TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — When Alabama needed a big play to pull away from a tough South Florida team, it called on its youngest player — and he answered. With less than six minutes to play, quarterback Jalen Milroe looked to his left and found true freshman Ryan Williams for a 43-yard touchdown that sealed the Crimson Tide’s eventual 42-16 victory.

Alabama defeated South Florida in a game that looked eerily similar to last year’s game, in which the Bulls gave Alabama everything they could handle. A sloppy game that included more than 20 combined penalties left much to be desired, but Milroe’s four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) led Alabama to victory.

4️⃣➕2️⃣ 🟰6️⃣@Jalenmilroe @Ryanwms1

📺: ESPN photo.twitter.com/nI3SmoiOm2

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 8, 2024

Alabama moves to 2-0 and travels to Wisconsin next week for its first road game of the season. Here are four takeaways from the win:

1. Some personal observations:

• Alabama revamped its offensive line with starting left tackle Kadyn Proctor still out (shoulder). Left guard Tyler Booker moved to left tackle and Geno VanDeMark took Booker’s spot on the second unit. Parker Brailsford (center), Jaeden Roberts (right guard) and Wilkin Formby (right tackle) remained in place.

• Outside linebacker Qua Russaw earned the start Saturday and was listed as the No. 1 Wolf on Alabama’s pregame depth chart. Senior Que Robinson also worked with Wolf, recording a sack in the first half.

• Cornerback DaShawn Jones, the Wake Forest transfer, returned to the game after an injury limited him last week. However, freshman Zabien Brown earned the start opposite Domani Jackson.

2. The overriding story of Saturday’s game was the offensive line, which had a rough day amid the changes up front. The group was responsible for eight penalties, allowed pressure that led to an intentional grounding and had another holding call that offset a 50-plus yard completion from Milroe to Kobe Prentice when the defense was called for pass interference. Overall, the penalty count was as follows: VanDeMark (three), Formby (three), Booker (two). VanDeMark and Formby each had a holding penalty that negated first-half touchdowns.

South Florida’s defensive game plan of applying pressure on nearly every snap proved effective against an offensive line in flux. Three sacks, six tackles for loss and a flurry of quarterback hurries kept Milroe off-kilter. On the ground, Milroe proved to be the most effective runner with two rushing touchdowns.

In the game-deciding drive, Elijah Pritchett, last week’s starter at left tackle, was inserted at right tackle for Formby. Two good run plays followed before Milroe found Williams for the score. He stayed in the game for the final two possessions, resulting in two more touchdowns.

Alabama’s offense was generally out of whack. Last week, the Tide had six touchdown drives of three plays or less. On Saturday, 10 of Alabama’s 16 drives were three plays or less — seven of which resulted in a punt or turnover. Alabama had two drives of at least 10 plays that resulted in touchdowns, but overall the group couldn’t find a rhythm until the final four possessions, all of which ended in touchdowns.

3. Conversely, Alabama’s defense was busy with South Florida’s run game (5.1 sack-adjusted yards per rush), but held up admirably in winning situations. South Florida converted just two third downs for the game (2-for-18), was limited to three field goals on three red zone chances, and was held scoreless when Kendrick Law fumbled a kickoff in the second half to set up South Florida in Alabama territory.

In the biggest swing of the game, the defense forced a three-and-out on Milroe’s fumbled snap at the South Florida goal line, setting the stage for a 30-yard Jaylen Mbakwe punt return to put the offense at the South Florida 34-yard line. Four plays later, Milroe found Prentice for a 16-yard touchdown. Alabama carried that momentum for the rest of the game, outscoring South Florida 21-0 after that point.

The defensive line in particular shined. Tim Keenan III was the catalyst with 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one QB pressure, Tim Smith had one sack and two pressures and LT Overton led all Alabama defenders with four pressures.

4. For the first time on Saturday, Alabama played a game at Saban Field in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The retired coach was on hand for a pair of separate ceremonies Saturday: one before the game with the new nameplate outside the stadium and then during halftime, where “Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium” appeared in bold crimson letters above the second tier on the east and west sides of the stadium.

Saban walked out of Alabama’s home tunnel, presumably for the last time in front of a packed crowd, with Thunderstruck blaring over the speakers. As he spoke a few words, chants of “Saban, Saban, Saban!” rang out. With players like Blake Sims, Julio Jones, Mark Barron and more in attendance, Saban thanked the fans for the opportunity to coach “the greatest legacy program in college football history.”

5. Wide receiver Cole Adams left the game with an injury in the third quarter and did not return. Later, linebacker Justin Jefferson was assessed a targeting penalty for a hit on USF quarterback Byrum Brown. As a result, Jefferson has been suspended for the first half of next week’s game at Wisconsin.

(Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)