USF (4-4; 2-2 American) at Memphis (6-2; 3-1 American)
Saturday, Nov. 4 • 3:00 P.M. • Liberty Stadium (58,325) • Memphis, Tenn.
SURFACE: Astro Turf
TV: ESPN+: James Westling (PxP) & Doc Holliday (Analyst)
AUDIO: 102.5 FM & HD 2/ TuneIn - Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: Memphis Leads, 7-4
IN TAMPA: Memphis leads, 4-1
IN MEMPHIS: Memphis leads, 3-2
NEUTRAL: USF leads, 1-0; 2008 St. Petersburg Bowl
LAST TIME: Memphis won, 34-33, in Memphis, 2020
STREAK: Memphis has won last two
USF GAME NOTES
As the USF football team (4-4, 2-2 AAC) prepares to begin the regular season's home stretch Saturday afternoon against the Memphis Tigers (6-2, 3-1 AAC) at Liberty Stadium in Tennessee, the Bulls are much better equipped to handle the challenges of a road trip.
On Sept. 30, the Bulls snapped the program's 19-game road losing streak with a victory at Navy. USF is now 2-2 away from Raymond James Stadium while shooting for its third road victory this season, which would be the most for a Bulls team since 2017.
"I think what enables guys to have confidence is what they put into it, how they prepare throughout the week, whether you're on the road or at home,'' head coach Alex Golesh said. "Sometimes I feel like being on the road takes some distractions out of it.
"Obviously, you love being at home, you love the home fans, the noise, all of that. But I feel like we've almost rallied better at times on the road because it's us and nobody else other than the 150 guys and gals who are in the travel party.''
Golesh said he "doesn't put a ton of stock'' into the difference between winning on the road or at home, saying the process must remain consistent, regardless of the venue. He does keep things on the same time schedule — such as bed checks and meals — but the objective never changes.
For Bulls junior defensive end Tramel Logan, who had never won a road game in his USF career (which began in 2020), this season has been a welcome change.
"We didn't know what that (winning on the road) felt like,'' Logan said. "Now we know about that situation. We know how to do it, so it's going to be on us to stay the course and execute.
"I think it's fun playing on the road and especially winning on the road. You definitely want to turn it up when you're going into an atmosphere where they don't want you to win. It just adds fuel to the fire and gives us extra fuel. You can prove the other team wrong in front of their own fans.''
Running back Nay'Quan Wright, a transfer from Florida, said it's all about setting the proper tone in a hostile environment.
"You stick to your fundamentals and you trust your culture,'' Wright said. "On offense, our attitude is bringing the juice and the energy, then being prepared to go for 60 minutes. Trust the coaching. Trust the play call. Then go out and execute.''
Wright has done that very well recently, rolling to a career-high 186 rushing yards on 26 carries in USF's 24-21 come-from-behind victory at UConn on Oct. 21. And USF's defense showed up as well, limiting the Huskies to 368 yards after struggling to stifle the offenses of UAB and Florida Atlantic.
"We had a lot of guys banged up (against UAB and FAU) and we weren't playing the way we needed to play,'' Logan said. "We know how it looks when we practice at a high level and what it looks like on game day, so we're back to that and we need to stay on that course with that same mentality.''
The Bulls, coming off their lone bye week, will need to be in top form to compete against Memphis, which has only been defeated by two nationally ranked teams (Missouri and Tulane). The Tigers offense, directed by junior quarterback Seth Henigan, has put up big numbers the last two weeks in defeating UAB (45-21) and North Texas (45-42).
Henigan clinched the win against North Texas on a 38-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Scates with 12 seconds remaining.
Henigan has completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 2,186 yards, 16 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. The Tigers also have a formidable rusher in Blake Watson (762 yards, nine touchdowns, 6.4-yard average).
"He (Henigan) is super-efficient and doesn't make a ton of mistakes,'' Golesh said. "You can see the confidence. He gets them into the right plays. That last drive in the North Texas game, you watch him and he takes the field like, 'Man, I've been here before.' Because he has (been there) … and he has great confidence.''
The Bulls have confidence, too, after approaching November with a realistic shot at bowl eligibility. The ability to win road games only makes things seem more achievable down the stretch.
But Golesh said the focus must remain on Memphis — and nothing else.
"The next game is the only thing that matters,'' Golesh said. "It was that way when we were 0-1, 3-2 … and it will be that way at some point in the program when we're 12-0. We're worried about this week. We'll worry about the rest later. As soon as you look to something beyond this week, your mind starts going all over the place and you play that way.
"Let's make the important things the important things. The important thing is today's practice, how I performed, what I learned from it. How I treat my body. What I put into my body. Tonight (Tuesday) is Halloween. Can I keep my butt home because I have to be ready to go (Wednesday) at 7:25? … It's a huge challenge for an adult, let alone an 18-to-24-year-old kid. Easier said than done. But if you're worried about something past Memphis, you're going to get your butt waxed.''
–#GoBulls–
