Feb 3, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; a general view of the stadium during the AFC versus NFC Pro Bowl practice and media day at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

USF-Memphis game moved to Orlando after Milton

Already moved on the calendar because of Hurricane Milton, the upcoming game between South Florida and Memphis is also changing locations.

The American Athletic Conference announced Thursday that the game would be moved from Tampa to Orlando, at Camping World Stadium. Earlier this week, the game was moved from its original Friday slot to Saturday. Kickoff will remain at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Orlando will now host two games on Saturday, as UCF will face Cincinnati in a Big 12 game at the Knights’ FBC Mortgage Stadium.

Milton made landfall in the Tampa area on Wednesday evening and tore through much of Central Florida. As of Thursday night, at least a dozen people had been killed by the storm and more than 2 million remained without power. The storm also ripped most of the roof off Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.

–Field Level Media

Motorist make their way North on I-75 Monday afternoon, October 7, 2024 as some were evacuating from South Florida because of Hurricane Milton which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday near the Tampa Bay area. Residents of Marion County were preparing for Hurricane Milton Monday afternoon, at local supply stores like Home Depot and people were grabbing their 10 bags of sand at locations throughout the city and county.

Memphis-USF game in Tampa moved to Saturday due to Milton

Friday night’s game between Memphis and host South Florida in Tampa, Fla., has been rescheduled for Saturday due to Hurricane Milton.

The American Athletic Conference announced the change on Tuesday. Saturday’s game at Raymond James Stadium will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET, conditions permitting.

Memphis (4-1, 0-1 AAC) dropped its league opener at Navy, 56-44, on Sept. 21.

South Florida (2-3, 0-1) has been idle since a 45-10 defeat at Tulane in its AAC opener on Sept. 28.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Tigers linebacker Chandler Martin (11) against Tulane Green Wave offensive linemen Rashad Green (69) during the second half at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Memphis, South Florida, UTSA, Tulane pledge to stay in American

The next spin on the conference realignment carousel won’t include Memphis, South Florida, UTSA or Tulane.

The American Athletic Conference released a statement Monday saying those four schools are committed to remaining in the league, following reports that they could be targets of the rebuilding Pac-12 Conference.

At the same time, all 15 member institutions published graphics on social media that plotted their locations on a map, with one word prominently featured: “Committed.”

“We are the American Athletic Conference. A conference that prioritizes student-athlete welfare, has proud academic institutions, produces fierce competition at the highest level, and has outstanding linear and direct-to-consumer national media partners,” the AAC’s statement read.

“Together, we are committed to continuing to build the American brand, exploring new opportunities for exposure and value, and developing innovative economic resources — all in service of our student-athletes.”

The statement acknowledged that some of its member institutions received interest from “other conferences.” Though the schools weren’t named, the corresponding social media post featured the logos of Memphis, South Florida, UTSA and Tulane across the top.

The AAC said it was “in our individual and collective best interests to uphold our commitment to each other.”

The Pac-12 began a regrowth of sorts two weeks ago when it was announced the league would add Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State from the Mountain West in 2026. Joining Oregon State and Washington State, that would bring the league to six members, with eight the minimum required for the league to be recognized as an FBS conference once again.

Memphis, Tulane and others were reported to be among the Pac-12’s next targets.

“The landscape of college athletics has shifted dramatically in the past few years,” the University of Memphis said in its own statement. “With that, our focus has remained on ensuring our student-athletes are given the best possible environment to perform their sports and academics at the highest level. After considering other potential options, we have decided our current partnership with the American Athletic Conference is in the best interest of our student-athletes and the future of our University.”

The AAC has 14 football-playing members after losing SMU to the ACC but adding Army ahead of the 2024 season. Army and Navy are football-only members, while Wichita State plays most of its sports in the AAC but does not field a football team.

