Tag: Bulls

South Florida, Old Dominion turn to backup QBs for Cure Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The South Florida Bulls will make a push for their 10th win this season in Wednesday’s Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla., but they will do it without the standout quarterback that led them through a season that had them ranked at one point.

Byrum Brown, the dual-threat quarterback who ran former coach Alex Golesh’s offense, will not play in the game against the Old Dominion Monarchs (9-3, 6-2 Sun Belt). Brown turns the 9-3 American Conference squad over to senior Gaston Moore for his final college game.

Brown, who passed for 3,158 yards and rushed for 1,008, could head to the NFL draft, follow his former coach to Auburn or return to the Bulls, but he will have a new role in the postseason — assistant coach.

“Byrum continues to attend every team activity/practice and has been incredible in supporting his teammates as he always is,” USF’s CEO of athletics Rob Higgins said on Wednesday. “So much so, that we’ve asked Byrum to serve as a coach in the Cure Bowl to help us get our 10th win.”

Another victory would mark the third time in school history the Tampa school has reached double figures in wins. It did so under coach Charlie Strong in 2017 (10-2) and the year before with coach Willie Taggart (11-2), with both seasons ending with Birmingham Bowl triumphs.

A graduate transfer who played for the Tennessee Volunteers, Moore appeared in seven games this season and went 14-for-20 for 54 yards and a touchdown.

With Golesh gone, current Bulls defensive line coach Kevin Patrick is serving as interim head coach. Tight ends coach Jack Taylor will handle the offensive play-calling.

“(Moore’s) been in the system six years, coming from Tennessee. He’s played some valuable reps there,” Patrick said. “You go watch out at practice, and you talk to our defensive staff and the defensive backfield, I mean, the guy’s got an arm on him.

“He’s confident, and the guys are confident around him.”

Keshaun Singleton has been the Bulls’ top receiver this season, producing 877 yards on 50 receptions with eight TDs — all team highs — in 12 games.

Similarities exist between the two programs.

The Monarchs will be without its driving force and top producer, quarterback Colton Joseph, and also are seeking a 10-win campaign.

The multi-faceted sophomore accounted for 34 touchdowns (21 passing, 13 rushing) and totaled 2,624 passing yards and 1,007 rushing on his way to Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors.

However, the Newport Beach, Calif., product will take his throwing and running talents elsewhere in 2026, most likely a major Power 4 program, after announcing those intentions last Tuesday via social media.

Sophomore Quinn Henicle, Joseph’s backup, will lead the team in Orlando after playing in three games last season and starting the 2024 finale at Arkansas State, a 40-32 victory in which he was 9-of-12 passing for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 19 times for 206 yards and two scores.

The coaching staff has faith that the native of Downingtown, Pa., can be a suitable replacement for Joseph. Henicle is 6-of-15 passing for 57 yards along with 20 carries for 201 yards this season.

“Colt leaving was not a shocker to us,” said Old Dominion offensive coordinator Kevin Decker. “But nothing really changes. All year long, they’ve been 1-2 in practice. Quinn knows every single game plan.”

Trequan Jones has rushed for 736 yards on 97 carries (7.6 per rush) and five scores. Tre’ Brown III totaled 751 yards on 37 receptions (20.3 per catch) and four TDs.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) runs for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Byrum Brown, No. 19 South Florida surge past Florida Atlantic

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Byrum Brown had another all-around performance and quick-tempo No. 19 South Florida subdued the visiting, high-flying Florida Atlantic Owls 48-13 in an American Conference matchup on Saturday night in Tampa, Fla.

Brown, who came into the day with 14 total touchdowns in his last three games, continued his dominant play completing 14 of his 24 passes for 256 yards and three TDs. He added 111 yards rushing and another TD on the ground.

Jeremiah Koger also showed out as he electrified the crowd with a 60-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap off a four-catch, 90-yard showing.

South Florida (6-1, 3-0 American), known for its high-tempo offense, had just one of its scoring drives go longer than 3:15. The Bulls outgained FAU (3-4, 2-2) 522-312.

After South Florida was held without a touchdown on four straight drives, Brown found Wyatt Sullivan on fourth-and-1 for a 24-yard catch-and-run that pushed the lead to 31-13 with 4:10 left in the third quarter.

