South Florida Blasts Boise State in Surprising Season-Opening Display of Dominance

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South Florida Blasts Boise State in Surprising Season-Opening Display of Dominance

Thomas Neumann · Athlon Sports

Fri, Aug 29, 2025 ·

5 min read

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TAMPA, Fla. — The South Florida Bulls want your attention.

With a gritty 34-7 win Thursday night over No. 25 Boise State at Raymond James Stadium, the Bulls announced their intent to shake up college football's Group of 5.

"I thought we were physically ready," USF coach Alex Golesh said afterward. "I thought we were mentally ready, and we put it all together. … I thought our focus, our intent, our attention to detail, was really, really good. And so that resulted in a win tonight."

Boise State entered Thursday's season opener as the prohibitive favorite to represent the Group of 5 in the College Football Playoff. But the Bulls outplayed and outcoached the Broncos at nearly every turn. Indeed, the Bulls punched the Broncos in the mouth and never let the visitors catch their breath. The win ended a skid of 18 consecutive losses to ranked teams by the Bulls, dating to a 2016 victory over No. 22 Navy.

"I think we were very aggressive. I think we were very violent at the point of attack," said USF linebacker Mac Harris, who recorded eight tackles. "I'm really proud of what we did, you know, being able to get in and out of defenses and really execute, you know, what we practice over the week."

USF quarterback Byrum Brown completed 16 of 24 passes for 210 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. Keshaun Singleton caught five passes for 93 yards and a touchdown, and Chas Nimrod added three receptions for 96 yards. On the defensive side, Jhalyn Shuler registered 14 tackles, and Ira Singleton recovered two fumbles.

South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown throws a pass against the Boise State Broncos at Raymond James Stadium on Aug. 28, 2025.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

By the time USF tailback Cartevious Norton rumbled up the middle for an 8-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, the outcome was no longer in doubt. Boise then furiously moved down the field to the USF 12-yard line on the ensuing possession, but the Bulls put the final nail in the coffin when Singleton recovered a fumble by Broncos quarterback Maddux Madsen .

USF turned in an impressive defensive performance across the board. Although Madsen and the Broncos gained 378 total yards, the Bulls defense stiffened when it mattered most. The Broncos lost three fumbles to the Bulls, a year after Boise State lost only five fumbles all season. The Bulls also stuffed four of the Broncos' six fourth-down attempts.

"Huge credit to our defense for playing the way they did," Golesh said. "Three turnovers, four fourth-down stops. That's seven, seven possessions that were created. You do that, and you can play with anybody in the country."

The Bulls' biggest stop came late in the third quarter when they forced an incompletion on fourth-and-2 from the USF 23. It immediately translated into points, as Brown connected three plays later with Nimrod on a 55-yard catch to the Broncos' 15. On the subsequent play, Brown turned the corner around the left side, shed a would-be tackler and burst into the end zone for his second rushing score of the game to put the Bulls ahead 24-7.

"I'm very excited that our that our fans, that our students showed up on a Thursday night, knowing that we got school tomorrow," Brown said. "But glad, glad they came out, brought juice, brought energy, and we were like, we could feel it on the field."

South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown greets Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen after the Bulls' victory over the Broncos at Raymond James Stadium on Aug. 28, 2025.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

USF stunned the Broncos and stole the momentum with a fake punt midway through the third quarter. With a fourth-and-6 near midfield, freshman quarterback Locklan Hewlett lined up as the punter, accepted the snap, and uncorked a 45-yard touchdown pass to wideout Keshaun Singleton. Bulls fans erupted in a "USF" chant as the underdog hosts took a 17-7 lead.

"I thought the fake punt spurred it, kind of got the momentum going," Golesh said. "We got the right situation, the right part of the field. It's what we practice, and we needed a spark."

Boise State struck first, capping a 38-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown catch by Chris Marshall. The drive was set up when USF failed to convert a fourth-and-1 in its own territory. The fourth-down attempt was one of the few gambles that didn't work for the Bulls.

Brown gave the Bulls their first lead, 10-7, midway through the second quarter, escaping a collapsing pocket and scrambling 23 yards for a touchdown. At 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds, Brown lowered his head and plowed over Broncos safety Ty Benefield on his way into the end zone to cap an eight-play, 80-yard drive.

"Just wanted to bring some juice to our sideline, you know, just set the tone," Brown said.

Boise State Broncos running back Sire Gaines holds off South Florida Bulls cornerback De'Shawn Rucker at Raymond James Stadium on Aug. 28, 2025.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Boise State appeared poised to retake the lead late in the second quarter when running back Sire Gaines coughed up a fumble at the Bulls' 14-yard line. USF's Ira Singleton scooped up the ball in stride and returned it 22 yards to end the threat.

Looking ahead, the schedule only gets tougher for the Bulls. They travel to Gainesville to play No. 15 Florida on Sept. 6. Then they visit No. 10 Miami on Sept. 13. After that gauntlet, they get a home breather against FCS South Carolina State before embarking on their American Conference schedule against Charlotte on Oct. 3.

If there is a silver lining to that tough slate, it's that the Bulls will have two more days of rest than the Gators, who play host to Long Island on Saturday.

"We got a couple extra days here. We're going to need it," Golesh said. "That was a physical, physical, physical game. We're going to need it. And then turn the page and literally forget about it and keep it moving."

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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