Keys To The Game: Bulls at Crimson Tide - USF Athletics (2025)

Are the Bulls up to the task?

Regardless of what happens, the ESPN viewers and in-house fans are certain to learn much more about Coach Alex Golesh's Bulls. Are there enough weapons? Can the defense hold up? Will they function efficiently with all the noise? Are the Bulls, presumably better than last season, ready for this quantum leap?

We're about to find out.

"You want to compete at the highest level and what better opportunity than to play one of the best teams in the entire country,'' Golesh said. "A year ago (when Alabama beat USF 17-3 in Tampa), we were in it in every imaginable way throughout the game. What can you draw from that? Well, if you play defense like we did (in the 2023 game), you have a chance to play winning football.

"It's a huge selling point in recruiting. You tell the guys, 'Hey, you get a chance to play against these (elite) teams. We have Miami at our stadium (Sept. 21) and I give credit to our administration for this type of scheduling. I think it's a win-win for everybody. You truly get an early measuring stick of where you are — good, bad or indifferent — as you get ready for the conference season.''

If there's anything other than an Alabama victory, plenty of people will be shocked — from the folks in Las Vegas (Alabama is a 30.5-point favorite) to the numbers-crunchers in Connecticut (ESPN says Alabama has a 97.7-percent chance of winning) to the seasoned fans in Tuscaloosa (only four opposing programs have beaten Alabama at Bryant-Denny in the past 15 seasons).

But Buster Douglas once knocked out Mike Tyson. Tiny Chaminade vanquished Ralph Sampson's Virginia Cavaliers. There was a Miracle on Ice, when the U.S. Olympic hockey team stunned the Soviets. Upsets happen — all the time.

The right factors must come into play, though. For USF to have a shot at the biggest victory in the program's 28-season history, here are four keys that should help:

Be Bold

Sound familiar? It's the slogan and catch-phrase for USF, the entire institution, as it joins the prestigious Association of American Universities and builds on its status as a nationally prominent leading research school.

It's good advice for Golesh's Bulls.

Be bold.

Facing fourth-and-3 at midfield in a tight game? Don't punt. Go for it. Be bold.

To cope with the Crimson Tide, don't play safe and allow them to dictate the tempo. Mix up the defenses. Show decisiveness. Be bold.

The Bulls must take chances — without reservation — and have something tangible to show for nearly every possession

"You've got to be prepared for those situations when they come up,'' offensive coordinator Joel Gordon said. "If it gets to the point of the game where you've got to be a little more aggressive because of the circumstances, there's no doubt it could turn into one of those situations.

"You look at the analytics and what they say, while trusting your gut at the same time. Our guys know and expect that we're going to be aggressive. We practice that way. You want to have balance and be smart, but yes, we're aware those situations (that call for aggressiveness) could arise.''

Contain Jalen Milroe

Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe, one of the leading contenders for this season's Heisman Trophy, did not play in last season's game at Tampa. But he became one of the SEC top talents and that continued in last week's season-opening 63-0 victory against Western Kentucky (where he was 7-for-9 passing for 200 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing 10 times for 79 yards and two more scores).

"Everything about him (Milroe) is elite,'' defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said. "He has a huge arm. We all know he can run, but some of the throws he has made in the past, deep shots, he just has a cannon arm. That's the stuff Heisman hopefuls are made of, right there.

"Western Kentucky had some really good coverage. Once he commits to (running) up the middle, you have to go play him. But he still has the ability to extend the play. We just have to do a really good job of containing him. We have to give them some different stuff (on defense) and kind of go from there.''

Third Down: Get Off The Field

Undoubtedly, USF's defense will make some splash plays (as it did in last season's game). But every play matters — especially the ones when Alabama is forced into a third-down situation.

It can be disheartening to stop Alabama on first and second downs, only to have it move the chains by converting a third-and-10 situation. The Bulls must be disciplined, avoid costly penalties, utilize their defensive depth and come up with the goods when it really matters (on third down).

"Third down is going to be really, really important because if they can run the football and have the ability to throw it with a mobile quarterback, that really puts you in a tough spot,'' Orlando said. "We'd like to do some (positive) things on first down and second down to get them in third-and-predictable.

"But if they're able to get 4 or 5 yards (on early downs) and get into third-and-3 or shorter than that, they can do whatever they want. So, it's going to be really, really important, because if they can run the football and have the ability to throw it with a mobile quarterback, that really puts you in not a great spot. So that's going to be critical, that we can do some things on first down, you've got an athlete back there who can throw bombs.''

If USF can keep Alabama in its territory and force some punts by getting off the field in third-down situations, the overall confidence will skyrocket for the Bulls.

Have Fun

It sounds like advice you'd give to your child before a Little League game. But for the Bulls, it's oh so true.

As Golesh said, "One thing is for sure, we're going to play the game, hopefully do the things we want to do and can do, the sun will come up Sunday and we'll go to the next game.''

Simple as that.

"This team is capable of doing very big things and we want to show that to the world,'' Bulls defensive back De'Shawn Rucker said. "Alabama is Alabama. We all know how good Alabama is. But the USF Bulls are good, too. It's football. We're going to put it all out on the line and play like we know we can.''

Past generations of USF football teams have defeated the likes of Auburn, Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami, West Virginia and Louisville on the road (along with a bowl-game victory against Clemson).

But this is Alabama, home to college football's red-class blue bloods. And it's a night of celebration, when the field will be named for legendary coach Nick Saban, who retired after last season to give way to Kalen DeBoer.

Why get uptight? It's the big-time opportunity that lives in every player's dreams. After working behind the scenes from January to August, here's a chance to have some real fun. It's time for the nation to learn more about Byrum Brown, Sean Atkins and all the others.

"I've got no reason to think that we're not going to be ready to play,'' Gordon said. "We've got some guys who have played in these types of games, and I'm confident all of our guys will handle it well. I wish I had all the answers already, but some of the things you won't know until you get into the game.

"Our guys have worked really hard. They know they've got a great opportunity to go compete against a really good football team. I think they're going to be ready to do that.''

–#GoBulls–