No. 2: USF 26, Auburn 23 (OT), September 8, 2007
The Bulls entered a stadium where few visiting teams have found success and shocked 80,000 fans and a national ESPN audience with a 26-23 overtime victory. The win over traditional SEC power 17th-ranked Auburn put a spotlight on USF that, combined with wins over the next two weeks at North Carolina and 5th-ranked West Virginia in Tampa, propelled the Bulls to the No. 2 national ranking.
It was USF’s first win in five tries over a Southeastern Conference team.
The Tigers had won 22 of their previous 23 home games, but the Bulls forced five turnovers and were also able to overcome themselves.
Kicker Delbert Alvardo missed four field goals, but his 18-yarder with 55 seconds left tied the game and got the Bulls to overtime.
Auburn got a field goal on its first possession of overtime, but quarterback Matt Grothe threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jessie Hester for the game-winner.
The raucous Auburn crowd sat mute and stunned at that development while a hearty gathering of about 3,000 USF fans went bonkers in the corner of the end zone.
Oh, and there was this: The game was played on Grothe’s 21st birthday.