Alabama Football uses big 2nd half to topple South Carolina in EA Sports CFB 25 sim

The A.I. needed a reset after last week's debacle in Nashville. Not even CFB25 saw the Vanderbilt upset coming. It had been pretty spot on up to this point of the season, but even computers were stumped by last week. Join the club.

While Alabama Football is looking for a get right game against South Carolina, the game is looking to get right, too.

So what does College Football 25 have to say about the Crimson Tide's matchup with the Gamecocks?

As always, this is a simulation. I'm not controlling any plays. It's set at 7-minute quarters and I try to take injuries into account. With Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice both questionable, I removed both from the depth chart for this game as a precaution. Jeheim Oatis was also removed after this opt out.

Alabama vs. South Carolina CFB 25 Simulation

It was a slow start for the Crimson Tide, which would undoubtedly be met with groans from the Bryant-Denny faithful hoping for a quick bounce back following last week's loss to Vanderbilt.

The Tide's offense mustered only 18 total yards of offense in the first quarter. South Carolina produced the only scoring drive of the quarter, but had to settle for a short field goal following nice redzone defense by a much maligned Tide defense.

In the second quarter, the Gamecocks added a field goal to go up 6-0 following a Jam Miller fumble, but Alabama's offense came to life on the next drive with a strong drive capped by a one yard touchdown by Miller to go up 7-6.

Right before the half, disaster struck for an Alabama defense that had been playing well up to that point. On the final play of the half, Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers hit Jared Brown for a 75-yard touchdown to give South Carolina a 13-7 lead at intermission, leaving the home crowd completely stunned.

Amid groans from the stands, Alabama responded. Receiving the second half kickoff, Jalen Milroe and the Tide offense immediately went down the field and punched it in the endzone to take a 14-13 lead.

The defense did its part, with Domani Jackson intercepting a Sellers pass and returning it 20 yards. The Alabama offense paid it off, with Justice Haynes punching in a two yard touchdown to give Alabama a 21-13 lead heading into the final quarter.

Alabama extended its lead early in the fourth quarter with Jalen Milroe connecting with Germie Bernard for a 19-yard touchdown pass to put the Tide up two scores. South Carolina refused to go away, and Sellers hit Brown for the second time from 43-yards out to cut the Tide lead to 28-20.

Alabama slammed the door shut with a nice drive capped by Haynes' 2nd touchdown run of the day, this time from 19-yards out.

Alabama won 35-20. The defense allowed just 300 yards of offense, but outside of the two long touchdown passes, the unit was mostly dominant. The Gamecocks rushed for just 96 yards on 23 carries, with 30 of those yards coming off of one Rocket Sanders run.

It was a big day for wide receiver Germie Bernard, finishing with 5 catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. Milroe finished 12/16 for 147 yards and added 44 rushing yards with two total touchdowns.

While the slow start would undoubtedly produce some anxiety from fans, the overall defensive performance and the second half response would provide some positive feelings as Alabama heads to Knoxville for The Third Saturday in October.