Alabama vs. Florida final score, results: No. 1 Alabama escapes Swamp with victory

Dani Mohr
and others
• 12 min read
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No. 1 Alabama escaped The Swamp with a 31-29 win over No. 11 Florida on Saturday. 

The Crimson Tide (3-0, 1-0 SEC) built a 21-3 lead after one quarter but could not keep holding down the Gators' offense, which built momentum for a comeback through the run. The ground game keyed Florida's 99-yard touchdown drive in the second half; the Gators were pinned back after Ja'Markis Weston muffed a kickoff and the ball went out of bounds at the Florida 1.  

MORE: Clock malfunction causes confusion in final minutes

The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, had to rely on their passing game as they rushed for just 91 yards on 27 carries. Quarterback Bryce Young threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-35 passing. Jon Metchie (six receptions), Jameson Williams and Jase McLellan (four catches each) were his key targets. 

Florida (2-1, 0-1 SEC) received strong play from senior quarterback Emory Jones. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 181 yards, and he also rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown on 19 attempts.

MORE: SEC officials botch wild Memphis punt-return TD

Running back Malik Davis also had a big game for the Gators with 96 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

The Crimson Tide will look to remain unbeaten next week when they host Southern Miss. Florida will welcome Tennessee to The Swamp next Saturday.

Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from the Week 3 SEC showdown between Alabama and Florida.

MORE: Watch college football live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Alabama vs. Florida score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Alabama 21 0 7 3 31
Florida 3 6 14 6 29

Alabama vs. Florida updates, highlights

Final: Alabama 31, Florida 29

(All times Eastern.)

6:56: The Gators make the catch at the 24 with four seconds remaining. Jones is taken down just behind the line of scrimmage to end the game. 

6:50: After several issues with the game clock, McClellan makes the carry for Alabama on third down and five, but comes short of the first. The Crimson Tide are forced to punt with under 10 seconds remaining. 

6:46: TOUCHDOWN FLORIDA. Dameon Pierce rushes into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game. The Gators fail to score on the two-point conversion, and trail Alabama 31-29 with over three minutes remaining. 

6:45: Jones makes another completion to give Florida the first down at the Alabama 17. 

6:43: As the Alabama defensive line blitzed, Jones completes to Whittemore for a first down for Florida.

6:38: Emory Jones runs for a 15-yard gain to give the Gators a first down at the Alabama 48.

6:35: FIELD GOAL ALABAMA. Alabama is called for a false start penalty to push them back into field-goal range. Will Reichard makes the 24-yard attempt to put Alabama in front 31-23.

6:30: Latu makes a catch in the end zone, but is ruled out of bounds. Another failed run on third down forces the Crimson Tide to go for the touchdown just outside the one-yard line. Florida calls a time out with under 10 minutes remaining. 

6:28: Young avoids the pass rush and fakes a pass before completing to Cameron Latu for a 10-yard gain at the two-yard line. 

6:26: Bryce Young makes a 15-yard run to give Alabama a first down at the Gators' 20. 

6:24: A pass interference call against the Florida defense allows Alabama the first down. Bryce Young threw consecutive incompletion, and almost forced the Crimson Tide to punt. 

Third Quarter: Alabama 28, Florida 23

6:10: TOUCHDOWN FLORIDA. Finishing off a 99-yard drive against the Crimson Tide defense, Emory Jones rushes past the end zone for five yards to give the Gators a touchdown with under 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Florida cut the Alabama lead 28-23. 

6:09: Emory Jones completes a pass to Henderson to put the Gators inside the 10. 

6:06: Nay'Quan Wright is driving the ball down the field for the Gators with gains of 18, 30 and 16 yards.

6:00: Florida gets our of their own end zone as Jones completes an 18-yard pass to Nay'Quan Wright to give the Gators a first down. 

5:58: The Gators are forced to start at their own one-yard line due to a muffing by Ja'Markis Weston.

5:55: TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA. Brian Robinson takes the direct snap and walks into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown. Kicker Will Reichard makes the extra point to extend the Crimson Tide lead 28-16.

5:53: Bryce Young escapes a sack from Cox and completes a pass to McClellan, and ruled a first down. After official review, the ruling is reversed to leave the Crimson Tide at fourth and inches. 

5:50: Cameron Latu extends his arm out with the ball as he gets his knee down at the marker to give Alabama the first down at the Gators' 12. The play went under review, and the ruling was confirmed.

5:48: Bryce Young throws consecutive incompletions to force a third down for Alabama.

5:43: Brian Robinson allows the Crimson Tide to move the chains for the first time since the first quarter.

5:42: Alabama gets called for a false start, pushing them back another five yards for second down. Bryce Young completes to Metchie for 12 yards. 

5:40: Alabama returns the ball in the end zone to start the drive at their own 25. 

5:38: TOUCHDOWN FLORIDA. On fourth and one, Florida running back Dameon Pierce rushes into the end zone for three yards to cut the Alabama lead. The Crimson Tide are ahead 21-16.

5:36: Malik Davis drives the ball down the field on consecutive plays for the Gators, third down inside the 10.

5:30: The Gators start with the ball at the 25 to open the second half. Alabama's Josh Jobe gets his second pass interference penalty of the game, and gives Florida the first down at their own 40. 

First Half: Alabama 21, Florida 9

5:00: Drew Sanders makes a big hit on Gamble to force the Gators back to third down and a long 23-yards. Florida can't complete for the first down and punts to give Alabama the ball inside the 10. 