–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

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

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

Sep 7, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA;  Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) runs for a touchdown against South Florida Bulls defensive lineman Rico Watson III (34) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Jalen Milroe accounts for 4 TDs as No. 4 Alabama tops USF

Jalen Milroe passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two to help No. 4 Alabama slide past South Florida 42-16 on Saturday night in nonconference play at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Jam Miller rushed for 140 yards and one score, Justice Haynes added a rushing touchdown and Kobe Prentice and Ryan Williams each caught touchdown passes for the Crimson Tide (2-0).

Milroe completed 17 of 27 passes for 199 yards for Alabama, which scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to break open a close affair.

Byrum Brown completed 15 of 35 passes for 103 yards and rushed for 108 yards on 23 carries for South Florida (1-1). Ta’Ron Keith rushed for a touchdown for the Bulls, who were outgained 393-309.

South Florida trailed by just five past the midway point of the fourth quarter before the Crimson Tide pulled away with three touchdowns in a span of 4:13.

Last season, South Florida gave Alabama a stern battle in Tampa, Fla. That contest was a one-score margin until the Crimson Tide scored a touchdown with 33 seconds left for a 17-3 victory.

This year, the Bulls moved within 14-13 on Keith’s 2-yard scoring run with 9:35 left in the third quarter.

The Crimson Tide increased their lead to eight when Milroe tossed a 16-yard scoring pass to Prentice with 10:04 left in the contest.

John Cannon kicked a 22-yard field with 6:45 remaining to bring South Florida within 21-16.

It took just three plays for the Crimson Tide to push their cushion to 12. Williams, the 17-year-old star freshman, caught a short pass from Milroe and turned it into a 43-yard score down the left sideline with 5:50 left in the contest.

Miller added a 56-yard run to make it 35-16 with 2:30 remaining, and Haynes scored on a 29-yard run with 1:37 to go.

South Florida outrushed the Crimson Tide 108-34 in the first half but had to settle for two field goals from Cannon and trailed 14-6 at the break.

Cannon kicked a 34-yard field goal on the first possession of the game for the Bulls.

Milroe put Alabama ahead on a 10-yard scoring run with 5:08 left in the opening quarter. Cannon booted a 25-yarder to move South Florida within 7-6 with 9:45 left in the first half.

Milroe rushed for a 5-yard scoring run with 3:28 left in the half to give Alabama a 14-6 lead.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA;  Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) scrambles behind blocking by offensive lineman Elijah Pritchett (57) during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium.  Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

No. 4 Alabama on guard vs. South Florida after last year’s close call

South Florida gave Alabama a major scare in last season’s battle in Tampa, Fla.

The Bulls (1-0) will look to give the No. 4 Crimson Tide (1-0) another tough contest when the teams play on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Last year’s contest was closer than the 17-3 final margin as Alabama scored a touchdown with 33 seconds remaining to seal it.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe didn’t see any action after being benched by then-coach Nick Saban following the previous week’s loss to Texas. He was restored as the starter after the team’s shaky offensive performance against South Florida.

Saban retired in the offseason and was replaced by Kalen DeBoer, who said he isn’t paying much attention to last season’s affair.

“I think there’s a piece they probably remember, but I didn’t experience that with them,” DeBoer said. “So it’s not like I’m really drawing on that, reminding them that it was a closer game. And that falls in line with what one of our pieces of our program is, is to respect all and fear none.

“So that respect factor was there this last week. It’s gonna be there again this week. And I’m sure that there’s certain guys that went through that, as you’re suggesting, that have a different type of determination on top of what we’re trying to do with this 2024 team.”

South Florida hasn’t forgotten the close call and it’s not about to be intimidated in the rematch.

“It will be a really, really awesome challenge,” Bulls coach Alex Golesh said. “That’s one of the better teams in the entire country. I think if we play to our potential and we get our process right … we’ll have a chance to go win the football game. I know our guys, by the time it’s Friday and we get on that plane to Birmingham, they’ll be ready to roll. It’ll be fun.”

South Florida has beaten a Top 5 team just once — a 21-13 victory over No. 5 West Virginia in 2007.

Alabama was sharp in DeBoer’s debut and pummeled Western Kentucky 63-0 last weekend.

