Takeaways from Alabama football win vs South Carolina

After suffering its first loss to Vanderbilt since 1984 last week, Alabama football looked to get back into the win column vs. South Carolina on Saturday.

It did that, maybe not in the way it wanted, taking down the Gamecocks 27-25 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide held the 14-12 lead going into the half, with South Carolina going onto take its first lead of the game out of the half, 19-14.

Jalen Milroe eventually retook the lead for Alabama in the fourth quarter behind a 7-yard touchdown run, adding a 34-yard touchdown pass to Germie Bernard later in the quarter to further increase Alabama’s lead. The Gamecocks were not done, responding with a touchdown drive of their own followed by a successful onside kick attempt to regain possession with 0:34 left. It was to no avail, with Domani Jackson picking off LaNorris Sellers on the last play of the game as Alabama held onto win it.

Here are three takeaways from No. 7 Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) vs. South Carolina (3-3, 1-3):

Alabama football starts fast, struggles to close out first half

Behind rushing touchdowns by Milroe and Jam Miller, Alabama held a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter. South Carolina, though, went onto put up 12 points across the final two minutes of the first half, cutting the deficit to two.

The Gamecocks’ first score came from a 36-yard touchdown pass from Sellers to Mazeo Bennett Jr. to convert on fourth and 9. On Alabama’s ensuing drive, Milroe threw the ball away in the end zone after facing pressure, resulting in an intentional grounding penalty and a South Carolina safety.

Alabama then forced a fumble on South Carolina’s next drive, giving it the ball at its own 47 with 0:48 remaining. Two plays later, Milroe was picked off by Jalon Kilgore, who returned the ball to the Alabama 19-yard line to set up a 37-yard Alex Herrera field goal to close out the half.

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Defense able to get third down stops, force turnovers

Third-downs stops were hard to come by last week for Alabama against Vanderbilt, with the Commodores converting 12 of their 18 third-down attempts (66.7%). Saturday against South Carolina, it was much different, at least in the first half.

The Crimson Tide held the Gamecocks to 0 of 5 on their third down conversions attempts across the opening two quarters. The second half was a bit of a different story, with Gamecocks opening the half converting on 5 of 5 third-down attempts. They finished the game going 7 of 15 on third-down attempts (46.7%).

Turnovers and sacks were also hard to come by for Alabama last week vs. Vanderbilt, the Crimson Tide being unable to record a single one. On Saturday, the Crimson Tide forced four turnovers and caused four sacks for -36 yards.

Alabama offense held to season-low 313 total yards, outgained by USC

The Alabama offense had yet to finish a game with anything less than 393 yards of total offense this season. Facing the Gamecocks, the Crimson Tide offense put up 313 total yards of offense compared to that of South Carolina’s 372.

Saturday marked the first time Milroe has thrown multiple interceptions, only being intercepted twice leading into it. Milroe went onto finish the day accounting for two rushing touchdowns while going 16 of 23 passing for 209 yards and a touchdown.

Jam Miller led the Alabama backfield with 42 yards on 12 carries, while Bernard led Alabama’s receiving corps with four receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X @annaesnyder2.