The Bulls followed that up with Brown’s 60-yard connection to Kroger to make it 38-13 with 13:39 left, putting the game firmly out of reach.

South Florida added a touchdown — a 2-yard rush by Nykahi Davenport — and a 28-yard field goal later in the fourth.

FAU’s Caden Veltkamp was 35-of-50 passing with 244 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Asaad Waseem hauled in eight catches for 56 yards.

Brown opened the game with a designed run up the middle, going untouched 22 yards for the quick 7-0 lead a little more than three minutes into the game. The Owls responded with a 45-yard field goal by Garrison Smith with 5:53 left in the first.

After a missed field goal, the Bulls scored on a 19-yard hook up between Brown and Jonathan Echols to push the lead to 14-3.

After recovering a surprise onside kick after the score, the tricks didn’t stop for the Bulls. They went with 325-pound backup right guard Cole Skinner from 1 yard out to make it 21-3 with 9:40 left in the half.

A field goal right before the break, and a 3-yard pass from Veltkamp to Michael Kirch on the Owls opening drive of the second half made it 21-13.

Nico Gramatica made a 41-yard field goal with 8:20 left in the third before the Bulls’ second half eruption.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) passes the football against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

No. 5 Miami out to deny No. 18 USF third straight upset

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No. 18 South Florida is one of the biggest surprises in college football, but faces its toughest challenge yet on Saturday at No. 5 Miami in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The game wasn’t a Top 25 matchup until the Bulls (2-0) scored their second consecutive victory over a ranked opponent when they shocked then-No. 13 Florida 18-16 in Gainesville last Saturday.

USF opened the season with a convincing 34-7 home victory over Boise State, which was ranked No. 25 at the time.

It was the first time the Bulls beat ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks and the first time they beat two ranked opponents in the same season since 2009.

USF coach Alex Golesh is trying to keep his team from being distracted by the added hype after its strong start.

“I think there’s still so much to play for, there’s so much still ahead of us,” Golesh said this week. “I told the guys last week (after Boise State) and I truly believe this: There’s going to be so many people who are going to tell them how good they are now, how good we are, how good I am. When you’re process-driven, you just go right back to work and you worry about Sunday, you worry about Monday.”

Even before USF’s recent rise, the Hurricanes (2-0) anticipated a tough challenge after the Bulls kept last year’s game close for a half before Miami pulled away 50-15 in Tampa. Miami leads the all-time series 6-1 with the Bulls scoring their lone victory in 2010 at Miami.

Miami’s respect for USF stems in large part from Byrum Brown’s skills as one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. Brown has completed 39 of 60 passes for 473 yards and a touchdown and has 109 rushing yards and two scores on 31 carries.

Brown did not throw or run for a touchdown in last year’s game against Miami, but completed 19 of 30 passes for 274 yards and did not throw an interception. He also caught a 12-yard touchdown pass.

Brown and Carson Beck, who will make his third start for the Hurricanes, trained together in the offseason.

“He’s a good kid. He’s obviously had a lot of success this year. Hopefully he does well the rest of the year,” Beck said on Tuesday. “I’m rooting for him, but this game hopefully our defense comes in and attacks him.”

Beck is coming off a record-breaking performance in a 45-3 win over Bethune-Cookman, completing his first 15 passes to top the school record set by Vinny Testaverde in 1986. Beck has thrived in Miami’s offense, completing 42 of 54 attempts for 472 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Freshman Malachi Toney has emerged as one of Beck’s top targets with 12 catches for 162 yards while CJ Daniels has 119 yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches.

Keshaun Singleton has caught seven passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bulls’ offense.

The Bulls and the Hurricanes each have produced four turnovers without committing one. They are tied for the fifth-best turnover margin in the country among teams yet to turn the ball over.

–Field Level Media

Jim Leavitt is Florida Atlantic's new defensive coordinator this season. ghows_gallery_ei-LK-200819942-c74beda2.jpg

Former South Florida coach Jim Leavitt facing battery, theft charges

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Former South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt was arrested on Monday evening in St. Petersburg, Fla., on a felony grand theft charge and misdemeanor charges of simple battery and domestic battery.

