> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 3 Takeaways From USF Crumbling at the Alamodome - URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/3-takeaways-from-usf-crumbling-at/ - Published: 2026-10-09T10:03:41.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T20:30:03.000Z - Description: The Bulls fell to UTSA 31-24 on Thursday night. - Author: Collin Sherwin - Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44, Football The South Florida Bulls (4-2) faltered in the second half to fall to the UTSA Roadrunners (5-1) 31-24 at the Alamodome. In a swift six-day stretch, the Bulls have gone from 4-0 to 4-2. Here are three takeaways from USF’s loss on Thursday night. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/1ba3e430-15d4-415f-a101-e24a6838c9f0_5548x3699-jpeg.jpg) Vanessa Wenzl | Bay Area Examiner ## A bad time for the defense to have its worst day One thing USF has been able to hang its hat on this season has been its stout defense. The Bulls went into the game with the conference’s top scoring defense and third-down defense, with opponents averaging 14.8 points per game and converting 32.8% of their third-down attempts in 2026. On Thursday night, the Roadrunners scored 31 points and churned out 486 yards, both of which were the most allowed by the Bulls’ defense all season. The second half was when things really took a downturn for the Bulls’ defense. UTSA scored 21 points and gained 271 yards after halftime. The Roadrunners scored on all four of their offensive drives in the second half. UTSA converted five of its seven third-down attempts in the second half. Overall, the Roadrunners converted eight of their 14 third downs on Thursday night, good for 57.1%. The Roadrunners trotted out an extremely balanced offensive attack. They ran for 277 yards and passed for 209 yards. The 277 rushing yards and 6.4 yards per carry for the Roadrunners were both the most the Bulls’ defense has allowed this season. UTSA junior running back A’Marion Peterson led the way with 12 carries for 92 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Sophomore running back Will Henderson III added 13 carries for 86 yards. When both running backs had the ball, they looked like they were running on solid ground while USF defenders were running on ice. USF missed 11 tackles on Thursday night. Senior Owen McCown looked in complete command of the game all night. He completed 22-of-31 passes for 209 yards. McCown also scampered for 52 yards of his own, including a few backbreaking runs against the Bulls’ defense. The only thing that kept the Bulls afloat was their red zone defense, which held the Roadrunners to field goals twice once they got inside the Bulls’ 20-yard line. Still, the Bulls’ defense was on its heels for most of the night. USF didn’t force any turnovers and mustered only two sacks and four tackles for loss in the game. Graduate safety Tavin Ward led the team with nine tackles. Senior defensive back Ayden Jackson and linebacker C.J. Hicks recorded two sacks. ## A tale of two halves for the Bulls’ offense It was an impressive first half on offense for USF. The Bulls scored 17 points and totaled 201 yards in the first half. Junior quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. completed 10-of-19 passing attempts for 121 yards and a touchdown. He finished the game with 177 passing yards and two touchdowns. The first-half touchdown was a 42-yard strike to senior wide receiver Bryson Rogers. It was USF’s longest play of the season. Rogers finished the game with five catches for 72 yards and the touchdown. It seemed as if USF’s offense was turning a corner. Then all the optimism USF fans took into halftime evaporated with an absolute dud in the third quarter. The Roadrunners outscored USF 10-0 in the frame and outgained the Bulls 159-15\. UTSA had more first downs (nine) than the Bulls had offensive plays (eight). On offense, the Bulls could muster only one first down in the third quarter. Overall, USF had just 87 yards in the second half. USF had a stretch in which it failed to convert eight straight third-down attempts, beginning in the second quarter and lasting until the middle of the fourth quarter. The Bulls finished just 3-of-11 on third down Thursday night. The Bulls were able to put it together late in the fourth quarter with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that put them ahead with 1:56 left in the game. Graduate running back D.J. Crowther punctuated the drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception, his first touchdown catch as a Bull. Crowther had 20 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown run Thursday night. He has accounted for eight of USF’s 19 touchdowns this season. A positive note for the Bulls’ offense was that Van Buren Jr. was not sacked in Thursday night’s contest. Senior offensive tackle Michael Wooten returned against UTSA from an injury and helped stabilize the Bulls’ pass protection. ## Changes coming for USF? A looming storyline coming out of Thursday’s game is the Bulls’ playcalling dynamic. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck has been the team’s predominant playcaller this season. But Thursday night, when the camera panned to Hartline before the Bulls’ offensive snaps, he had a playsheet in his hand and was speaking animatedly to others through his headset. Hartline hinted that he knew what the issue was with the team’s sluggish performance after USF’s loss at Temple last week. Hartline’s change in demeanor when plays were being called is at least a storyline to monitor moving forward. No matter who was calling plays, the Bulls’ offense still faltered in the second half after a strong start. The Bulls will look to use the next couple of weeks to regroup, with a nonconference game against Kent State on Saturday, Oct. 17, followed by a bye week.