 

Brown hit Michael Brown-Stephens for a 14-yard gain and Nay’Quan Wright burst for 19 yards and USF was moving in Alabama territory. A targeting penalty moved the ball deeper into Alabama territory, but the Bulls stalled at the 7 and Cannon hit a 22-yard field goal to make it 21-16 with 6:45 to play.

 

Then the flood gates opened. Alabama scored on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Milroe, a 56-yard run from Jamarion Miller and a 29-yard run from Justice Haynes in the space of just over five minutes of game time.

 

USF took the game’s opening kickoff and marched confidently to the Alabama 11 before stalling. Penalties forced a 34-yard field goal from Cannon. Just like the 2023 game, the Bulls held an early 3-0 lead on the Tide.

 

The Bulls defense came out equally sharp forcing a three-and-out, the first of six on the night for the Tide, on Alabama’s opening drive. The Bulls could do nothing with their second possession and gave the ball back to Alabama following a 49-yard Andrew Stokes punt.

 

Alabama got the ball moving this time and went 65 yards in 10 plays, scoring on a 10-yard Jalen Milroe scamper into the corner of the endzone to lead 7-3.

 

Early in the second quarter, Jason Vaughn broke through and sacked Milroe deep in Alabama territory. The Bulls took over on their 43 following a Tide punt and moved to the Alabama 7 behind 47 yards rushing from Brown on the drive. USF stalled inside the 10 and Cannon knocked through a 25-yard field goal to make it 7-6 Alabama midway through the second quarter.

 

Alabama responded by driving 75 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown, the drive helped by a couple pass interference calls against the Bulls. A five-yard run from Milroe made it 14-6 with 3:28 to play in the half. Three more punts and an Alabama kneel down sent the teams to the half with the Tide leading by eight.