USF Opens 3-0; Florida State Falls to Alabama
USF Opens 3-0; Florida State Falls to Alabama
Anonymous
Key Points
1
USF’s seven rushing touchdowns came within one of the school record of eight, set against Kentucky Wesleyan in 1997—the program’s first game.
2
A failed Delaware State fourth-down conversion early in the second half helped trigger USF’s decisive surge: the Bulls drove 61 yards for Crowther’s 39-yard touchdown, then scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions.
3
USF backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek scored twice in the first half, including a one-yard touchdown on the final play of the half that restored the Bulls’ lead to 28-17 after Delaware State had pulled within four points.
4
The USF-Delaware State game drew an announced crowd of 32,345 at Raymond James Stadium, and USF is scheduled to visit Bowling Green next Saturday.
5
Florida State coach Mike Norvell said Alabama’s big plays and missed opportunities created a major momentum swing after the weather interruptions, although he noted that the Seminoles briefly cut the deficit back to a one-score game in the third quarter.
South Florida opened 3-0 for the first time since 2018 by crushing Delaware State 59-17, piling up seven rushing touchdowns—just one shy of the school record. The Bulls dominated after halftime, scoring on four straight possessions to blow open a close game. Meanwhile, No. 10 Alabama stormed back from a 15-point deficit to stun Florida State 50-36, handing the Seminoles their second consecutive loss and extending their road losing streak to 10 games.
USF's Seven-Touchdown Performance Breaks Near Program Record
D.J. Crowther led the Bulls' ground game with 101 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. threw for 300 yards and one score. FL Teams reported that USF's seven rushing touchdowns came within one of the school record of eight, set against Kentucky Wesleyan in 1997. The game drew 32,345 fans at Raymond James Stadium.
Delaware State Briefly Threatened Before USF Pulled Away
Delaware State quarterback Ui Ale threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns, including a 90-yard score to Nathan Stewart. The Owls pulled within four points at 21-17 in the second quarter. But after a failed fourth-down conversion early in the second half, USF scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions. Backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek added two touchdowns, including a one-yard plunge on the final play of the first half to make it 28-17.
Alabama Erases 15-Point Deficit to Topple Florida State
Florida State took an early 21-6 lead but saw it evaporate quickly. AL Daily News reported that No. 10 Alabama rallied to win 50-36. Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. The Seminoles were outscored 47-22 after the first quarter, despite briefly cutting the gap back to one score in the third quarter.
Weather Delays Disrupt Both Games
The USF-Delaware State contest was delayed about 25 minutes due to weather. Florida State coach Mike Norvell said Alabama's big plays created a major momentum swing after the weather interruptions in that game. The losses have increased calls for Norvell's firing, with Clutch Points noting his $48 million buyout tied to a 2024 extension makes a coaching change difficult.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
16
Articles
57
Reach
73
A
AnonymousAuthor
