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# College Football Beware: This Ain't the Same Old South Florida Bulls
- URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/college-football-beware-this-aint/
- Published: 2025-09-07T22:12:26.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-21T15:46:34.000Z
- Description: USF stuns Florida as time expires in The Swamp
- Author: Collin Sherwin
- Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44

**GAINESVILLE, Fla. —** The South Florida Bulls (2-0) defeated the No. 13 Florida Gators (1-1) 18-16 on Saturday evening, a program-defining win for coach Alex Golesh and his Bulls.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/10/3c130822-69fb-4410-9418-2e10647cf6dd_6000x4000-jpeg.jpg)

Vanessa Wenzl | The Bay Area Examiner

It was USF’s first victory over the Gators, its third against an SEC opponent and the 13th over a ranked opponent in program history. The Bulls now have ranked wins in back-to-back weeks, only the third time they have beaten multiple ranked opponents in a season.

“We continued to put our identity on display,” Golesh said after the game.

That identity showed in a back-and-forth fourth quarter in hostile territory. The Bulls entered the quarter with a 15-9 lead, but momentum shifted quickly.

As “Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty blared through Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 89,909 fans sang along, and the Gators fed off the energy. Florida forced a three-and-out, then freshman wide receiver Vernell Brown III returned the punt 40 yards. A personal foul on USF senior linebacker Rico Watson III tacked on 15 more.

Five plays later, Gators sophomore quarterback D.J. Lagway connected with receiver Eugene Wilson III for a 4-yard touchdown to put Florida ahead 16-15 with 12:29 remaining.

The scene brought back memories of USF’s collapse against No. 4 Alabama last season. USF seemed destined for another close loss in a big time game. However, this time, the Bulls didn’t back down.

USF’s defense clamped down, forcing crucial stops, including a three-and-out that gave the Bulls the ball back with 2:25 left.

Senior quarterback Byrum Brown engineered the game-winning drive, marching USF 87 yards in eight plays. The key moment came on a 29-yard completion to sophomore running back Alvon Isaac. Isaac had 49 receiving yards and 36 rushing yards in the game.

As time expired, sophomore kicker Nico Gramatica drilled a 20-yard field goal to seal the win.

“I’m thankful to the Lord for putting me in this moment and thankful to the coaches that pushed me and helped me be the best version of myself every day,” Gramatica told the *Bay Area Examiner*.

Gramatica is the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica, who played nine years in the NFL with four different teams.

For the second straight week, USF’s defense delivered. In the first half, Florida had three drives of eight plays or more but was held to three field goals. In the second half, the Gators punted on six of their seven possessions.

“We had the expectation of everyone being able to do their one-eleventh,” senior linebacker Mac Harris said. Golesh credited the defense’s “bend but don’t break” mentality and execution.

Florida managed an explosive play rate of just 3% in the game.

Sophomore cornerback James Chenault grabbed his first interception of the season in the third quarter, the only turnover of the night. USF has now won the turnover battle in consecutive weeks.

Brown had another strong performance, completing 23-of-36 passes for 263 yards, adding 66 rushing yards and a touchdown pass.

That score came on a 66-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Keshaun Singleton in the third quarter, putting the Bulls ahead 13-9\. It was the second straight week Singleton hauled in a critical long touchdown in the third.

“I’m coming down with it every time,” Singleton said when asked about his mentality on contested catches.

The Bulls climbed to No. 18 in the Week 3 AP Top 25 poll, their first ranking since the 2018 season.

Golesh and the Bulls, however, aren’t dwelling on the win.

“Everybody is gonna tell them how good they are and how good I am, but when you’re process-driven you just go right back to work and worry about Sunday and then you worry about Monday,” Golesh said.

Up next, USF faces another ranked opponent on the road: No. 5 Miami.