Alabama Earns Makeshift Blowout Win over USF

Tuscaloosa, AL. - The University of Alabama should probably stop scheduling the University of South Florida.

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After a monsoon game in 2023 that saw Alabama start now-Notre Dame wide receiver Tyler Buchner, the Crimson Tide escaped with a 17-3 win over the Bulls in Tampa last season.

"Escaped" would be the correct term for the 2024 rematch.

Alabama's offensive line is a patchwork of players, with starting left guard Tyler Booker getting the start at left tackle for the injured Kadyn Proctor and Michigan State transfer Geno VanDeMark getting the start at left guard. Wilkin Formby started the game at right tackle for Alabama again following a decent performance against Western Kentucky last week.

The offensive line was anything but decent on Saturday night. As a matter of fact, most people would probably call it a disaster of a performance.

Did Alabama win? Yes, so we can't gripe too much. But it was about as rough of a performance as they could have had without losing.

Three sacks given up, six tackles for loss given, six holding penalties, two false starts, and one block in the back wiped 173 yards of offense and two touchdowns off the board. It was a flat-out bad performance by the offensive line on Saturday night.

Despite the rough performance along the offensive line and Byrum Brown taking advantage of the gap schemes in defensive coordinator Kane Wommack's defense, the Crimson Tide defense rode like a Crimson wave, swarming around the ball carrier and stopping the Bulls offense when they needed to most.

Should 'game balls' be handed out in this game? Probably not. However, one position group deserves a ball - the defensive line.

Arguably the deepest room on Alabama's roster, they were the orchestrators of the Tide's slim margin of victory. The defense totaled three sacks, six tackles for loss, and six quarterback hurries. They were led by defensive lineman Tim Keenan III, who had 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

The Tide rose when they needed to, but they shouldn't have needed to so late in the game. With the dedication of Saban Field to former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Alabama should have rolled like the Tide over the Bulls from Tampa. Instead, the Crimson Tide was stuck in a dogfight late on Saturday night.

Scoring Drives

After 13 plays and 60 yards, USF kicked a 34-yard field goal. 3-0 USF.
Alabama scored a touchdown on a 10-play, 65-yard drive. 7-3 Alabama.
USF kicked a 25-yard field goal after a 9-play, 50-yard drive 7-6 Alabama.
Jalen Milroe scored a five-yard touchdown following an 11-play, 75-yard drive. 14-6 Alabama.
Ta'Rom Keith scored a 2-yard rushing touchdown after a 5-play, 39-yard drive. 14-13 Alabama.
Kobe Prentice takes the 16-yard pass from Jalen Milroe into the endzone for a touchdown on a four-play, 36-yard drive. 21-13 Alabama.
USF kicked a field goal as a last ditch effort to cut into the Tide's lead. 21-16 Alabama.
Ryan Williams hauled in a 43-yard touchdown on a three-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. 28-16 Alabama.
Jam Miller took the handoff 56 yards on a two-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. 35-16, Alabama.
Justice Haynes put the icing on the cake with a 29-yard touchdown run, giving Alabama a 42-16 win over South Florida.

Stat Leaders

Passing: Jalen Milroe: 17-27, 199 yards, 2 TD
Rushing: Jam Miller: 15 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Ryan Williams: 4 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD
Defense: Jihaad Campbell: 11 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup

There probably shouldn't even be a 24-hour rule for Alabama after the win (?) over USF. Just burn the tape and move on. The offensive line needs to find cohesion, and Jalen Milroe needs to get receivers with a consistent ability to separate at the release point.

Defensively, Alabama showed its weakness on Saturday, and USF exploited it. Run fits are an issue with the scheme of a 4-2-5 defense, and mobile quarterbacks who can make something happen with a scramble drill will cause problems. Alabama will struggle against several of the quarterbacks on their schedule unless there is a change in philosophy.

Regardless, the Crimson Tide got a 42-16 win, covering the spread against a South Florida team that has caused Alabama headaches for two seasons.

Alabama will look to shrug off this odd matchup with USF as they head to Madison, Wisconsin next week for an 11:00 a.m. matchup with the Wisconsin Badgers on September 14.

Wyatt Fulton is the TIde 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.