USF (5-5; 3-3 American) vs Tulsa (3-7; 1-5 American)
Saturday, Nov. 23 • 3:30 P.M. (ET) • Raymond James Stadium (65,000) • Tampa, Fla.
SURFACE: Natural, Bermuda
TV: ESPN+: Jason Ross Jr. (P-by-P) & Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
AUDIO: 102.5 HD2 The Strike & Bulls Unlimited (TuneIn)
SERIES: Tied, 3-3
IN TAMPA: Tulsa leads, 2-1, W, 32-31, in 2021
IN TULSA: USF leads, 2-1
LAST TIME: Tulsa won, 48-42, in 2022
STREAK: Tulsa, won last three, won last two by a total of 7 points
USF GAME NOTES

After USF's program-record 425 rushing yards, a definite highlight in a resounding 59-24 win at Charlotte, you might have expected astonishment or jubilation from the Bulls.

Actually, it was more like business as usual. That's how it's supposed to look. 

And that's the formula USF (5-5, 3-3 American Athletic Conference) hopes to follow Saturday afternoon against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (3-7, 1-5) at Raymond James Stadium, when the Bulls shoot to become bowl eligible.

From the moment of his arrival, head coach Alex Golesh has been clear about USF's intentions. The Bulls are a run-first, up-tempo team that hopes to gash through the defense, move the chains and wear down the opponents by the fourth quarter. Along the way, they will also establish a high-percentage passing game that takes strategic shots.

But it starts with the run.

With a trio of featured running backs and an offensive line that seems to be getting healthy and finding its rhythm, the Bulls appear well-positioned to execute that favored strategy down the stretch of the 2024 season.

The backfield of Kelley Joiner (616 yards, 6.8-yard average, nine touchdowns), Nay'Quan Wright (432 yards, 5.1 average, five touchdown) and Ta'Ron Keith (298 yards, 5.3 average, six touchdowns) has kept opponents guessing.

"It's unique,'' Golesh said. "You've got three of them (backs) and, knock on wood, they've stayed healthy for the most part. I think it helps to stay healthy when you're not taking every single rep.

"These guys are competitive by nature, but they respect each other so much. I think all three of those guys — and the young guys, too — are really intentional in how they work. Certain guys are better at different things. But they are really, really good dudes, all really humble, and they have a respect of each other that makes it work.''

But the bottom line is the play of USF's offensive line.

The Bulls have used five different combinations of players on the O-line this season and right tackle Derek Bowman is the only player to start all 10 games.

Golesh said RJ Perry (a starter in 9 of 10 games) has matured into a reliable left tackle. Zane Herring, an all-conference level talent according to Golesh, missed three games due to injury, but returned against Charlotte at right guard.

Andrew Kilfoyl (a starter in 7 games last year) has returned from injury to start the last four games at left guard. But the biggest change was inserting Cole Best, an occasional starter at left guard, as the regular center (starts in the last 4 games) in place of the familiar Mike Lofton.

Meanwhile, Jack Wilty, a new addition this season after transferring from Colorado, has been the unit's most versatile player, starting games at left tackle, left guard and right guard.

"We made some changes on the offensive line,'' Golesh said. "As soon as AK (Kilfoyl) was healthy enough to go, he had the best week (of practice) and he has hung on there. He has brought us such great size (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) and grittiness. He's really physical and really violent. He's so big that those inside running lanes really get opened up.

"I give Cole (Best) a lot of credit because he hung in there and this was a really tough change. Honestly, Mike Lofton is such a huge part of what we do as a program from a leadership standpoint. He took so many plays (1,050) last season. He got beat up and he pushed through an ankle (injury) at the beginning part of the year. Mike has anchored that group and he's such an awesome human being. He has handled this better than I would have at age 23. He said, 'OK, I get it. He (Best) is playing better than I am right now and he's healthier. They both spend time together and bounce stuff off each other. It's like our whole O-line. They're in it for each other and they work together so well.''

The net effect is a USF rushing offense that now ranks 33rd nationally — and fourth in the AAC — with a 187-yard game average. That's a climb of 43 ranking spots and 34-yards per game since mid-season.

"It feels amazing,'' Perry said. "When you see somebody (on the defense) who is dog tired who doesn't want to go any more, that's ready to tap (out) and you have all your energy left because you're doing what you're used to do, it's just amazing.''

–#GoBulls–