Wins are wins. Losses are losses. There is no debating that.
Impressions, however, still matter. Which is why USF, lowly as it has been, can find a silver lining to a 17-3 loss to name-brand Alabama Saturday afternoon.
USF overachieved .
Alabama underachieved.
Any questions?
Bama, often a national championship contender, figured to handle the Bulls in a response to last week’s loss to Texas. It didn’t turn out that way.
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The Bulls played Bama to a 3-3 deadlock for most of the afternoon before the Tide put the game away with two second half touchdowns, one of them with just 33 seconds to play. USF struggled offensively, but its defense kept the Tide off-balance for most of the afternoon and left the Tide still searching for its quarterback.
Quarterback Byron Brown was the Bulls’ best weapon as he escaped the pocket several times. He ran 23 times for 93 yards. Passing, he hit just 14 of 28 passes for 87 yards.
The Bulls scored first, taking advantage of a muffed punt for a go-ahead field goal. But redshirt freshman Ty Simpson led a go-ahead drive late in the third quarter.
The Bulls, 1-2 on the season, are home against Rice on Sunday.
FSU 31, Boston College 29: The Seminoles barely hung on to beat Boston College. The Seminoles led 31-10 in the second half, but quarterback Thomas Castellanos brought the Eagles back.
Castellanos threw for 339 yards and ran for 95 to bring Boston College back. His comeback would have been further aided if the Eagles had not been called for 18 penalties for 131 yards.
The Seminoles gave up a long pooch kickoff and a fumble that turned into a scoop-and-score.
Jordan Travis threw for 212 yards for FSU.
The Seminoles play at Clemson next Saturday at noon.
Florida 29, Tennessee 16: The Gators ran over the Vols, scoring 20 unanswered points in the second period. Trevor Etienne ran for 172 yards, including a 62-yarder, as the Gators controlled the Vols.
Tennessee got 287 yards from quarterback Joe Milton, but the Volts misfired often enough to allow the Gators to win.
Florida is home against Charlotte Saturday at 7 p.m.