South Florida (8-3; 5-2 American) vs Rice (5-6; 2-5 American)
Saturday, November 29 • 7:00 PM • Raymond James Stadium (65,000) • Tampa, Fla.
SURFACE: Bermuda Grass
TV: ESPN+: Eric Rothman (P-by-P), Patrick Murray Jr. (Analyst) & Savanna Collins (sideline)
RADIO: Q105 FM & Bulls Unlimited (digital)
SERIES: Tied 1-1, last, L, 35-28 at Rice in 2024
IN TAMPA: 1-0, last, W, 42-29 in 2023
IN HOUSTON: 0-1, last, L, 35-28 in 2024
LAST TIME: Rice won 35-28 in Houston in 2024
VS AMERICAN: 43-60,
AMERICAN HOME GAMES: 23-26, last: W vs. UTSA, 55-23
AMERICAN ROAD GAMES: 19-31; last: won one
SOUTH FLORIDA GAME NOTES
FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT GIVEAWAYS
BULLSEYE COACHES SHOW
HERD HERE FIRST
The what-might-have-been quality of USF's football season is an unavoidable topic. What's done is done. Heartbreaking three-point defeats at Memphis and Navy — six lousy points — took away USF's hopes of reaching the American Conference Championship Game.
But good football teams remain focused on what they can control. This season still represents a quantum leap forward in plenty of ways.
The Bulls (8-3, 5-2 American) can clinch the program's fourth overall unbeaten home record (and first since 2002) by defeating the Rice Owls (5-6, 2-5) Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium. USF also remains in the hunt for a double-digit victory season (achieved only twice before) and a third consecutive bowl win (achieved just once before).
The wins against Boise State, Florida and North Texas might seem like an eternity ago, but they still count just the same. And if the Bulls finish strong by defeating Rice and winning their bowl game, this team will have a spot near the top of the program's hierarchy.
Here are the keys for USF to defeat Rice on Senior Night and Fan Appreciation Night (with giveaways galore for the loyal supporters).
1. Control The Emotions — It's Senior Night, time for 30 USF players (and their families) to be recognized during an on-field ceremony. There's no telling how everyone will react. And for some players, their football careers are coming to a close.
Everyone wants to play well in that situation. To achieve that, the Bulls must employ a businesslike, composed approach, while not trying to do too much.
"It's a lot of guys who have done so much for our program and it will be great to see that recognized,'' head coach Alex Golesh said. "After that, we've got to go win a ballgame.''
Offensive coordinator Joel Gordon said his emotions will be heightened because the Senior Day group includes about a dozen players who performed for the 1-11 team of 2022. They helped build the foundation of a USF program that has turned it around.
"We appreciate those guys so much,'' Gordon said. "Nobody sees the behind-the-scenes, the heartache they went through, the work they put in to help get this thing going. These guys will always be special to us.''
2. Defensive Discipline — Remember a few weeks ago against Navy? Remember the buzzwords such as "gap discipline'' and "eye control'' and "staying at home?''
Those concepts have returned.
Rice's offense isn't a carbon copy of Navy, but there are some similarities. Under first-year head coach Scott Abell, the Owls have employed the "gun triple option,'' which is heavy on a deceptive-looking running game. Rice's players can employ their quick-thinking, decision-making skills. It worked very well at Abell's previous stop (Football Championship Subdivision member Davidson College).
"We can't recruit like a lot of programs can't recruit,'' Abell said. "This gives us an opportunity to be a little different.''
Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said his unit will have its work cut out — again.
"There are some comparisons to Navy, but the shotgun run by Rice adds a new dimension,'' Orlando said. "They want to run it downhill. They will be very purposeful in what they try to do. So again, we have got to be sound and disciplined or else they can hurt you.''
3. Avoid Mistakes — The Bulls took care of business nicely during the second half of last week's 48-18 victory at UAB.
But it wasn't a clean game.
The Bulls had a season-high 13 penalties for 104 yards — eight flags in the first half alone — along with a lost fumble by WR Mudia Reuben at the UAB 25-yard line.
"The penalties are probably the thing that I'm most disappointed with, and it really was on both sides of the ball,'' Golesh said. "That was as many (13) as we've had, and it would indicate a level of lack of focus, a level of undisciplined play with some of it. Some penalties … they happen. You can live with them. You can coach through them and keep it moving. But some I was really disappointed in. We were down 10-7 at the end of the first quarter and then I thought both sides settled in and we were able to go be the best version of us."
It wasn't super critical because USF largely had the game in hand, but you never want to see that trend continue. Rice has forced just six turnovers all season — only Georgia State (four) has fewer — to tie for 130th nationally in that category.
A lack of penalties and NO turnovers (achieved three times this season) would make everyone really happy.
4. Byrum Brown (Shocker!) — This has now become a weekly category — and why not?
If Byrum Brown isn't recognized as a major key to practically everything accomplished by USF football, what are we even talking about?
Brown needs 117 passing yards and 96 rushing yards to become the 12th Football Bowl Subdivision player ever with 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season (that list including four Heisman Trophy winners).
Brown leads the nation in total offense (344 yards per game) and points responsible for (20.5 per game).
"Byrum's ceiling is crazy high,'' Golesh said. "I see a dude who has continued to get better every single week. From Week One to where he is right now in his confidence level … that has also improved. His energy (in practice) was crazy. I think he's enjoying every moment. He's enjoying his teammates and he's enjoying the process. His energy is so contagious.
"I've said it 100 times. When you can point to your quarterback as an example of what process should look like, what toughness should look like, what grit should look like, what personality should look like, what competitive nature should look like, well, then you've got (a great team).''
For Gordon, the memories of Brown's season will continue to linger.
"The numbers and statistics are enormous,'' Gordon said. "But what I'll remember is how Byrum Brown continued to improve and brought the energy in practice every single day. That gives you energy as a coach and as a team overall.''
–#GoBulls–
