No. 4 Alabama escapes fourth-quarter scare from South Florida, wins 42-16

Losing at home to a 30.5-point underdog would have been a devastating outcome on a Saturday, as Alabama named the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium after the recently retired Nick Saban.

New coach Kalen DeBoer was already under a lot of pressure after taking over Saban and his seven national championships. But he managed to avoid a surprise that would have significantly increased the attention with a 42-16 win over South Florida.

Yet at 11:50 in the fourth quarter it was already a one-point game and the second big surprise of Saturday seemed to be in sight.

The Bulls squandered a chance to tie the game at 14-14 in the third quarter when Tavin Ward recovered a fumble by Alabama’s Jam Miller and South Florida went 39 yards in five plays, capped by a two-yard touchdown run from Ta’Ron Keith.

However, a false start penalty by Jack Wilty rendered a two-point conversion attempt ineligible and the Bulls scored the extra point, resulting in a 14-13 deficit.

Alabama appeared to settle in and was poised to decide the game with an 11-play drive that covered 51 yards. But at the USF 2-yard line, Alabama QB Jalen Milroe fumbled and the Bulls’ Bernard Gooden recovered.

South Florida couldn’t capitalize, however, failing to get a first down on their next possession and opting to punt on 4th-and-1. From their own 13-yard line, it was probably the right call by head coach Alex Golesh. But with just one yard to go, going as heavy underdogs to Alabama, going for a first down would have been a bold move that might have paid off.

The decision to punt looked even worse when Alabama turned around and scored in four plays, with Kobe Prentice catching a 16-yard touchdown pass from Milroe for a 21-13 lead.

Still, South Florida came back on the next drive, going down the field on two 19-yard runs by Nay’Quan Wright and a targeting penalty on Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson. But USF could gain only five yards, reaching the Tide’s 4-yard line. Once again, Golesh made a conservative choice, opting for a field goal to cut Alabama’s lead to 21-16 instead of going for the touchdown on fourth-and-4.

Settling for a field goal seemed like an even worse decision when the offensive floodgates opened for the Crimson Tide. Alabama scored touchdowns on its next three possessions, first on a 43-yard pass from Milroe to Ryan Williams, followed by another scoring pass to Prentice, and finally a 29-yard TD run by Justice Haynes.

Fans watching the final score may have no idea how close this game was in the fourth quarter and how nervous the crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium became. But DeBoer’s big-play offense flexed its muscles with 28 points in the final frame, punishing Golesh for not being bolder as a huge visiting underdog. Ultimately, Notre Dame’s surprising loss was not overshadowed.

Alabama (2-0) travels to Wisconsin (2-0) next Saturday for an SEC-Big Ten clash at noon ET.