No. 10 Alabama Pulls Away Late From USF For Uncomfortable 17-3 Win

The Crimson Tide struggled offensively in more ways than one but came out on top.

TAMPA, Fla. – A win is a win, they say.

On a sometimes rainy, sometimes sunny day in Florida, No. 10 Alabama beat Group of Five opponent USF by a final score of 17-3 in a sluggish game that featured weather delays, quarterback changes and plenty of other surprises.

The Crimson Tide started Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner under center for the first time this season, replacing Jalen Milroe who started the first two games. Buchner completed just five of his 14 pass attempts for 34 yards, before being pulled in favor of redshirt freshman Ty Simpson just before halftime.

The Alabama defense did an excellent job containing the USF offense, only allowing a field goal which came off a short field, due to a muffed punt.

Simpson was pressured all night, being sacked five times, but led Alabama’s first touchdown drive in the 3rd quarter that started with a 45-yard pass to tight end CJ Dippre. Simpson capped off the game with Alabama's second touchdown late in the fourth with a quarterback sneak to finally put the game out of reach.

Alabama has plenty to figure out, aside from just the quarterback position, and it has seven days until No. 17 Ole Miss comes to Bryant-Denny Stadium for one of the premiere matchups in college football next week. 

How It Happened:

How to Watch: Alabama at USF

Who: Alabama (1-1) at USF (1-1)

When: Saturday | 2:30 p.m. CT

Where: Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Fla.

TV: ABC

Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network: Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart | Analyst: Tyler Watts | Sideline: Christian Miller

Series: Alabama leads 1-0

Last meeting: The Crimson Tide welcomed the Bulls to Legion Field in Birmingham on Aug. 30, 2003. Alabama defeated USF 40-17 in Mike Shula's first game as head coach. The Crimson Tide trailed 17-7 before reeling off 33 unanswered points.

Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide dropped its second game of the season to Texas, 34-24, at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama committed 10 penalties and allowed 10 points off of two Jalen Milroe interceptions.

Last time out, USF: The Bulls beat Florida A&M 38-24 in their home opener behind 197 yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Byrum Brown.

How to Watch: College Football Week 3

Note: All times ET

Saturday, Sept. 16

LSU at Mississippi State | 12 p.m. | ESPN

Penn State at Illinois | 12 p.m. | FOX

Florida State at Boston College | 12 p.m. | ABC

Kansas State at Missouri | 12 p.m. | SEC Network

Georgia Southern at Wisconsin | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Liberty at Buffalo | 12 p.m. | CBSSN

Louisville at Indiana | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Wake Forest at Old Dominion | 12 p.m.

Long Island at Baylor | 12 p.m. | ESPN+

Iowa State at Ohio | 12 p.m.

Central Connecticut at Kent State | 12 p.m.

North Dakota at Boise State | 12 p.m. | FS1

Holy Cross at Yale | 12 p.m. | ESPN+

Cornell at Lehigh | 12 p.m. | ESPN+

Stonehill at Georgetown | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Columbia at Lafayette | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN+

St. Thomas (Minn.) at Harvard | 1 p.m. | ESPN+

Davidson at Marist | 1 p.m. | ESPN+

Penn at Colgate | 1 p.m. | ESPN+

Weber State at Utah | 2 p.m. | Pac-12 Network

VMI at NC State | 2 p.m. | CW Network

UMass at Eastern Michigan | 2 p.m. | ESPN+

Norfolk State at Temple | 2 p.m. | ESPN+

Indiana State at Ball State | 2 p.m. | ESPN+

Lamar at South Dakota | 2 p.m. | ESPN+

Robert Morris at Youngstown State | 2 p.m. | ESPN+

Central Michigan at Notre Dame | 2:30 p.m. | Peacock

Illinois State at Eastern Illinois | 3 p.m. | ESPN+

Florida Memorial University at Grambling | 3 p.m. | ESPN+

Stetson at Montana State | 3 p.m. | ESPN+

South Carolina at Georgia | 3:30 p.m. | CBS

Alabama at South Florida | 3:30 p.m. | ABC

San Diego State at Oregon State | 3:30 p.m. | FS1

Oklahoma at Tulsa | 3:30 p.m.

