South Florida's football team put up a fierce fight against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, but ultimately fell short in a 42-16 defeat. The Bulls had an opportunity to secure a victory, leading early on and staying competitive until midway through the fourth quarter. However, a series of late failures allowed the Crimson Tide to pull away and secure the win.

Head coach Alex Golesh expressed disappointment with the team's inability to finish the game strong. He acknowledged that their growth as a program hinges on their ability to close out close matches like this one. Golesh's decision-making came under scrutiny, particularly regarding his choice to kick field goals instead of taking risks to pull ahead. The Bulls made two successful field goals, narrowing the gap to a one-score game, but ultimately couldn't capitalize on those opportunities.

When questioned about a crucial decision to kick a field goal with 6:45 left in the fourth quarter, making the score 21-16, Golesh defended his strategy. He maintained that it was the smart choice to prevent the team from going down by two possessions. However, he also acknowledged that without reviewing the game footage, it would be difficult to provide a definitive answer.

This marks the second consecutive year in which USF has given Alabama a scare but failed to secure a victory. The Bulls now hold a 1-1 record for the season following this loss. Golesh expressed his frustration with the team's performance during the final minutes, describing it as "garbage" and "really, really bad." He emphasized the need to analyze and address what went wrong to prevent similar collapses in the future.

Despite the disappointing outcome, Golesh praised the effort of the Bulls' defense, highlighting their ability to keep up with Alabama for the majority of the game. He commended their performance during the first three-and-a-half quarters and suggested that their display showed they could compete with any team.

Golesh reiterated that there are no moral victories and emphasized that the team's goal was to win the football game. Looking ahead, the Bulls will have an opportunity for redemption as they prepare to face Southern Miss on Saturday. It remains to be seen how they will bounce back from this tough defeat and continue their season's campaign.