Milroe, a Heisman Trophy candidate, passed for three touchdowns and rushed for two. He completed 7 of 9 passes for 200 yards and rushed for 79 yards on 10 attempts.

Freshman Ryan Williams caught touchdown passes of 84 and 55 yards in his college debut.

“People forget he’s 17 years old, and then he’s a guy that came in in the summer time,” Milroe said of Williams. “But I’m super excited for him because he’s a guy that put his head down to work, constantly trying to improve as much as possible as a player.

“He did a really good job for us, but there’s always room for growth and room for our whole offense to keep climbing the ladder.”

South Florida opened with a 48-3 trouncing of FCS program Bethune-Cookman.

Kelley Joiner rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries for the Bulls. The 25-year-old is in his sixth season with South Florida.

“It always feels good to go out and get a win,” Joiner said. “It’s a great way to start my last season. I’ll always remember this game. We work all spring and all training camp for these moments and I’m very excited about what’s ahead for us.”

Alabama is 2-0 against the Bulls, also prevailing 40-17 in 2003.

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2023; Boca Raton, FL, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) drops back to pass against the Syracuse Orange in the first quarter during the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

South Florida throttles Syracuse in Boca Raton Bowl

Byrum Brown threw three touchdown passes and two South Florida players scored on long fumble returns as the Bulls trounced Syracuse 45-0 on Thursday night in the Boca Raton Bowl in Boca Raton, Fla.

Brown twice found Sean Atkins for a touchdown as part of a 19-of-26 passing performance in which he threw for 214 yards without an interception. Atkins finished with six catches for 93 yards, while Brown also registered a team-high 64 rushing yards for the Bulls (7-6).

The Orange (6-7) played without their top two quarterbacks due to injuries. Freshman Braden Davis made his first college start and finished 6 of 13 for 84 yards. The team also ran much of their offense out of a wildcat formation that featured running back LeQuint Allen (20 carries for 2 yards) and tight end Dan Villari (11 rushes for 37 yards and 4-of-11 passing for 55 yards).

Syracuse went 1 for 17 on third downs and had four turnovers in losing its bowl game for the second straight season.

After the teams exchanged punts to begin the contest, South Florida marched 64 yards on 10 plays, capped by Brown’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Atkins in the back of the end zone.

The Bulls doubled their lead late in the first quarter on Aamaris Brown’s 64-yard fumble return for a touchdown. The Orange were attempting a field goal, but they botched the hold, leading to the fumble.

Early in the second quarter, Byrum Brown found Khafre Brown deep over the middle for a 31-yard score, making it 21-0. John Cannon added a 40-yard field goal with 2:40 left in the period.

The cherry on top of the first-half uprising was Tramel Logan’s 61-yard fumble return with nine seconds left. Daquan Evans sacked Davis on the play, and Logan made the recovery.

Byrum Brown’s 35-yard pass to a wide-open Atkins made it 38-0 early in the third quarter. Nay’Quan Wright’s 2-yard touchdown run accounted for the only points of the fourth quarter as South Florida rolled to its first bowl win since 2017.

–Field Level Media

Nov 11, 2023; New York, New York, USA;  Syracuse Orange running back LeQuint Allen (1) runs with the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

Syracuse runs into USF, Boca Raton Bowl thinking ground game

Without the coach and quarterback who helped the Orange reach the postseason, Syracuse stomps forward to face South Florida in the Boca Raton Bowl on Thursday.

The Orange (6-6) fired coach Dino Babers last month near the end of his eighth season at Syracuse. His temporary replacement was Nunzio Campanile, who defeated Wake Forest in the regular-season finale to make the Orange bowl-eligible, before the program hired Fran Brown as its next head coach earlier this month.

It’ll be Campanile who will be guiding Syracuse in Thursday’s clash in Boca Raton, Fla. He will have to defeat the Bulls without quarterback Garrett Shrader, who underwent shoulder surgery after passing for three touchdowns and running for another in the win over Wake Forest.

“It was important for me to get our team to a bowl game,” the senior quarterback said. “I would have (gotten surgery) earlier in the season, but I wanted to wait until we got bowl-eligible. This team has too much talent and works too hard not to play a 13th game.”

