College Football

2020 Vrbo Citrus Bowl: Alabama Resurges with a Vengeance After Early Michigan Lead

Published

7 years ago

January 1, 2020

Alabama's Najee Harris (#22) jumps over defense to get the touchdown in the second quarter during the 2020 Vrbo Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Photo: Willie David / Florida National News.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) wasted no time showing Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines (9-3) why he’s a 4-time national champion during the Vrbo Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium Wednesday.

FIRST QUARTER

While Michigan got first play and Giles Jackson made an impressive 50-yard return with precision rushing, Michigan couldn’t capitalize on that first drive. On Alabama’s turn, not only did they get the first touchdown in the first quarter on the first day of the New Year, but made a historic first while they were at it. Mac Jones launched an 85-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy for the score, the longest pass in Citrus Bowl history. After Joseph Bulovas’s solid extra point, the score was 7-0, Alabama.

At 7:06 in the first, Michigan clapped back with seven plays over 85 yards, closing the deal with Shea Patterson’s slick 7-yard pass to Nick Eubanks off to the left, who scrambled into the corner of the end zone. After the extra point, both teams tied at 7.

Michigan got a near-miss with 4:35 left in the first: Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore sacked Michigan’s Patterson, causing a fumble, which Michigan wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and the drive continued with a second down, even after play review. To close out the drive, and with nine seconds left in the first, kicker Quinn Nordin nailed the 36-yard field goal, lifting Michigan to a 10-7 score.

SECOND QUARTER

During Michigan’s scoring series in the second quarter, wide receiver Ronnie Bell completed Shea Patterson’s 8-yard pass, but was flagged for illegal touching due to going out of bounds then coming back in to make the catch, costing them a down. Michigan made that fourth down count, though, with Nordin kicking a successful 42-yard field goal, widening Michigan’s lead to 13-7.

With just over three minutes left in the first half, Alabama’s Najee Harris rushed for 9 yards for the next touchdown, flipping over Michigan’s Josh Metellus to get there, causing Alabama to jump one point over Michigan 14-13. This was Harris’s seventh straight rushing touchdown.

In the final two seconds–yes, two seconds–of the first half, Michigan kicker Quinn Nordin closed out the half and sent the audience roaring by making history in his own right, kicking his first-ever 57-yard field goal…and nailing it. Barely. His was the longest field goal in Citrus Bowl history and matched Michigan’s current record for longest field goal.

At halftime, Michigan was 3 of 8 in third down conversions to Alabama’s 0 of 3. However, Alabama packed a greater punch in yards: While Michigan boasted 286 yards in 45 plays in the first half, Alabama clocked 205 yards in only 23 plays. Alabama quarterback Mac Jones was 8 of 13 in passing for a total of 145 yards while Michigan’s Shea Patterson was 9 of 18 for 151.

THIRD QUARTER

Third quarter began with a bang. Alabama’s Mac Jones threw a 42-yard touchdown bomb to DeVonta Smith, who was able to catch it, despite being covered. After the extra kick, Alabama’s lead stretched to 21-16.

With 9:30 left in the third quarter, Mac Jones’s pass to Henry Ruggs III was incomplete, and because of Ruggs’ double coverage, he tumbled and rolled several times, ultimately having to be walked off the field.

Scoring momentum slowed after that point, due to both teams’ defensive lines rising up to stop the run and more incomplete passes.

Total penalties up to the end of the third quarter: Michigan had 7 for a loss of 61 yards to Alabama’s 5 for a loss of 25 yards.

FOURTH QUARTER

Alabama widened the lead again in the fourth with ten minutes left. Mac Jones, with the help of Jerry Jeudy’s 14- and 58-yard completed passes on first and second downs, nailed a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Miller Forristall. After the extra point, Alabama towered over Michigan 28-16.

Najee Harris was Alabama’s man for the rest of the game, rushing a total of 70 yards over the course of Alabama’s final scoring drive (12 plays) to get the last touchdown of the game and put the nail in Michigan’s coffin with the final 35-16 score.

__________________________________________

Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com

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Central Florida News

Temple Hands USF First Loss, 17-13

Published

5 days ago

October 4, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

Cameron Seldon races toward the sideline as Temple defenders force him out of bounds. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

Bulls move to 4-1 as Hartline turns attention toward corrections and the week ahead

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida’s unbeaten start ended Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium as Temple defeated the Bulls 17-13. USF struck first behind a Nico Gramatica field goal but went into halftime trailing 10-3 before finding momentum after the break.

