TAMPA, FLA., OCT. 18, 2025 – The No. 19-ranked South Florida Bulls (6-1, 3-0 American) continued to roll over American Conference competition as they posted their fourth straight 250-plus yard rushing game and ran of 27 straight points in posting a 48-13 victory over FAU (3-4; 2-2 American) in front of 45,169 fans on homecoming in Raymond James Stadium, the fifth-largest homecoming crowd in program history.
With the victory, the Bulls posted their first four-game win streak since 2018 and started a conference season 3-0 for just the fourth time in program history and the first since 2018. The Bulls sixth win of the season also made them postseason eligible for the third straight year under head coach Alex Golesh.
The Bulls have posted four straight games with 40 or more points and have now won five straight home games by 25 points or more.
Quarterback Byrum Brown ran for 111 yards and a touchdown, marking his seventh career 100-yard game (second on the year) as he led the Bulls to 259 yards on the ground and 522 yards of offense. He also passed for 256 yards and three touchdowns, posting three or more touchdown passes for the fourth straight game.
The Bulls wasted little time in getting on the board as Brown drove the Bulls 75 yards in 12 plays in the opening possession of the game and gave USF a 7-0 lead with a 22-yard touchdown run up the middle of the field.
A Mac Harris sack put the brakes on an FAU drive into USF territory and the Owls settled for a 45-yard field goal to make it 7-3. Harris would go on to lead the Bulls with 10 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Bulls made it 14-3 when Brown hit Jonathan Echols with a 19-yard touchdown pass to complete a 75-yard drive. Early in the second quarter the Bulls had 203 yards of offense and Brown had 74 yards rushing.
The Bulls lined up for the kickoff and punter Chase Leon hit a perfect arching onside kick over the front line of Owls. JeyQuan Smith raced by the Owls and recovered at the FAU35. The Bulls drove it to the FAU1 where they faced a 4th-and-goal. They handed off to 6-5, 325-pound guard Cole Skinner who scored a touchdown for the second straight game to make it 21-3.
FAU, rallied, driving to the USF10 and kicking a 28-yard field goal to make it 21-6 at halftime.
FAU got the ball to start the second half and drove 75 yards in eight plays to cut the lead to 21-13 when Caden Valtkamp hit tight end Michael Kirch with shot 1-yard shovel pass for a touchdown. It was all USF after that.
After the Bulls defense forced an FAU punt, Keshaun Singleton made a great catch between two Owl defenders to bring down a 39-yard toss from Brown and put the Bulls at the FAU25. The drive stalled there, and Nico Gramatica hit a 41-yard field goal to make it 24-13 with 8:20 to play in the third quarter.
The defense forced another punt. Brown hit Christian Neptune with a beautiful 32-yard pass on 3rd-and-long to move USF to the FAU42. After moving closer to the FAU goal line, USF went for it on a 4th-and-one at the 24. Brown rolled right and hit tight end Wyatt Sullivan in the flat. He turned it up the sideline and dragged an FAU defender the final eight yards into the endzone for a 24-yard touchdown that made it 31-13.
Brown hit Jeremiah Koger on a double move and the freshman took it 60 yards for his third game with a touchdown and his second over 60 yards. Koger would lead the Bulls with 90 yards receiving.
On FAU’s next possession, Jhalyn Shuler tipped a pass and Rico Watson intercepted it. Five plays later Nykahi Davenport, who finished with 71 yards rushing, dove in from two yards out to make it 45-13.
A 28-yard Gramatica field goal capped a 27-point USF run to end the game.
KEY STATS
• USF ran for 259 yards, marking their fourth straight game posting 250 or more yards on the ground. The Bulls have run for 306 yards at UNT and 407 in the conference opener vs. Charlotte and have logged 972 rushing yards in their first three conference games.
• The USF defense extended a string of now 15-straight games creating a turnover and USF did not turn the ball over in the game.
• USF held FAU to 23 yards rushing on the game and the Owls stood at -13 yards until late in the fourth quarter.
• The homecoming crowd of 45,169 was the Bulls largest since 2009 and ranks as the fifth-largest in program history.
NOTABLES
• QB Byrum Brown ran for 11 yards and a touchdown on the night, recording his seventh career 100-yard rushing game and second on the year. He had 94 yards and a touchdown at halftime. Brown posted three or more passing touchdowns for the fourth straight game – collecting three on the night – and has accounted for 18 total touchdowns in his last four games.
• WR Jeremiah Koger led the Bulls in receiving yards for the third straight game posting four catches for 90 yards. He posted his third straight game with a touchdown on a 60-yard grab, marking his second touchdown over 60 yards on the year.
• LB Mac Harris led the Bulls with 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
UP NEXT
USF hits the road for a big match-up with No. 22-ranked Memphis (6-1; 2-1 American), which lost at UAB on Saturday. The game at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. will kick off at noon on ESPN or ESPN2.