> ## 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. # Bulls look to stay hot in homecoming matchup vs. FAU - URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/bulls-look-to-stay-hot-in-homecoming/ - Published: 2025-10-17T10:03:39.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T15:46:15.000Z - Description: USF has started conference play with big wins and they look to continue it against an in-state foe. - Author: Collin Sherwin - Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44 **TAMPA, Fla. —** The South Florida Bulls (5-1, 2-0) take on the Florida Atlantic Owls (3-3, 2-1) on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU for homecoming. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/d3a6156c-5494-458a-8314-674e141c7149_2445x3668-jpeg.jpg) Vanessa Wenzl | Bay Area Examiner The Bulls’ 5-1 start is their best since 2017\. USF has started 3-0 in conference play only three times in program history — in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Despite strong seasons in the Big East, Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference, the Bulls have never made a conference championship appearance. A 3-0 start in AAC play would be a major step toward changing that. However, head coach Alex Golesh and the Bulls are focused on improvement, not the standings. “I was probably as hard on our team on Monday as I’ve ever been because two weeks in a row now you have an opportunity to really go finish an opponent in the third quarter and it drags into the fourth,” Golesh said Tuesday. The biggest issue holding USF back in conference play has been turnovers. The Bulls have seven giveaways in their last two games after committing only three turnovers in four nonconference contests. Turnovers have been about the only thing that’s gone wrong for USF lately. Since a 49-12 loss to No. 2 Miami on Sept. 13, the Bulls have been red-hot, winning three straight games by an average margin of 34.7 points. They’ve scored 50 or more points in each of those three games — powered by a dominant ground attack. The Bulls have rushed for 965 yards combined over that stretch, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. They’ve averaged 357.5 rushing yards per game and allowed just two sacks since graduate left tackle Derek Bowman returned to the lineup — a trend that could continue against an FAU defense allowing 33.3 points and 163.7 rushing yards per game. Four USF running backs have at least 28 carries this season, and all are averaging five yards per carry or better. USF’s leading rusher is senior quarterback Byrum Brown, who has 364 rushing yards — 15th most among FBS quarterbacks. Brown has also excelled through the air, completing 64% of his passes for 239.8 yards per game. His 150.4 passer rating and 12.6 yards per completion are both improvements from his breakout 2023 season. In the last two games, Brown’s favorite target has been freshman receiver Jeremiah Koger. Koger has 169 receiving yards and three touchdowns over that span after not recording a catch in the Bulls’ first four games. His emergence mirrors that of Keshaun Singleton, who also broke out late in his freshman season in 2024 — finishing with 408 yards over the final seven games after being shut out in the first six. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/e849d627-d4af-48b2-8d2c-e974615dfcc5_5490x3660-jpeg.jpg) Vanessa Wenzl | Bay Area Examiner FAU enters the matchup having won back-to-back games over Rice and Temple after starting the season 1-3. The Owls’ pass defense has held opponents to 212.2 yards per game but has yet to record an interception this season. Marshall transfer Leon Hart Jr. leads FAU with 37 tackles, along with four tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. Offensively, FAU features one of the top passing attacks in the American. The Owls lead the conference in passing attempts, yards and touchdowns. Junior quarterback Caden Veltkamp averages 297.5 passing yards per game — sixth most in the country — and has thrown for 300 or more yards three times this season. Junior receiver Easton Messer leads the American with 506 receiving yards, while sophomore Asaad Waseem has 370 yards and a team-best 14.8 yards per catch. Veltkamp followed head coach Zach Kittley from Western Kentucky, where Kittley served as offensive coordinator for three seasons. Kittley called plays in 2021 when Hilltoppers quarterback Bailey Zappe set FBS single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns. At 34, Kittley is the youngest head coach in the country. Veltkamp also leads the nation with nine interceptions — a potential problem against a USF defense that leads the country with 16 takeaways, including nine interceptions. Sophomore cornerbacks Jarvis Lee and James Chenault each have two interceptions, while graduate senior Jhalyn Shuler earned American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for his eight tackles, an interception and a scoop-and-score touchdown against North Texas last week. Shuler’s 54 tackles lead USF and rank third in the conference. This in-state matchup may not be a full-blown rivalry, but it has developed some heat in recent years. In 2023, FAU spoiled USF’s homecoming with a 56-14 rout in Tampa. The Bulls returned the favor last year for FAU’s homecoming, winning 44-21 — a game remembered for Golesh walking past then-FAU coach Tom Herman without shaking his hand, a moment that went viral. USF leads the all-time series 4-2. The Bulls’ mindset heading deeper into conference play was summed up best by Bowman: “We haven’t done anything. We are doing something.” The “something” the Bulls have been doing is winning — and winning big. Saturday is another chance to make their mark on the college football landscape.