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USF (6-6; 4-4 American) vs San Jose State (7-5; 3-4 MWC)
Tuesday, Dec. 24 • 8:00 P.M. (ET) • Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (16,909) • Honolulu, HI       
SURFACE: Artificial Turf
TV:   ESPN: Tiffany Greene (P-by-P) & Jay Walker (Analyst) & Marilyn Payne (Reporter)
         & ESPN Deportes: Rigo Plascencia (P-by-P) & Alex Pombo (Analyst)
         ESPN+         ESPN Spanish Language
AUDIO: USF Broadcast: 102.5 FM/102.5 HD2 The Strike & Bulls Unlimited (TuneIn)   - Jim Louk, B.J. Daniels & Caylee Cottrell
              ESPN National Radio: Kevin Winter & Trevor Matich
SERIES: USF leads, 1-0
IN TAMPA: NA
IN SAN JOSE: USF won, 42-22, in 2017
LAST TIME: USF won first-ever meeting, 42-22 in 2017 at San Jose State
BOWL RECORD: 7-4
LAST BOWL: Won 2023 Boca Raton Bowl over Syracuse, 45-0
USF GAME NOTES

For the USF Bulls, the Hawai'i Bowl always was a classic mix of business and pleasure.

The pleasures have been obvious. After a 12-hour, 4,700-mile journey to one of the world's most famous destinations, the Bulls have toured Pearl Harbor, been to an authentic Hawaiian luau and witnessed world-class waves in the Pacific Ocean. With Diamond Head serving as a backdrop, it was fun just staring out the balcony windows and taking in the gorgeous setting.

Bulls head coach Alex Golesh described it as "the trip of a lifetime.''

But it's also been the very real business of preparing to compete Tuesday night when the Bulls (6-6) challenge the Mountain West Conference's San Jose State Spartans (7-5) in a Christmas Eve ESPN telecast that offers compelling opportunities. It's another chance to build USF's emerging brand. With a victory — and an entertaining show — the Bulls can storm into the offseason with great momentum.

If USF defeats San Jose State, it finishes 7-6 with a bowl victory, the same scenario as last season's debut with Golesh.

Progress?

"On paper, you'd say, 'Man, we're exactly where we were a year ago,' '' Golesh said. "Obviously, we've got to win more football games. But if you look at the culture in our locker room — as you look at how we have built culture, built a team, built trust and built a brotherhood — I think we are so much further ahead than we were a year ago.

"Does it show on the record? It obviously doesn't. And I'm as disappointed as anybody with how it ended (35-28 defeat at Rice in the regular-season finale). But we're getting better. We're getting bigger and stronger. The young guys are getting older. I am truly encouraged. But whatever that distance is from where we are to playing for a championship, that last step is incredibly hard. As hard as the last two years have been, the last step is huge. It's not even personnel. It's a complete belief that when you walk into that arena every Saturday, that you know you're going to win that game. We're not far away from that.''

Winning the Hawai'i Bowl is the next step.

Here are the keys to USF defeating San Jose State:

The Right Mentality

Golesh had it pegged from the start when he said there are two types of bowl teams:

* The team that's happy to be there.

* The team that's there to win a football game.

Who wouldn't be distracted by Hawai'i? Who wouldn't be tempted to take the foot off the gas a bit? Who wouldn't look to cut a corner or two and enjoy the surroundings?

Golesh wants his players to have fun with family and friends, but he has also demanded their full attention when it comes to football.

The Bulls can finish 7-6. Or they can finish 6-7. Big difference there. That should be enough motivation. And there should be a complete disdain for the effort put forth at Rice and a huge desire to erase that feeling.

Mark it down: This game is mostly about mindset.

 

Slow Down The Passing Game

San Jose State's passing concepts are tremendous. The Spartans are fifth nationally in passing (325.2 yards per game) and quarterback Walker Eget ranks fifth in yards per completion (14.35).

Big caveat: Sixth-year receiver Nick Nash, who should clinch the Football Bowl Subdivision "Triple Crown'' by leading the nation in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,382) and receiving touchdowns (16), has opted-out of the Hawaii Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft.

Pretty big deal — for sure.

But Eget and the fleet of Spartan receivers still pose a formidable threat against USF, which ranks 127th nationally in passing yards allowed (278.7). The Bulls have faced a lineup of impressive quarterbacks, including Alabama's Jalen Milroe (199 yards passing), Miami's Cam Ward (404), Tulane's Darian Mensah (326), Memphis' Seth Henigan (208), UAB's Jalen Kitna (384), Florida Atlantic's Cam Fancher (306) and Rice's E.J. Warner (430).

You can add Eget to that list. USF's ability to manage San Jose State's passing game will have plenty to say about which team prevails.

 

Avoid Mistakes

Ball-hawking San Jose State has forced 27 turnovers, which ranks third nationally. The Spartans have 20 interceptions, which is tied for first nationally.

It's a simple formula that almost always adds up to victories (or defeats).

In USF's six defeats this season, the turnover margin was minus-5.

In USF's six victories this season, the turnover margin was plus-12.

 

Turn It Loose

Whether it's Bryce Archie or Byrum Brown (possibly seeing his first action since Sept. 28) at quarterback, the Bulls would be well-advised to take a daring offensive approach and hold nothing back.

That's usually the approach in a bowl game, where playbooks are emptied, chances are taken and fun high-scoring contests are commonplace.

Let's see at least one crazy formation. Don't ignore the running game — Kelley Joiner, Nay'Quan Wright and Ta'Ron Keith deserve their touches — but Sean Atkins should get his shot at another touchdown pass, right? What a parting shot that would be.

No offense to Andrew Stokes, the first-team All-American Athletic Conference punter, but we wouldn't be opposed to him taking the night off, even with family in from Australia attending the game.

Bulls-Spartans should be a fun one. So, USF needs to hold up its end of the bargain.

Turn it loose.

–#GoBulls–