> ## 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. # USF vs. Memphis Preview: Scuffling Bulls Host Surging Tigers Thursday Night - URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/usf-vs-memphis-preview-scuffling-bulls-host-surging-tigers-thursday-night/ - Published: 2026-11-12T11:01:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-12T17:06:28.000Z - Author: Colby Allfrey The scuffling South Florida Bulls will host the surging Memphis Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday. The two teams come into the game feeling completely different, despite the Tigers having a record that is better by just one game. USF has dropped three of its last four games against American Conference foes. The Bulls have only scored more than 20 points on offense once since the seasons turned from summer to fall. Memphis has won two games in a row since losing its first American Conference game against Tulane on Oct. 16\. The Tigers have scored 90 points combined in those two wins and have scored 38 points or more in each of their four wins against conference foes. “Responsibility means 100 percent ownership by multiple people,” USF head coach Brian Hartline said about the team’s mentality heading into Thursday night’s game. “There has been ownership on both sides to get things corrected.” ## Setting the stage for South Florida USF’s offensive woes are well documented at this point. The Bulls rank eighth in the American Conference, averaging 25.9 points per game. USF is averaging just 21.8 points per game against FBS opponents this season. USF’s passing attack has been lackluster this season. The Bulls are averaging just 168 passing yards per game, which ranks 10th in the American and 127th in the FBS. “We’re just trying to put each guy in the position for them. What they can handle, what can we get done and still be explosive? What can we execute consistently?” Hartline said about how the coaching staff is approaching improving the team’s offensive output. “We are having an issue with doing the simple frequently. We’re making things harder than it has to be.” Junior quarterback Luke Kromenhoek started last Friday’s game against East Carolina due to an injury Michael Van Buren Jr. sustained against UAB. Who will start against the Tigers on Thursday night remains unclear. Another key storyline to watch is the health of USF graduate running back D.J. Crowther. He has been the Bulls’ most productive offensive player this season with 689 rushing yards, 142 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. Crowther sustained a lower-body injury in the fourth quarter against the Pirates last week. Hartline did not provide an update on Crowther's health at Tuesday's press conference. If Crowther can’t go, the Bulls will likely give the majority of the carries to junior Morgan State transfer Jason Collins Jr., who is the Bulls’ second-leading rusher this season with 264 yards on the ground. Collins Jr. carried the ball 23 times in USF’s first two games but has 31 carries in the Bulls’ last seven games. Establishing the run will be key for the Bulls against a Memphis defense that ranks ninth in the American, allowing opponents to run for 187.9 yards per game this season. “It’s kind of scary when you look back at the film and see how many plays we left on the film,” Bulls senior wide receiver Bryson Rogers said about USF’s offensive struggles last week. On the other side, the Bulls’ defense has been the league’s best unit this season. USF has the American’s best scoring defense and second-best total defense, allowing 15.1 points and 298.6 yards per game this season. USF’s opponents have a 39.3% success rate this season, which is the 15th-best defensive rate in the country. The Bulls also rank 10th in the FBS with 68 tackles for loss this season. Senior defensive lineman Michael Williams II and linebacker C.J. Hicks are tied for the team lead with 6.5 tackles for loss each. Sophomore linebacker Zavier Hamilton also has five tackles for loss this season. USF’s defense against Memphis’ offense is a true strength-on-strength matchup. The Bulls’ defense ranks in the 93rd percentile in college football in expected points added per play, while the Tigers’ offense ranks in the 87th percentile in the same statistic. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/77/a9/77a9bb8f-d0f1-45b5-8fed-5feacd465ef5/content/images/2026/11/DS8A9669-1.jpeg) C.J. Hicks and the Bulls defense have been a formidable unit in the 2026 season. Vanessa Wenzl | Bay Area Examiner ## Setting the stage for Memphis The Tigers have gotten off to a much stronger start under first-year head coach Charles Huff. Huff has spent time with three different programs over the last three seasons. His first collegiate head coaching job was at Marshall, where he was the head coach from 2021 to 2024\. There, he registered three straight bowl-eligible seasons and a Conference USA title in 2024\. He then helped Southern Miss turn around from a 1-11 regular season to a 7-5 regular season in his lone year with the Golden Eagles. SP+ has Memphis ranked as the 37th-best team in the country and the best team in the American. It’s the fourth-highest rating of any team in the Group of Six. Memphis has boasted a potent offense this season under Huff. The Tigers rank third in the American Conference, averaging 37.6 points per game. They are averaging 514 yards of total offense per game, which is the second-most in the American and fifth-most in the country. The Tigers are quarterbacked by junior West Florida transfer Marcus Stokes, who is averaging 281.3 passing yards per game this season. He has 25 touchdown passes and just six interceptions. “He checks every box you want for the system they run,” Hartline said about Stokes on Tuesday. Memphis’ passing offense has been prone to chunk plays. Stokes is averaging 9.78 yards per pass attempt, which is the third-highest mark in the FBS. The Tigers have four pass catchers who have 400 yards or more this season. Sophomore receiver Stonka Burnside has 29 catches for 453 yards this season. Sophomore receiver Jermane Hayes leads the team with 37 catches for 452 yards. Senior tight end Hunter Tipton leads the team with 495 receiving yards this season. Tipton has the second-most receiving yards among tight ends in the FBS this season. Memphis also has a dynamic rushing attack, averaging 223.4 yards per game this season. Sophomore running back Jaylin Carter came with Huff from Southern Miss this offseason and leads the Tigers. He ranks third in the American Conference with 929 rushing yards this season. Junior running back Manny Covey also has 418 yards on the ground. On defense, the Tigers have been solid, allowing opponents 23.6 points and 377 yards per game this season. Those marks rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the American Conference. Memphis has the second-best third-down defense in the conference, holding opponents to a 31.1% conversion rate this season. The Bulls’ offense has struggled on third down this season, converting just 37.3% of its opportunities. USF converted just one of its 10 third-down attempts against East Carolina last week. The Tigers’ defense is led by sophomore defensive lineman Elijah Kinsler, who leads the team with 8.5 tackles for loss, including 5.5 sacks. Both marks rank inside the top five in the American Conference. Senior linebacker Mike Montgomery leads the team with 67 tackles this season. ## Setting the stage for the game Memphis has dominated the series against the Bulls in recent memory. The Tigers have won five straight matchups against USF, with the Bulls’ last win in the series coming in 2016\. USF hasn’t beaten the Tigers at Raymond James Stadium since 2002. The game earned the American Conference’s primetime slot for the week on ESPN. Before the game, “SportsCenter on Campus” will air from Bulls Bay outside Raymond James Stadium. USF will be wearing its “Salute to Service” jerseys against the Tigers, which include green jerseys and green pants. The Bull logo on the helmet, however, is colored red, white and blue. Hartline and the Bulls are looking for a signature win to give the program a spark heading into 2027\. Huff and the Tigers are looking to continue their march toward a conference championship game. The clash will take place at 8 p.m.