University of South Florida
Kent State
USF Football Returns To Ray Jay For Homecoming Clash vs. Kent State
October 14, 2026 | Football
GAME 7: Bulls vs. Golden Flashes Title sponsor: Florida Blue
Giveaway: 30th Anniversary Acrylic Commemorative Ticket
- honoring the very first ticket ever issued for South Florida football (first 5,000 fans)
Raymond James Stadium (65,000) • Saturday, Oct. 17 • 7:00 PM
TV: ESPN+ - Play-by-Play: T.J. Rives; Analyst: Patrick Murray
RADIO: Q105FM & Bulls Unlimited (digital) - Play-by-Play: Jim Lighthall, Analyst: Joey Johnston Sideline: Rock Riley
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The South Florida Bulls (4-2, 1-2 American) are close. Arguably, the Bulls are two third-down stops away from an unbeaten season.
But in the world of head coach Brian Hartline, getting close is never enough. As the Bulls prepare for Saturday night's homecoming game against the Kent State Golden Flashes (2-4, 1-2 MAC) at Raymond James Stadium, it's another opportunity to get better at the mid-point of the season heading into South Florida's bye week.
"I'll say this because I said it (during) the first four games: 'We are not result-based. We are process-based,' '' Hartline said during his Tuesday news conference. "The results are just a reflection of how our process has been going. We're finding ways to keep the things that are good, (dispense) of the things that are bad and get buy-in from every single person in this building.''
Even with those third-down stops and a potential unbeaten record, though, Hartline said he would have the same outlook.
"Any arguing (or) justification for the outcome is just a loser mentality,'' Hartline said. "Once you start getting satisfied with being close, you're going to have way too many (negatives). We understand the importance of winning one-score games and we're not doing it at as high of a level as I wish we were.
"Even if we were six-and-zero, the mentality doesn't change. Maybe it's a little easier. You feel better laying down at night. I mean, I don't need that right now. I don't think our players do, either. We're hungry to continue to grow and build something great.''
On Oct. 3, the Bulls were defeated 17-13 at home by Temple, which surged ahead on a 34-yard touchdown run on third-and-7 by Owls quarterback Ajani Sheppard with 3:08 remaining. The Bulls had just 319 yards of offense.
Last Thursday, the Bulls were beaten 31-24 at UTSA, which mounted a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive and scored with 15 seconds remaining. That drive was kept alive by a 19-yard scramble by Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown on third-and-5.
"Against Temple, offensively I felt like we let the team down … and I think defensively we let the team down too (against UTSA), so it's kind of like one each,'' Hartline said. "I think the coaches are blaming themselves and and the players are blaming themselves, which is a great sign. There's no finger-pointing at all. The players are fully owning every situation and the coaches are owning every situation. That's how you want to get started. Now we've got to get it fixed.''
The Bulls are halfway home in the regular season, but they are all the way home in frustration over their inability to consistently master the little things.
"It comes down to doing your one-eleventh on offense,'' tight end Evan Dangler said. "It's similar to defense, but on offense, if there's one person who doesn't do their one-eleventh, if there's one person who MA's (missed assignment) or gets beat or doesn't do their job, the whole play can be ruined. You'll see explosives (plays of 15 yards or greater) when everyone on the field is doing their one-eleventh. They're doing it the way they're coached to do it.''
"I think in that second half (at UTSA), it just became a lack of focus,'' defensive tackle Asani Redwood said. "Missing simple tackles. Not getting off blocks. Not making the plays when they were supposed to be there. On the two-minute drill, on the scramble that he (McCown) had, it's just us D-linemen having proper rush lanes. We got out of those a little bit and then he got out of there. It's just the little things that we lost focus in, and I think that's where they capitalized to win that game.''
Hartline said he's happy with the response of his team following two difficult defeats. He said there's full attention on Kent State. Next week's bye will provide the opportunity for self-scouting and one last deep breath before finishing the regular season with five consecutive American Conference games, three at home.
"It's probably very easy to get down (based on) expectations you have or things that guys want to accomplish,'' Hartline said. "(Maybe you're saying) 'Ah, it's not the season I hoped I was having personally or all of a sudden the team is not where I wanted it to be.' There's a lot of ways to get distracted (like that).
"The reality is if you're not at the level of player you want to be to chase your dreams and if the team's not at the level you want it to be to chase your goals, there's nowhere else to go. Just push forward. (Otherwise) you're overthinking and you're trying to worry about your feelings. The game doesn't care. If you're not where you want to be, (you've got to) enhance, grow and get better. That's it. The expectations right now are to enhance each week, grow weekly, and hopefully it shows up on Saturday. I don't know any other way.''
–#GoBulls–
Joey Johnston
Athletics Senior Writer