Leavitt, 68, grabbed his ex-girlfriend by the arm as she tried to walk away and took her Louis Vuitton purse, clutch bag and wallet and would not give them back as she attempted to leave, according to arrest affidavits filed in Pinellas County, Fla. Leavitt admitted to authorities that he withheld the items, which are valued between $5,000 and $10,000.

According to a separate affidavit, Leavitt shoved a man in the chest a few minutes later. Leavitt told authorities that the man “walked into his right hand, making contact with the victim’s chest,” per the affidavit.

Leavitt was USF’s first football coach, hired in 1996 and leading the Bulls for 13 seasons (1997-2009). His teams went 95-57 — including the first four as an NCAA Division I-AA independent (1997-2000) before moving up to Division I-A — and went 3-2 in bowl games. The Bulls were ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation (2007).

USF fired Leavitt in January 2010 after its investigation found that during halftime of a game against Louisville, he grabbed one of his players by the throat, slapped him in the face and later lied about it.

Leavitt at the time called the allegations “absolutely false” and later sued the university for wrongful termination. The lawsuit was settled for $2.75 million, per an ESPN report.

He is scheduled to be inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025 on Oct. 2.

Leavitt served as linebackers coach with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers (2011-14) before returning to the college ranks. He was the defensive coordinator at Colorado (2015-16), Oregon (2017-18), Florida Atlantic (2020) and SMU (2021), as well as a defensive analyst at Florida State (2019).

–Field Level Media

Memphis Tigers special teams coach Pete Lembo leads his players during practice at the Billy J. Murphy Athletics Complex on Thursday, April 4, 2019. Jron3223

Buffalo extends contract of head coach Pete Lembo

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Buffalo head coach Pete Lembo agreed to a one-year contract extension on Tuesday that boosts his deal with the school through the 2029 season.

Financial terms were not disclosed for Lembo, who guided the Bulls to a 9-4 record and a 26-7 victory over Liberty in the Bahamas Bowl in his first year on the job. The season win total was one shy of Lance Leipold (2018) for the most in the program’s history.

“Pete Lembo exceeded expectations as our head football coach during his first year at UB,” Buffalo director of athletics Mark Alnutt said. “He has definitely earned and deserves a contract extension. He has instilled an unbelievable culture in our program that resulted in a very successful year both on and off the field.

“In addition to his extension, I recognize the work that his coaching staff has done to contribute to this success and have provided Pete additional resources to assist him with retaining and recruiting critical members of his staff. An incredible foundation has been built under Pete’s leadership and I look forward to continued success as we as a University community work together to build this program as one of the top programs in the Group of Five.”

Lembo, 54, previously was the head coach at Lehigh (2001-05), Elon (2006-10) and Ball State (2011-15), amassing a 112-65 record at those schools.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Jacolby George (3) is tackled by South Florida Bulls cornerback Brent Austin (20) in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Cam Ward throws for 404 yards as No. 8 Miami rolls past South Florida

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Cam Ward passed for 404 yards and three touchdowns, leading the eighth-ranked Miami Hurricanes to a 50-15 win over the host South Florida Bulls on Saturday night in Tampa, Fla.

Miami (4-0) also got three short touchdown runs and a two-point-conversion reception from Damien Martinez.

Hurricanes wide receiver Isaiah Horton caught one TD pass. Miami also got a 91-yard touchdown run from freshman Jordan Lyle, who scored with 3:09 left in the game.

Ward, who many consider a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, completed 24 of 34 passes. He threw one interception, which was initially bobbled by Hurricanes wideout Jacolby George before being picked off.

Horton led Miami’s receivers with eight catches for 108 yards. Xavier Restrepo had six catches for 99 yards and one touchdown, and Samuel Brown had two grabs for 75 yards and one score.

USF (2-2) led twice in the first half before wearing down. Quarterback Byrum Brown completed 19 of 30 passes for 254 yards for the Bulls. He also caught a 12-yard TD pass. However, he limped off the field in the second half and didn’t return.

USF also got the first career field goals by freshman Nico Gramatica (58- and 51-yarders). He is the son of Martin Gramatica, who was a Pro Bowl kicker.

Miami took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards on seven plays. Martinez capped the drive with his 2 yard touchdown run. USF answered with Gramatica’s 58-yard field goal.