4:58: Jones completes to wide receiver Rick Wells for a completion and 26-yard run to put the Gators at midfield. 

4:55: Gators' Bretton Cox sacks Bryce Young to push the Crimson Tide back to third down and 12. The Gators' defense makes another stop to force Alabama to punt again at the 31.

4:52: TOUCHDOWN FLORIDA. Running back Malik Davis stumbles into the end zone with defenders clutching his feet to give the Gators their first touchdown with 6:34 remaining in the half. Alabama leads 21-9.

4:48: Emory Jones rushes the ball down the middle, but can't complete the first down. The Gators are going for it on fourth down at the Alabama 41.

4:45: Gators' CB Kaiir Elam went down and is apparently limping off of the field after blocking a pass intended to Alabama receiver John Metchie. The Crimson Tide punts following the play. 

4:40: Gators are forced to punt, giving Alabama possession at their own 30 with under 10 minutes remaining in the half. 

4:35: Young attempts to get rid of the ball and is called for intentional grounding. Alabama punter James Burnip executes a 48-yard punt that lands the ball on the Gators' 21. 

4:33: Dan Mullen calls a timeout for the Gators ahead of fourth down. Jones' pass is tipped and falls to force a turnover on downs at their own 37.

First Quarter: Alabama 21, Florida 3

4:22: TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA. Young completes a pass to Brian Robinson to run into the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown. The extra kick gives the Crimson Tide a comfortable lead 21-3.

4:20: Young finds Jameson Williams to pick up a small gain, and puts Alabama at the seven. 

4:16: Drew Sanders rushes Emory Jones as he releases the throw, and Jalyn Armour-Davis intercepts the attempted pass. Alabama takes over at the Gators' 38.

4:12: Florida returns the kickoff in the end zone to start the drive at their own 25 with over three minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

4:10: TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA. Young completes a 26-yard pass to Jahleel Billingsley, getting him out of the doghouse for a touchdown. Following the extra point, Alabama extends their lead 14-3.

4:08: Bryce Young makes consecutive completions to McClellan, giving the Crimson Tide another first down at the Florida 39. 

4:05: Gators' Jeremiah Moon executes a tackle for loss to push the Crimson Tide to third and seven. A pass interference call against Florida on the following play gives the Crimson Tide another first down.

4:02: Jameson Williams returns the kickoff in the end zone for the Crimson Tide, allowing Alabama to start their drive at their own 25.

4:00: FIELD GOAL FLORIDA. Florida kicker Chris Howard completes a 25-yard field goal to put the Gators on the board, but Alabama holds the lead 7-3.

3:58: Dan Mullen calls a timeout for the Gators at the Alabama eight-yard line, attempting to score on fourth down and six with over seven minutes remaining in the first quarter.

3:54: Emory Jones throws to Kemore Gamble for a 21-yard completion, then takes off on a spin move for another gain of six. Alabama pass rushers are struggling to halt the offensive momentum. 

3:50: Florida returns the kick to put Emory Jones and the Gators' offense at their own 27 to start their opening drive.

3:43: TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA. Gators' Tre'Vez Johnson missed a critical tackled that allowed Jase McClellan to dive into the end zone for a touchdown. Alabama ends their opening drive with an early lead 7-0. 

3:40: Delay of game is called against Alabama on third down, forcing a five-yard penalty. Young completes a pass to Anderson Williams to make the first down for the Crimson Tide.

3:36: Following a pass interference call against the Gators, the Crimson Tide continues their drive at the 40. 

3:34: Bryce Young leads the Alabama offense to start at first down on their own 25. 

3:32: Florida wins the coin toss and defers, Alabama is starting with possession. 

3:30: Florida's backup quarterback Anthony Richardson is shown doing back flips during warmups ahead of kickoff. 

Alabama vs. Florida start time

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 18
  • Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET

Alabama vs. Florida is slated to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 18. The Gators will host the Crimson Tide at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, popularly known as "The Swamp."

How to watch Alabama vs. Florida

  • TV channel (national): CBS
  • Live stream: CBS Sports, fuboTV

Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Gary Danielson (analyst) will call the game from the booth, with Jamie Erdahl acting as the sideline reporter.

Alabama football schedule 2021

Date Opponent Time (ET)
Sept. 4 Alabama 44, Miami 13 —
Sept. 11 Alabama 48, Mercer 14 —
Sept. 18 at Florida 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 vs. Southern Miss 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Ole Miss TBD
Oct. 9 at Texas A&M TBD
Oct. 16 at Mississippi State TBD
Oct. 23 vs. Tennessee TBD
Oct. 30 Bye N/A
Nov. 6 vs. LSU TBD
Nov. 13 vs. New Mexico State TBD
Nov. 20 vs. Arkansas TBD
Nov. 27 at Auburn TBD

Florida football schedule 2021

Date Opponent Time (ET)
Sept. 4 Florida 35, FAU 14 —
Sept. 11 Florida 42, USF 20 —
Sept. 18 vs. Alabama 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 vs. Tennessee 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Kentucky TBD
Oct. 9 vs. Vanderbilt TBD
Oct. 16 at LSU TBD
Oct. 23 Bye N/A
Oct. 30 vs. Georgia TBD
Nov. 6 at South Carolina TBD
Nov. 13 vs. Samford TBD
Nov. 20 at Missouri TBD
Nov. 27 vs. Florida State TBD
Author(s)
Dani Mohr