We focus a lot on USF's prolific offense, and it has been a sight to behold. But there is another aspect to this team that jumps off the page when you look at the NCAA team ranking of forced turnovers.
The Bulls lead the nation in that category. They have forced 16 turnovers through six games -- seven fumble recoveries and nine interceptions. Or, as head coach Alex Golesh might put it, that's 16 extra possessions and 16 more chances for quarterback Byrum Brown and the offense to do their thing. It's not just the defense causing havoc, either.
USF's special teams have been outstanding at forcing turnovers, too.
"We continue to cause turnovers at a high rate, which then negates (bad plays) and makes you feel really good and happy," Golesh said.
Take last week's game at North Texas, for instance.
The Bulls trailed 21-14 late in the first half when USF's Chase Leon punted 50 yards to the North Texas 17 yard line. Miles Coleman muffed the punt and USF's Cedrick Hawkins, Jr. was all over it, recovering the ball and setting the Bulls up deep in Mean Green territory.
That led to a touchdown pass from Brown to Jonathan Echols with two seconds left in the half, allowing the Bulls to tie the game at the break. USF capitalized on that game-changing play to score 28 points in the third quarter, sending a large portion of the sellout crowd to the parking lot as the Bulls routed the previously unbeaten Mean Green 63-36.
Golesh called the fumble recovery the "defining moment in the game."
"We've created a turnover scored on special teams in in five out of the first six games, which is so elite that it's hard to define it," he said.
"There's probably not truly a stat for it, but those game-changing plays on special teams define games,"
The Bulls also intercepted three passes in that game and recovered another fumble. That adds up to nine turnovers in the last two games -- both of which were in the American Conference,
Cornerback Jarvis Lee forced the fumble in the third quarter that linebacker Jahlyn Shulder recovered and returned 34 yards for a touchdown. That put the Bulls ahead 42-21, and it seemed to drain the life out of North Texas.
"It's been good. There are some situations we have to improve on, but we've been doing a good job," defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said on the Herd Here First podcast. "We've got some playmakers back there and they're doing a good job.
"There's the physicality piece of it and knocking the ball out. Guys are taking pride in that. Some of the contact stuff has been good, seeing the ball ricochet out of there. If you win the turnover battle you're going to win the majority of games."
The Bulls have forced at least one turnover in each game. They had three fumble recoveries against Boise State. They've had at least one pass interception in five consecutive games. They blocked a punt against South Carolina State that resulted in a touchdown.
Add it up, and it means five wins in six games and a legitimate chance to win the first conference title in program history. As the adage goes, points sell tickets but defense wins championships.
When you get the points and defense, it can be truly special.