USF cornerback Brent Austin intercepted the deflected pass intended for George and that led to a short field. The Bulls converted with a trick play as receiver Sean Atkins tossed the 12-yard TD pass to Brown. The extra point was blocked, and USF led 9-7.

Miami closed the first-quarter scoring with Ward’s 6-yard TD pass on a slant pattern by Horton. That capped an eight-play, 90-yard drive and gave the Hurricanes a 14-9 lead.

USF took a 15-14 lead on an impressive, 19-play, 66-yard drive, which lasted 8:30, that led to John Cannon’s 45-yard field goal.

But Miami came back with a 76-yard TD pass to Brown, who outraced USF’s defenders down the left sideline. Ward flipped a two-point conversion pass to Martinez to take a 22-15 lead.

Miami dominated the third quarter with the period’s only points on a pair of Martinez TD runs, giving the Hurricanes a 36-15 lead.

The Hurricanes then poured it on in the fourth quarter with two more touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) passes the football against the Ball State Cardinals during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

No. 8 Miami, QB Cam Ward bring prolific offense against South Florida

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The eighth-ranked Miami Hurricanes have already scored 159 points – a program record for the first three games of a season.

Miami (3-0) will now travel to Tampa to challenge the host South Florida Bulls (2-1) on Saturday. Miami is a 16.5-point favorite.

After all, the Hurricanes are coming off a 62-0 win over Ball State. That marked Miami’s biggest shutout win ever over an FBS program. With the Ball State game essentially locked up, Miami quarterback Cam Ward was pulled three minutes into the third quarter. But even with such a short stint, Ward still passed for 346 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.

Ward, a transfer from Washington State who is completing 73 percent of his passes this season, is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, according to FanDuel. He has passed for 11 touchdowns, and he is averaging 345 passing yards per game. Even better, Ward has no fumbles and just one interception.

“He is laser-focused,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “He has the right mentality.”

Defensively, the Hurricanes are allowing just 8.7 points per game. Miami’s best defensive player has been defensive end Tyler Baron, who tops the team in tackles for loss (seven) and sacks (4 1/2).

On the other side, South Florida’s defense has impressed Cristobal.

“Their speed, their physicality, their intensity, their ability to tackle in space,” Cristobal said. “There’s a lot to (USF) that made them successful.”

Outside linebacker Mac Harris leads USF in total tackles (19) and stops for loss (3 1/2).

Offensively, the stars are quarterback Byrum Brown, running backs Nay’Quan Wright and Kelley Joiner Jr., and wide receivers Sean Atkins and Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen.

Brown tops USF in passing yards (448) and rushing yards (254). He has two TD passes and two running TDs, as well as zero interceptions.

At running back, Wright – a Miami native – and Joiner are both sixth-year seniors.

Wright has rushed for 188 yards, a 5.7 average and two TDs. Joiner has rushed for 220 yards, a 7.3 average and four TDs.

Atkins, another sixth-year senior, arrived at USF as a walk-on in 2019. Yet he has played 50 games. Last year, he set USF season records for catches (92) and yards (1,054).

Yaseen, who arrived at USF this year as a Purdue transfer, has nine catches and a 13.0 average this season. He’s a fifth-year player.

In its season opener, USF beat heavy underdog Bethune-Cookman 48-3. USF then lost 42-16 at Alabama, although the Bulls trailed just 21-16 with less than six minutes left in that game.

Last Saturday, USF trailed 14-0 midway through the first quarter before rallying for a 49-24 win over Southern Mississippi.

In that game, Joiner had TD runs of 43 and 50 yards, and Wright scored on a 33-yarder.

Joiner and Wright both rushed for over 100 yards.

“I really don’t care about the stats,” said Joiner, who is 26 years old. “I really care about the win.”

This will be the first time Miami and USF have met since 2013, when the Hurricanes won 49-21 in Tampa.

USF coach Alex Golesh said Saturday’s game will be one of the biggest in the 28-season history of Bulls football, and he’s looking for a crowd in excess of 70,000.

“It’s going to a huge night in Tampa,” Golesh said. “We’ve got to get ourselves ready against a really good football team.”

–Field Level Media

Tennessee Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends coach Alex Golesh runs on the field before the Tennessee football season opener game against Ball State in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. Kns Utvbs0901

Reports: USF set to hire Tennessee OC Alex Golesh

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South Florida is set to make Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh its new head coach, multiple outlets reported Saturday night.

