Alabama football is set to host South Florida this Saturday at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Crimson Tide moved up one spot from No. 5 to No. 4 in coaches polls this week following its 63-0 win over Western Kentucky. It marked Kalen DeBoer's debut win as Alabama head coach.
No. 4 Alabama is set to face the Bulls at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday on ESPN. Alabama has plans to honor former coach Nick Saban on Saturday with pregame and halftime celebrations.
Here's our scouting report of the Bulls, how they stack up with the Crimson Tide and a score prediction for the game.
South Florida players to know
Quarterback Byrum Brown returns for his second year in coach Alex Golesh's offense. The junior became the first 3,000-yard passer at South Florida last season and led the team in rushing yards (801 yards, 11 TDs). In South Florida's 48-3 win over Bethune-Cookman last week, Brown went 13 of 20 passing for 152 yards and no interceptions while adding eight carries for 74 yards and a touchdown. The Bulls offense finished with 403 yards of total offense.
Wide receiver Sean Atkins returns as Brown's top pass catcher from 2023, with the former walk-on becoming USF's first 1,000-yard receiver in program history last season. Brown recorded four catches for 42 yards in the season-opener but has yet to score a touchdown this season. The Bulls also return running back Nay'Quan Wright, who finished second on the team in rushing last season (797 yards, 8 TDs). In last week's game, Wright ran for 19 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, outside linebacker Mac Harris leads the USF defense with seven total tackles, two of those for loss, along with one quarterback hurry in last week's contest. Linebacker Rodney Hill ranks second on the team with seven total tackles, half a tackle for loss, along with one quarterback hurry.
KADYN PROCTOR INJURY UPDATE: Alabama football's Kalen DeBoer gives a midweek injury update on Kadyn Proctor
ALABAMA FOOTBALL: Alabama football beat USF last year, but still has score to settle | Goodbread
History of Alabama football vs South Florida
Saturday will mark the third meeting between Alabama and South Florida, with last year's contest being one Alabama would like to forget.
The Crimson Tide made the trip to Tampa, Florida, last season in what was arguably the team’s worst performance of the season. Jalen Milroe was benched following the loss to Texas the week before with Tyler Buchner getting the starting nod but eventually being replaced by Ty Simpson after a sluggish start. By halftime, the game was tied at 3, with a late Alabama score putting the game out of reach as it claimed 17-3 victory.
This year will be DeBoer's first facing South Florida in his head coaching career. It will be Golesh's second time facing Alabama as a head coach, but he has familiarity with the Crimson Tide program, previously serving as offensive coordinator at Tennessee. Golesh served as the Vols' offensive coordinator in 2022 when they defeated Alabama and broke a 15-year losing streak to the Crimson Tide.
Before last year's game, the first contest between the two programs was played on Aug. 30, 2003, in Birmingham, with Alabama winning 40-17
How Alabama-South Florida stack up on offense
3rd down conversion percentage:
Alabama: 61.5% (20th nationally)
South Florida: 53.3% (tied for 40th)
Passing offense:
Alabama: 266.0 yards per game (55th)
South Florida: 272.0 yards per game (98th)
Red zone offense:
Alabama: 4-for-5 (82nd)
South Florida: 6-for-7 (tied for 69th)
Fewest sacks allowed:
Alabama: 1.0 sacks per game (tied for 42nd)
South Florida: 3.0 sacks per game (tied for 103rd)
Scoring offense:
Alabama: 63 points per game (7th)
South Florida: 48 points per game (tied for 29th)
How Alabama-South Florida stack up on defense
Third-down defense:
Alabama: 16.7% (13th)
South Florida: 18.8% (tied for 19th)
Pass yards allowed:
Alabama: 103 yards per game (tied for 16th)
South Florida: 122 yards per game (tied for 33rd)
Red zone defense:
Alabama: 0 for 2 (tied for 1st)
South Florida: 0 for 1 (tied for 1st)
Rushing defense:
Alabama: 42 yards per game (14th)
South Florida: 28 yards per game (20th)
Sacks:
Alabama: 1.0 sacks per game (tied for 83rd)
South Florida: 3 sacks per game (tied for 35th)
Scoring defense:
Alabama: 0 points per game (tied for 1st)
South Florida: 3 points per game (tied for 14th)
Alabama football vs South Florida score prediction
Alabama 42, South Florida 10 : Alabama has made it clear it looks to leave last year's game in the past and it should have no issue handling South Florida on Saturday. It will be the Crimson Tide's final home game before it opens SEC play on Sept. 28 vs. No. 1 Georgia.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football vs South Florida: Score prediction, scouting report
Local News
Comments / 0