No. 4/4 Alabama Football Rolls Late, Wins 42-16 Over South Florida

Saturday, September 7

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6 p.m. CT

Alabama

2-0 , 0-0

USF

1-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Fla.

Alabama

No. 4/4 Alabama Football Rolls Late, Wins 42-16 Over South Florida

9/7/2024 11:39:00 PM | Football

Box Score Alabama 42 South Florida 16 Game Book Photo Gallery

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The 4/4 Alabama football team scored 28 points in the final quarter, as the Crimson Tide used a late push to take down USF 42-16 in front of a sold-out Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Jalen Milroe finished the night 17-of-27 with 199 passing yards and a pair of touchdown tosses. The junior quarterback added two additional touchdowns on the ground. Jam Miller led the Tide with 140 rushing yards, including a 56-yard touchdown run, on 15 attempts and a touchdown, while Justice Haynes provided a rushing score of his own to go with 41 yards on the ground.

Ryan Williams was Alabama's leading receiver for the second consecutive game, notching 68 yards and a touchdown, boosted by a 43-yard score in the fourth quarter. Kobe Prentice managed two receptions, one of which resulted in a 16-yard touchdown.

The Crimson Tide defense was stout throughout the night, allowing just one USF touchdown. Up front, Tim Keenan III was the leading defender in sacks (1.5) and tackles for loss (2.5). Jihaad Campbell picked up a team-high 11 tackles, with Malachi Moore totaling seven tackles and a team-best two pass breakups.

Notes

Prior to Saturday's game, The University of Alabama formally dedicated Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium with pregame and halftime ceremonies honoring former head coach Nick Saban
Under Saban's guidance, Alabama was nearly unbeatable at the home stadium that now bears his namesake. Across his 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Saban's teams went 108-9 (.923) when playing at home. Of those nine losses, only one was by more than seven points.
Saturday's victory stands as the 299th win at what is now Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium (299-55-3)
The Tide defense held the Bulls to just two third-down conversions in 18 tries (11.1 percent) and kept USF to 0-2 on fourth-down attempts.
After a 3.8 yards per play figure over the game's first 30 minutes, the Alabama offense soared to an 8.0 yards per play mark in the second-half, including 14.6 yards per play in the fourth quarter.
With his third touchdown catch in two games, Ryan Williams is now tied with Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith for the national lead in touchdown receptions among FBS freshmen.
The Tide's 28 fourth-quarter points are the most in a single quarter since Sept. 17, 2022, against Louisiana-Monroe.
Through two games, Jalen Milroe has played a role in nine of the Tide's 15 total touchdowns (60%).
Milroe completed at least one pass to 10 different receivers in the win.

How It Happened

First Quarter

11:26 – USF | The Bulls first drive of the night resulted in points, as a 13-play, 60-yard drive allowed for a 34-yard field goal (3-0, USF).
5:08 – UA | On a designed quarterback run, Jalen Milroe produced his third rushing touchdown of the young season with a 10-yard score. The Tide rolled for 65 yards on 10 plays (7-3, Alabama).

Second Quarter

9:45 – USF | South Florida connected on its second field goal of the evening, a 25-yard kick to close a 9-play, 50-yard drive (7-6, Alabama).
3:28 – UA | Milroe's second rushing score, a five-yard touchdown, punctuated an 11-play, 75-yard drive to extend the Crimson Tide lead (14-6, Alabama).

Third Quarter

9:35 – USF | Following a Crimson Tide fumble, the Bulls took advantage of the miscue with a five-play, 39-yard touchdown drive, capped by a two-yard rushing score (14-13, Alabama).

Fourth Quarter

10:04 – UA | After evading a potential sack, Milroe stepped up in the pocket to find Kobe Prentice who broke a tackle near the goal line before crossing into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown catch (21-13, Alabama).
6:45 – USF | The Bulls capped an eight-play, 71-yard drive with a 22-yard field goal to cut into the Crimson Tide advantage (21-16, Alabama).
5:50 – UA | The Tide immediately countered the Bulls, as Ryan Williams made a defender miss in the open field, scampering into the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown score (28-16, Alabama).
2:30 – UA | After Alabama stopped USF on fourth down, Jam Miller broke loose for a 56-yard rushing score on the second play of the drive to reinforce the Crimson Tide lead (35-16, Alabama).
1:37 – USF | Justice Haynes' 12th carry of the night went for 29 yards and a touchdown, the only play of the scoring drive (42-16, Alabama).

Up Next

Alabama is slated for its first road game of the year, traveling to Wisconsin next Saturday, Sept. 14.
The Crimson Tide and Badgers are scheduled for an 11:10 a.m. CT on FOX's Big Noon Kickoff.