Western Michigan at Iowa | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Northwestern at Duke | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network

Virginia Tech at Rutgers | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Florida International at UConn | 3:30 p.m. | CBSSN

East Carolina at Appalachian State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Minnesota at North Carolina | 3:30 p.m.

Central Arkansas at North Dakota State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Drake vs. South Dakota State (Minneapolis, Minn.) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Western Kentucky at Ohio State | 4 p.m. | FOX

UL Monroe at Texas A&M | 4 p.m. | SEC Network

Tulane at Southern Miss | 4 p.m. | ESPNU

Idaho at Cal | 4 p.m.

Utah Tech at Northern Arizona | 4 p.m. | ESPN+

SE Louisiana at Eastern Washington | 4 p.m. | ESPN+

North American University at Portland State | 4 p.m. | ESPN+

Brown at Bryant | 4 p.m. | ESPN+

William & Mary at Charleston Southern | 4 p.m. | ESPN+

Princeton at San Diego | 4 p.m. | ESPN+

Washington at Michigan State | 5 p.m. | Peacock

North Carolina Central at UCLA | 5 p.m.

Northern Colorado at Washington State | 5 p.m.

Furman at Kennesaw State | 5 p.m. | ESPN+

Towson at Morgan State | 5 p.m. | ESPN+

Georgia State at Charlotte | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

Western Carolina at Eastern Kentucky | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

UNI at Idaho State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

Gardner-Webb at Tennessee State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

Presbyterian at Wofford | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

The Citadel at Chattanooga | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

Villanova at UCF | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Tennessee at Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN

Samford at Auburn | 7 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+

North Texas at Louisiana Tech | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Murray State at Middle Tennessee | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Northern Illinois at Nebraska | 7 p.m. | FS1

Vanderbilt at UNLV | 7 p.m. | CBSSN

Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

South Alabama at Oklahoma State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Tarleton State at Texas Tech | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Louisiana at UAB | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Prairie View A&M at SMU | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Texas Southern at Rice | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Duquesne at Coastal Carolina | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Stony Brook at Arkansas State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

James Madison at Troy | 7 p.m. | NFL Network

San Jose State at Toledo | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Alabama A&M at Southern | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

East Tennessee State at Austin Peay | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

North Alabama at Tennessee Tech | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Houston Christian at UT Martin | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Stephen F. Austin at Northwestern State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Southern Illinois at Southeast Missouri State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Lindenwood at Western Illinois | 7 p.m. | ESPN+

Bowling Green at Michigan | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Georgia Tech at Ole Miss | 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network

BYU at Arkansas | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2

Akron at Kentucky | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU

Syracuse at Purdue | 7:30 p.m. | NBC

Pitt at West Virginia | 7:30 p.m. | ABC

Florida Atlantic at Clemson | 8 p.m. | ACC Network

Wyoming at Texas | 8 p.m. | Longhorn Network

Hawai'i at Oregon | 8 p.m. | Pac-12 Network

TCU at Houston | 8 p.m. | FOX

New Mexico State at New Mexico | 8 p.m. | Mountain West Network

Sacramento State at Stanford | 8 p.m.

Lincoln (CA) at Cal Poly | 8 p.m. | ESPN+

Ferris State at Montana | 8 p.m. | ESPN+

UIW at Abilene Christian | 8 p.m. | ESPN+

Jackson State at Texas State | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+

Colorado State at Colorado | 10 p.m. | ESPN

Southern Utah at UC Davis | 10 p.m. | ESPN+

Fresno State at Arizona State | 10:30 p.m.

Kansas at Nevada | 10:30 p.m. | CBSSN

UTEP at Arizona | 11 p.m. | Pac-12 Network