USF responded in the third quarter as D.J. Crowther’s one-yard touchdown tied the game at 10.

USF and Temple battle at the line of scrimmage. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

The Bulls’ defense added a key stop when No. 1 C.J. Hicks recovered a Temple fumble in the end zone. Gramatica later connected from 49 yards to give USF a 13-10 fourth-quarter lead. Temple answered with the defining possession of the night, driving 96 yards before quarterback No. 13 Ajani Sheppard scored on a 34-yard run to put the Owls ahead for good.

Temple’s 96-yard fourth-quarter drive became the turning point in the 17-13 finish.

Joshua Porter sprints for catch with Adrian Laing closing in for Temple. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

USF was unable to answer late, dropping to 4-1. Following the game, head coach Brian Hartline focused on returning to the film, correcting the mistakes that surfaced and making sure the Bulls use the loss to improve heading into the next week.

FINAL: Temple 17, USF 13

Up Next: USF travels to San Antonio to face UTSA on Thursday night.

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

Central Florida News

USF Saves Its Best Work for the Fourth in 14-6 Win Over Bowling Green

Published

1 week ago

September 29, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

The Bulls erase a six-point deficit and leave Ohio 4-0 for the first time since 2018.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (FNN SPORTS) — The first three quarters belonged to a low-scoring game. The fourth belonged to South Florida.

Bowling Green entered the final quarter ahead 6-0, but USF’s defense had kept the margin small enough for one possession to change the direction of the game. Three quiet quarters did not decide this one. The final quarter did.

That opportunity came after a fourth-down stop near midfield.

USF Head Coach Brian Hartline reviewing play. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News.

D.J. Crowther helped move the Bulls downfield, and Luke Kromenhoek finished the possession with a two-yard touchdown run to put USF ahead 7-6.

Crowther was back at the center of the next scoring drive, ending a 72-yard possession with a one-yard touchdown. He finished the afternoon with 143 rushing yards on 23 carries.

Bowling Green’s final drive reached USF territory, but Asani Redwood recorded a late sack before the Falcons came up two yards short on fourth-and-16.

USF walked away with the 14-6 win and its first 4-0 start since 2018.

Central Florida News

USF Pulls Away From Delaware State in 59-17 Win

Published

3 weeks ago

September 20, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

USF Bulls football player No. 5 holds the football and celebrates on the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

USF running back D.J. Crowther (5) carries the ball into end zone for a bulls touch down. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News.

D.J. Crowther scores three rushing touchdowns as South Florida turns a four-point first-half game into a convincing home victory.

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida improved to 3-0 Saturday night with a 59-17 victory over Delaware State at Raymond James Stadium, but the final score did not tell the story of the first half.

Delaware State stayed within striking distance and cut USF’s lead to 21-17 late in the second quarter before the Bulls scored 38 unanswered points to put the game away.

Delaware State made USF work early. The Bulls created separation when the game moved into the second half.

Delaware State Keeps It Close Early

USF struck first, but Delaware State quarterback Ui Ale answered with a 90-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Stewart to tie the game at 7.

The Hornets continued to respond and pulled within four when Ale connected with Jaylin Terzado for a touchdown with 1:18 remaining before halftime.

South Florida answered before the break, with Luke Kromenhoek scoring from one yard out as time expired to send USF into halftime leading 28-17.

Luke Kromenhoek (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring on a one-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first half against Delaware State. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News

What looked like a potential four-point halftime game quickly became an 11-point cushion for South Florida.

Crowther Sparks Second-Half Separation

D.J. Crowther led USF’s ground attack, finishing with 101 yards on eight carries and three touchdowns.

His 39-yard touchdown early in the third quarter helped open the game up as the Bulls held Delaware State scoreless throughout the second half.

USF running back D.J. Crowther (5) carries the ball into end zone for a bulls touch down. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News.

Michael Van Buren Jr. completed 23 of 32 passes for 300 yards and a touchdown, while Joshua Porter led USF with eight catches for 106 yards.

The Bulls finished with 611 total yards, including 290 on the ground.

Michael Van Buren Jr. (3) surveys the field from the pocket as offensive linemen Ethan Green (79) and Caleb Cook (78) work in protection against Delaware State. Photo Credit: Nisey Spruill / Florida National News.