While many South Florida fans were optimistic of this year’s outlook, perhaps even the most confident faction didn’t envision what was coming Thursday night.
South Florida welcomed reigning Mountain West champion Boise State, fresh off serving as the 3-seed in the prior year’s College Football Playoff. The Bulls didn’t just beat the Broncos — they relentlessly chased them out of town. The end result was a 34-7 thrashing with USF contributing the final 34 points in the program’s first ranked win since
2016.
The Bulls hadn’t ranked better than 99th in scoring defense throughout the 2020s, but the team immediately asserted its presence on that side of the ball. Outside linebacker Mac Harris punched out the pigskin on Boise State’s opening drive, allowing his partner-in-crime, inside linebacker Jhalyn Shuler, to recover for an immediate turnover. That proved to be quite the tone-setter, and South Florida manufactured a 3-0 advantage in the turnover battle, securing three lost fumbles all inside the USF 40-yard line.
Despite the defensive dominance, Boise State still managed the first points of the game. Veteran quarterback Maddux Madsen found Chris Marshall on a quick slant in the waning minutes of the first quarter, providing the favored Broncos an early 7-0 advantage. At that point, Boise State’s defense was controlling the game. The Bulls were suffocated to -3 yards in the first quarter as their opponent looked unfazed by their signature up-tempo offense.
That changed in the second quarter when quarterback Byrum Brown — starting his first game since September 2024 — launched a deep ball to Tennessee transfer Chas Nimrod 0n 3rd and 17. The Bulls offense finally ignited, and Brown tore up Boise State with his cannon arm and lightning feet. A 37-yard strike from Brown to Keshaun Singleton set up a 23-yard rushing score for the mobile quarterback to provide USF a 10-7 advantage — one that would never be relinquished.
A subsequent red zone fumble by the Broncos protected that lead at halftime. And when it was time for South Florida to extend it, the coaching staff chose to be bold. On 4th and 6 from the Boise State 45, USF disguised true freshman backup quarterback Locklan Hewlett as the punter, and Hewlett launched a sky ball covering roughly 40 yards of air distance to Singleton for a game-changing touchdown. The Bulls’ momentum only amplified after that moment. They forced a turnover on downs and extended the lead on a rapid 3-play drive, resulting in Brown’s second rushing touchdown of the evening.
Brown stuffed the stat sheet in a triumphant return from injury, completing 16-of-24 passes for 210 yards, including three crucial throws exceeding 35 yards. As a rusher, he only gained 43 yards due to absorbing four sacks that cost 27, but the 6’3”, 231 pounder’s escapability and elusiveness proved a challenge to an experienced Boise State defense. Singleton and Nimrod were the other offensive stars as the recipients of USF’s home run passing plays. Singleton managed 93 yards on five receptions, while Nimrod added 95 on three in his first game as a Bull.
As stellar as the offense was, the story was South Florida’s defense which aims to change its narrative from past years. Boise State featured one of the best rushing offenses in the country in 2024, led by Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty’s 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns. However, the Broncos struggled to find their new Jeanty against the Bulls’ front. Redshirt freshman Sire Gaines collected a team-high 44 rushing yards on nine carries, but collectively, Boise State was held to 122 rushing yards on a 3.2 average.
Shuler shined with 14 tackles while cornerback De’Shawn Rucker added 11. In addition to a commanding victory in the turnover battle, South Florida produced four separate fourth down stops as Boise State’s offense struggled to remain on the field. Thursday marked the second time in the Golesh era South Florida held an FBS opponent to single-digits after shutting out Syracuse in the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl.
The Broncos fall to 0-1 as their 10-game regular season win streak snapped at Raymond James Stadium. Meanwhile, South Florida won its first matchup against FBS competition for the first time since 2018. Not only does this victory bode well for Golesh and the Bulls, but it’s a statement for the American Conference. The Mountain West secured one of the five automatic College Football Playoff bids reserved for conference champions, and should Boise State remain in the conference title picture, USF’s seamless victory could serve as a powerful argument for the American.
But overall, Thursday night was a moment South Florida fans had been yearning for, and that moment finally arrived in spectacular fashion.
