Alabama outlasts the University of South Florida

September 9, 2024 - the University of Alabama had its' hands full on Saturday with the University of South Florida. For three and a half quarters the final outcome of the game was very much in doubt before Alabama pulled away and added some exclamation point touchdowns in the final five minutes of the game in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Legendary Tide Coach Nick Saban was on hand on Saturday as Alabama named their field after him. It will still be Bryant Denny Stadium but the field will be Saban Field. Auburn did the same thing for the late Coach Pat Dye.

This was head coach Kalen DeBoer's second win as the Tide head coach.

Alabama won the game 42 to 16, but the score was 13 to 14 at the end of the third quarter in a very physical game. A late change at right tackle contributed to the Tide's

Tide Quarterback Jalen Milroe threw a 15 yard pass to Kobe Prentice with just 10 minutes and 4 seconds left in the game. A Graham Nicholson kick put the Tide up 13 to 21.

USF followed up that drive with a drive all the way to the Alabama four-yard line where a field goal made it 16 to 21 with 6:46 left in the game.

The Tide responded with a Milroe 43 yard pass to Ryan Williams for a touchdown with 5:05 left in the game to take a 16 to 28 lead.

After USF turned it over on downs, Alabama added another touchdown with a Jam Miller 56-yard run to take it to 16 to 35 with 2:30 left in the game.

The Tide added another touchdown when Justice Haynes ran it in from 29 yards out with 1:37 left. That final score took it to 16 to 42. The Tide were 31-point favorites on most betting books.

Left tackle Kadyn Proctor was out the entire game due to injury. Backup tackle Elijah Pritchett, who is dealing with his own injury situation, came in with six minutes left for Tyler Booker (normally the left guard). That change – and the fact that USF was gassed after 3 hours of football contributed to the Tide's offensive explosion in the closing minutes of what was otherwise an unexpectedly tight game for the Tide.

"He could have started the game," DeBoer said of the decision not to start Pritchett. "We were just trying to hold on as long as possible. Try to keep him 100% healthy."

Miller had 140 yards rushing on 15 carries. Milroe was 16 for 26 for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Williams was the Tide's leading receiver with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Jihaad Campbell led the defense with 11 tackles – 8 of them solo.

The Tide turned the ball over three times and over 100 yards in penalties in what was a very sloppy game.

The Tide will move up in competition next week when they travel to Madison to play Wisconsin at 11:00 a.m. The Tide will open SEC play the following week with Georgia.

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