Three keys USF football needs to have its best chance at Alabama

As the USF football team prepares to take on 4th-ranked Alabama, let’s let Crimson Tide fans in on a little secret.

While their guys are heavily favored and likely will win the game, this USF team is way, way better than the one that fought ‘Bama to the end last year in Tampa.

Most Alabama fans and pundits have dismissed the Bulls as little more than a buzzing mosquito with no chance to crack the armor of Starship ‘Bama. But they don’t know what they don’t know.

At least not yet.

I’m confident that the Bulls won’t go into this game believing they face an impossible task. As I’ve said before, Golesh coaches with swagger and expects his team to play with swagger.

With that in mind, here are three keys for the Bulls to get the best outcome they can.

Let Byrum Be Byrum

In last season’s game at Raymond James Stadium, quarterback Byrum Brown was 14 of 28 passing for just 87 yards and an interception. That’s just an average of 3.1 yards per pass.

He also ran 23 times for a team-leading 92 yards.

It’s important to remember he was an 18-year-old redshirt freshman then, making his fifth college start (he started the final two games in 2022). That was a lot to put on the shoulders of someone so inexperienced.

He was sacked four times in that game, was intercepted once, and lost a fumble.

Brown put on 20 pounds of muscle in the off-season and has diversified his game. He worked hard in camp on staying in the pocket more often than a year ago, and he has more weapons than in 2023.

Running back Kelley Joiner gained 78 yards and had two touchdowns last week against Bethune-Cookman. Joiner was a non-factor against ‘Bama a year ago.

Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen, last week’s leading receiver, spent 2023 playing for Purdue. Receiver Sean Atkins is still reliable, and running back Nay'Quan Wright can combine with Joiner to give USF an efficient ground game.

That’s all good.

But at some point, Brown will have to make a play. Maybe the protection breaks down and he runs. Maybe it’s a deep ball to Yaseen or Atkins.

All the outside focus this week has justifiably been on Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, but Brown has a platform to open eyes in this nationally televised game.

He is USF’s best offensive player and he has to play that way for the Bulls to have any chance.

The Golesh Gambles

USF fans love that Golesh doesn’t coach scared, and that was never more evident than in last year’s game against the Tide.

The Bulls went for it six times on fourth down but converted only two when the rolls dice rolls came up snake eyes.

One of those times was on 4th and 3 at the ‘Bama 46 late in the first quarter, but Brown was sacked. Another failed attempt came in the third quarter on 4th and 7 near midfield.

That’s OK. Keep taking chances.

Throw the sink at ‘Bama.

Slow ‘Bama Down

Everyone knows that defense was USF’s Achilles heel last season, so the 48-3 opening win against Bethune-Cookman was encouraging.

But, well, that was Bethune.

Alabama’s offense is lethal.

In the 63-0 win last week over Western Kentucky, Alabama scored touchdowns on eight of its first 11 drives.

Only one of the drives took longer than 2:47 to reach the end zone.

They had scoring drives of 41 seconds, 33 seconds, and 15 seconds.

In other words, don’t blink.

The Bulls invested heavily on the defensive side of the ball after last season and are used to facing an up-tempo attack in practice.

‘Bama is going to score, but if USF can run the ball on offense, chew up some clock, and make the Tide have to grind it out when they have the ball, this game could be more interesting than people think.

That’s a big “if” but, like we said …. swagger!