COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 4/4 Alabama football team overcame an eight-point fourth quarter deficit, as the Crimson Tide scored 15 points over the game’s final two-plus minutes to earn the 29-22 victory over South Carolina (3-4, 1-5 SEC) at Williams-Brice Stadium. After dropping the season opener, Alabama (7-1, 5-0) has now won seven consecutive contests.

Ty Simpson finished 24-of-43 through the air, adding a pair of touchdown passes to his ledger. Germie Bernard led the charge in the final quarter, closing his night with five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. The senior wideout also turned three carries into 23 yards, including the go-ahead score with just 34 seconds left on the clock. Ryan Williams led all Tide receivers in receptions with seven catches for 72 yards, while Daniel Hill posted a team-best 76 yards receiving as the result of his four catches, including a long of 41. 

The Alabama defense came up with a variety of important plays, including DaShawn Jones, who was responsible for the Tide’s second interception return for a touchdown in as many weeks. Deontae Lawson finished with seven tackles and a pass breakup, while his forced fumble with just over a minute and a half remaining in regulation allowed the Tide to eventually secure the game-winning score. Justin Jefferson and Keon Keeley each managed one sack apiece, with Alabama totaling a combined seven tackles for loss, five pass breakups and four quarterback hurries over the course of the afternoon. 

Game Notes

• The Tide overcame an eight-point deficit in Saturday’s win, the largest comeback by Alabama since 2021
• With two more touchdown passes on Saturday, Ty Simpson has now thrown at least two touchdown passes in all eight games this season
• Germie Bernard contributed both one receiving and rushing score in the win, marking the second game this season the senior receiver has found the end zone through the air and on the ground
• Daniel Hill’s 76 receiving yards stands as a new career best
• DaShawn Jones’ pick six in the opening quarter marked the second consecutive week the Crimson Tide defense has scored a touchdown (Zabien Brown interception return vs. Tennessee)
• Jones’ interception was also the first of his Alabama career
• The Alabama defense has put up 16 points in the past two contests (two defensive touchdowns and a safety)
• Trailing 22-14 with 10 minutes remaining in the final quarter, Alabama’s defense surrendered just 32 total yards and outgained the Gamecocks 117-2 while outscoring them 15-0 the rest of the way
• Blake Doud produced his best game for the Tide with five punts for a combined 277 yards, averaging 55.4 yards per punt, well above his season average of 40.8 yards per punt
• Doud booted a season-long 60-yard punt, surpassing his previous season-high of 54 yards

How It Happened

First Quarter

• 7:32 – USC | The Gamecocks opened the game with a 15 play, 74-yard drive that took 7:22 off the clock and was capped by a 24-yard field goal from William Joyce (3-0, South Carolina)
• 5:17 – UA | Alabama’s Dashawn Jones picked off a LaNorris Sellers’ pass and took to the house for an Alabama defensive touchdown (7-3, Alabama)

Second Quarter

• 4:23 – USC | William Joyce booted his second field goal of the half to finish off a 14-play, 42-yard drive that took 7:13 off the clock (7-6, Alabama)
• 1:45 – UA | On the ensuing possession, Alabama took the ball 81 yards down the field in nine plays resulting in a three-yard touchdown pass from Ty Simpson to Josh Cuevas (14-6, Alabama)

Third Quarter

• 10:59 – USC | On their first play of the second half, LaNorris Sellers found an open Nyck Harbor for a 54-yard touchdown strike, however, the two-point conversion failed (14-12, Alabama)
• 1:38 – USC | William Joyce gave the Gamecocks their first lead of the second half, booting a 47-yard field goal to finish off an 11-play, 46-yard drive that took 4:53 off the clock (15-14, South Carolina)

Fourth Quarter

• 10:00 – USC | After an Alabama muffed punt, the Gamecocks turned the giveaway into seven points, as Sellers rushed into the end zone from 10 yards out to end a quick six-play, 30-yard drive (22-14, South Carolina)
• 2:16 – UA | With Bernard in pre-snap motion, Simpson looked to his right before finding Bernard to his left, with the senior receiver punctuating a 14-play, 79-yard drive with a four-yard receiving score. The Tide implemented some trickeration on the two-point try, as Simpson connected with Cuevas for the conversion. (22-22)
• 0:34 – UA | Following Deontae Lawson’s forced fumble, the Alabama offense took advantage of a short field, utilizing Bernard in the ground game where he found pay dirt from 25 yards to give Alabama the lead with just 34 seconds remaining. The scoring drive needed just five plays to cover 38 yards. (29-22, Alabama)

Up Next

• Alabama will be idle next weekend and will return to action on Nov. 8 vs. LSU inside Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium
• Kickoff between the Crimson Tide and Tigers will be announced at a later date