Golesh, 38, would replace Jeff Scott, who was fired in November after a 1-8 start. Special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato finished out the season as interim head coach. The Bulls finished 1-11.

The Volunteers led the nation in total offense and scoring offense under Golesh this past season. Golesh is also a Broyles Award finalist for best assistant coach.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; South Florida Bulls running back Brian Battie (21) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Underwhelming seasons collide when Tulsa faces USF

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South Florida and host Tulsa will chase down a rare victory when the teams meet Friday night.

The two American Athletic Conference programs find themselves at the bottom of the standings, with the Bulls owning the cellar due to an eight-game skid. Tulsa is standing right outside the door after dropping three straight.

USF (1-9, 0-6) earned its only win when it defeated FCS Howard 42-20 on Sept. 10 in Week 2. The campaign’s low point occurred Nov. 6 when the Bulls fired head coach Jeff Scott after a 54-28 road loss to Temple.

Interim head coach Daniel Da Prato stepped in Saturday against SMU. The Bulls played better at times, forging a 17-17 tie at halftime before succumbing in a 41-23 setback on their home field.

“Obviously, a difficult week for our young men and for our department. We were able to fight through that for the week and we came out and I’m proud of our kids and their effort,” Da Prato said. “But at the end of the day you play this game to win.”

Quarterback Katravis Marsh was stretchered off the field in the fourth quarter but was “in good spirits, with movement in his extremities,” according to Da Prato.

Running back Brian Battie recorded his third straight 100-yard game, with 145 on the ground, and is within 127 yards of the school’s 10th 1,000-yard rushing season.

In its home finale Friday, ninth-place Tulsa (3-7, 1-5) will try to avoid slipping into last place by improving on offense. Behind quarterbacks Davis Brin and Braylon Braxton, the Golden Hurricane offense generated just 207 yards in Saturday’s 26-10 loss to Memphis. The pair combined to go 17 of 37 for 176 passing yards.

Through its first three games, Tulsa’s offense topped FBS schools with over 43 points per game and 413 passing yards per game, but it has regressed with Brin’s injuries and Braxton’s inconsistency.

“Early in the season, I thought we were hitting on all cylinders and things were coming together,” Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery said. “Where I thought this offense was going to be able to go is in a totally different end of the spectrum than where we are right now.”

USF holds a 3-2 edge in the all-time series, but Tulsa has won the past two meetings — 32-31 last season in Tampa and 42-13 in 2020 at Tulsa.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA;South Florida Bulls head coach Jeff Scott prior to the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

South Florida fires coach Jeff Scott

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South Florida, in the midst of a 1-8 season, fired head football coach Jeff Scott on Sunday.

Special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato was named interim head coach for the rest of the season.

“When Jeff came to Tampa in December of 2019, we had high expectations for where he could take our football program,” athletic director Michael Kelly said in a statement. “While he did so many things right, including rebuilding our culture, pushing forward our Indoor Performance Facility, and engaging our community, the on-the-field results fell well below our standards. He is a tremendous person and class individual and we wish him, Sara, Savannah and Hunter all the best in the future.”

The Bulls lost their seventh straight game Saturday when host Temple pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 54-28 win. South Florida is 0-5 against American Athletic Conference opponents and won its only game against Howard, an FCS opponent.

Scott was hired ahead of the 2020 season after serving as Clemson’s wide receivers coach, run game coordinator and co-offensive coordinator between 2008 and 2019. He originally signed a five-year deal and also inked a two-year extension following the 2021 season.

But South Florida went just 4-26 under Scott, including a paltry 1-19 in conference.

“I would like to thank our players, coaches and staff members for all their hard work during my time as the head coach at USF,” Scott said in a statement. “I especially want to thank USF President Rhea Law and Vice President/Director of Athletics Michael Kelly for giving me the incredible opportunity to lead the football program the last three years. I will miss this team and will do anything in my power to help them in the future. I am disappointed that our hard work didn’t translate to more success on the field, but I am confident that we have set a new foundation. I know the future of USF football is bright and my family and I will always remember our time at USF as a very special chapter in our lives.”

–Field Level Media