In Shrader’s absence, the Orange could opt for backup Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who threw three touchdowns and six interceptions in limited action this season. Or the team could revisit its creative wildcat offense that it used while Shrader was injured late in the regular season.

In either event, the Orange are looking forward to playing in a bowl game for the second straight season. Previously, they had not played in back-to-back bowl games since 2012 and 2013.

“You have two teams that are trending in the right direction,” Campanile said, “and I just think it’s a really exciting opportunity. … It should be a really fun, entertaining game.”

The Bulls (6-6) showed drastic improvement this season under first-year coach Alex Golesh. The team had won a total of four games in the previous three seasons combined and now will play in their first bowl game since 2018.

“To get here in year one and to continue to lay a foundation for what we’re building in Tampa, it’s absolutely huge for us,” said Golesh, whose squad also became bowl-eligible by winning its regular-season finale. USF trounced Charlotte 48-14 in that contest behind four passing touchdowns and a rushing score from Byrum Brown.

The Bulls’ defense was among the worst in the nation in points allowed per game (34.9) and yards allowed per game (455.3). So, they’ll be banking on their dynamic offense and hope that their defense can contain Orange running back LeQuint Allen, who ran for 1,062 yards (including 100-plus yards in five of the last six games).

Also, USF will be relying on its expected home-field advantage.

“For us to be in our home state, playing against a really good football team, I would hope there’s a bunch of green and gold in the stands,” Golesh said. “It’ll feel like a home game in that regard.”

The teams have met 10 times previously, all between 2005 and 2016. South Florida won eight of those matchups with all eight of those victories coming by at least 14 points.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA;  *Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Dallas Turner (15) forces a fumble by South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

No. 10 Alabama escapes with win over South Florida

Roydell Williams rushed for 129 yards and scored the tiebreaking touchdown as No. 10 Alabama escaped with a lackluster 17-3 victory over South Florida on Saturday in nonconference play at Tampa, Fla.

Dallas Turner registered 2 1/2 sacks and Malachi Moore intercepted a pass in the end zone for the Crimson Tide (2-1), who overcame shaky play from the quarterback position to avoid what would have been a major upset.

Tyler Buchner started and completed 5 of 14 passes for 34 yards for Alabama before being removed late in the second quarter. Ty Simpson entered and was 5 of 9 for 73 yards and rushed for a score.

Jalen Milroe, who started Alabama’s first two games at quarterback, didn’t play.

Byrum Brown was 14-of-28 passing for 87 yards and one interception and rushed for 92 yards for the Bulls (1-2). Daquan Evans recorded three sacks for South Florida, which was outgained 310 to 264.

The loss was USF’s 18th in a row against FBS programs.

The contest was delayed for nearly an hour early in the second quarter due to heavy rain and lightning.

Simpson was the quarterback when the Crimson Tide navigated 84 yards on six plays to take a 10-3 lead in the third quarter.

Simpson connected with CJ Dippre for 45 yards and Williams broke loose for a 26-yard run. Williams eventually scored from the 1 with 4:35 left in the period.

South Florida moved into Alabama territory midway through the fourth quarter. But a short time later, Brown threw deep into double coverage and Moore easily made the interception with 6:29 left.

The Crimson Tide worked the clock and put the game away when Simpson scored on a quarterback sneak from the 1 with 33 seconds left.

USF received a break in the first quarter when Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry was hit by a punt and the Bulls recovered at the Crimson Tide 29 yard-line.

South Florida cashed in with a 44-yard field goal by John Cannon with 7:08 left in the quarter.
Alabama’s Terrion Arnold returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown but a holding penalty on Jeremiah Alexander nullified the score.

After five straight punts under Buchner, Alabama turned to Simpson and he was the recipient of a short field after Turner sacked Brown and forced him to fumble. James Smith recovered at the USF 25.

Five plays later, Will Reichard kicked a 30-yard field with 2:30 left in the half to knot the score.

–Field Level Media