Alabama football escaped on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide survived a major scare from South Florida, coming away with a 42-16 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium, adding most of the points late after being up just two in the fourth quarter.

There’s plenty to fix from the ugly performance for Kalen DeBoer and company. Before the Tide moves on to Wisconsin week, here’s three takeaways from Saturday’s victory.

Offensive line struggles

The Crimson Tide offensive line was a bit piecemeal on Saturday. Regular left tackle Kadyn Proctor missed the game due to a shoulder injury he suffered in pregame warmups before the season-opener

Instead of Elijah Pritchett, who started against Western Kentucky, Tyler Booker moved out to left tackle. Geno VanDeMark took the left guard spot Booker vacated.

Nothing went well. Alabama simply couldn’t sustain drives, and a lack of blocking was the obvious culprit.

VanDeMark had problems slowing down the South Florida rush, as did Wilkin Formby at right tackle. Jalen Milroe frequently found himself under duress, and the Alabama offense was ineffectual as a result.

Proctor’s return can’t come soon enough for a reeling UA offensive line. DeBoer was optimistic he will be back for the Wisconsin game.

Sloppy start

In 2023, South Florida scared the daylights out of Alabama. The Bulls kept it close until the very end, and the game became a turning point in the Crimson Tide’s SEC championship season.

That wasn’t supposed to happen again. But in the first half, nothing came easy for Alabama.

USF quarterback Byrum Brown found success through the run game, and the Bulls took an early 3-0 lead. Alabama got back in front, but never found its footing throughout the first half.

Penalties didn’t help. Alabama had trouble sustaining drives, and lacked the big-play punch it had showed against Western Kentucky.

The offensive line struggled, and while USF was never able to take full advantage, Alabama gave the less-talented Bulls far too much of a chance early.

Costly penalties

On South Florida’s first drive of the game, it seemed the Crimson Tide had the Bulls stopped. USF faced a third down in its own territory, and quarterback Byrum Brown couldn’t find a receiver before he was stopped short of the chains.

Unfortunately for Alabama, a flag lay on the field. Domani Jackson was called for a defensive hold, and the Bulls took an early lead on a field goal after the second chance.

Later on, offensive guard Geno VanDeMark negated a Justice Haynes touchdown with a holding penalty. The drive ended in a touchdown anyway, with Jalen Milroe taking it in from 10 yards out.

The Crimson Tide then forced a punt. A false start by Tyler Booker caused problems on the next drive, and UA had to kick the ball back.

In the second quarter, Alabama negated two first downs with holding penalties on the same drive, including a second on VanDeMark. An intentional grounding call on Milroe, followed by a sack, forced the Tide to punt facing 4th-and-38 deep in its own territory.

Late in the half, Milroe took off for a 74-yard touchdown run. It was called back and the drive ended with an Alabama punt.

All told, the Crimson Tide finished the first half with eight penalties for 60 lost yards. DeBoer has spoken of his desire to eliminate “foolish penalties,” but his team had plenty of them early.