South Florida Bulls coach Brian Hartline has maintained that despite USF's wins in its first three games, his football team was nowhere where it needed to be.
On Saturday afternoon, against a winless 18.5-point underdog, the Bulls proved their head coach was spot on. USF stuggled for three quarters before pulling away in the final period for a 14-6 win that the only reaction can be "wheeewww,"
THAT’S A DUB pic.twitter.com/8JF2pFaBLf
— South Florida Football (@USFFootball) September 27, 2026
You can't fault the Bulls' defense for this one. That unit was dealt a terrible by a hand by a USF offense that, until late in the second half, couldn't dent a defense that surrendered 111 points over the last two game in losses at Nebraska and Iowa State. The defense held serve when dealt crummy hands by the offense.
It took two touchdowns by the Bulls in the fourth quarter to escape defeat, but Hartline was clear-eyed in his post-game remarks to the USF radio broadcast team.
"I know for a fact the first half was abysmal," he told radio reporter Joey Johnston. "I mean, the second half kind of was too. But for us to play as poorly as we did and still find a way to win, I think there's something to that. \
"But like I've been saying, we've got to get a lot better in a hurry if we're trying to accomplish will be attainable. We'll see what the film says."
That improved USF to 4-0 on the season, but, well ... the film session as the Bulls review this one will likely involve wall-peeling scream session from the head coach.
The Bulls fell in a hole with turnovers on their first two possions after commiting only one turnover in their first three games.
Making it worse, the offensive line struggled to protect quarterback Michael Van Buren. He was sacked six times as the 0-3 Falcons manhandled USF's offensive line.
The Bulls will need a vastly improved performance as they renew American Conference play next Saturday against Temple.
There were positives. Defensive lineman Asani Redwood made a key stop on 4th-and-1 when the Falcons went for it to start the fourth quarter. That gave USF badly needed momentum.
And running back DJ Crowder ran for 143 yards and a touchdown and was a key figure when USF's offense seemed stuck in the mud.
"He was running like an animal," Harline said. "DJ ran his ass off tonight, and that's two weeks in a row. It has really been all through fall camp. But, you know, back-to-back weeks with the way he's running, making the first guy miss, he's really doing a great job. The whole room is doing a great job. You've got to keep building on that."
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