For the first time ever in November, the South Florida Bulls controlled their destiny for the College Football Playoff. South Florida, checking in at No. 24 in the latest CFP committee rankings, was slotted
at No. 12 in the latest mock bracket as the projected fifth-highest ranked conference champion.
The Bulls journeyed north to Annapolis for a road test against Navy, a program renowned for derailing American Conference contenders’ seasons — with 2015 Memphis, 2016 Houston, 2022 UCF, and 2024 Memphis among notable victims. The Midshipmen, fresh off two-straight losses, threw a wrench in USF’s playoff prospects and improved their own American Championship Game odds, outrunning the Bulls in 41-38 fashion.
This matchup featured a highly-anticipated showdown between veteran dual-threat quarterbacks in Byrum Brown and Blake Horvath, and it disappointed. They launched an offensive fireworks show that accrued 79 points and 1,080 yards of offense as both teams averaged north of seven yards per play.
Navy’s FBS-leading rushing offense generated 338 yards and four touchdowns, striking immediately out of the gate on a 76-yard scamper to the house by fullback Alex Tecza, who amassed a team-high 126 yards and two total touchdowns. The Midshipmen’s option-oriented attack also unlocked a functional passing game through Eli Heindenreich. Navy’s all-time leading receiver added 146 yards to an outstanding season résumé, utilizing a one-handed snag on a deep shot for an 82-yard pickup. Heidenreich’s explosive play set up another touchdown on the final play of the opening quarter — handing the home team a 14-3 advantage.
Navy frequently led by two scores but never three. Every time the Midshipmen opened their lead, South Florida responded with their up-tempo, big-play offense. Quarterback Byrum Brown diced up the Navy secondary for 327 yards and two touchdowns while simultaneously adding 136 and two touchdowns on the ground. Navy opened a 24-9 halftime lead, but Brown trimmed that deficit to 27-24 in the early fourth quarter on a 60-yard sprint to the blue and gold checkered end zone.
The Midshipmen entered the final frame ahead 24-16, looking to extend its streak of 77-straight home wins when leading after three quarters. But maintaining that impressive streak required surviving an off-the-rails fourth quarter which saw 39 combined points off five touchdowns and a field goal. To add further adversity, Navy was required to survive a bulk of the quarter without star quarterback Blake Horvath, who exited the game due to apparent cramping. Backup Braxton Woodson — who started last week at Notre Dame — provided relief duties and rose to the occasion. Woodson seamlessly guided the offense to glory with 20 and 64-yard rushing touchdowns, completing a 103-yard outing as one of three runners in the contest to exceed the century mark.
South Florida countered Woodson’s fourth quarter heroics with a dose of creativity. The Bulls cut the deficit to one-score with 6:14 remaining as running back Nykahi Davenport launched a 29-yard deep ball to Jeremiah Koger on a double pass play. Then with 1:55 remaining, Brown’s screen to Mudia Reuben traversed 41 yards to paydirt and the Bulls nailed the 2-point try, getting back in striking distance at 41-38.
Navy recovered the ensuing onside kick, and Horvath briefly returned to action to assist the Midshipmen’s clock-eating efforts. Even with the Bulls exhausting their leftover timeouts, the goal was all but accomplished. South Florida only received one second to operate with from its own 34-yard line, but no miracle arrived, and Navy secured the upset in wire-to-wire fashion.
South Florida (7-3, 4-2 American) no longer controls its own destiny for the American championship or CFP. The Bulls likely drop from the rankings after suffering their second narrow conference defeat in a 3-game span. Championship scenarios remain in play, but USF must rely on 1-loss teams like North Texas, Tulane, and East Carolina to slip-up for an outside shot. Still, Alex Golesh’s team will receive opportunities to build on its winningest regular season since 2018 as UAB and Rice are next on the docket.
Navy (8-2, 6-1 American) vaults itself back into the American title picture after a rough start to November. The Midshipmen are off to their strongest start since 2019 with only one conference matchup remaining. Brian Newberry’s squad receives a week off before resuming action at Memphis on Thanksgiving Night. Navy is still in play for its first American Championship Game appearance since 2016, and the College Football Playoff rankings will have bearing on the Midshipmen’s chances to qualify.
