The USF Bulls are back ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll.
After their blowout win over Charlotte 54-26, the Bulls are ranked at No. 24. The Bulls had their best game of the season on the ground, rushing for 631 yards, led by Byrum Brown’s career-high 407 yards.
The Bulls’ defense was in mid-season form, holding Charlotte to three plays or fewer in six of their first eight possessions. The 49ers did not cross midfield until the third quarter of the game. The Bulls held Charlotte to just 13 yards in their first eight possessions and to 279 total yards in the game. The USF defense also forced four turnovers, recovering two fumbles and picking off two Charlotte passes. The Bulls also blocked a punt for a safety.
The Bulls were turnover happy on offense, turning the ball over four times, including two fumbles, and two interceptions from Brown.
USF coach Alex Golesh was not happy with some aspects of the win: “I thought from a fundamental standpoint, it was really poor in a lot of ways. A lot of dropped balls to put balls on the ground. Interceptions happen. It’s not what you want, but fumbles are totally preventable.”
“I was really disappointed with the ball being on the ground. You can justify it however you want, but if you justify it, you’re making excuses, and that’s the fastest way to get beat.”
Golesh is still working with the team to develop that killer instinct. When you have a team down 33-10, you need to close them out. Charlotte closed the gap to 15 at one point in the fourth quarter. “You talk about a defensive effort to start, the first eight drives six three-and-outs,” Golesh said. “We had an interception and allowed 13 yards total. You’re up 26-0. You’ve got to go and put a team away.”
“Elite teams put teams away when they have an opportunity to put them away,” he added.
The team is still developing the elite mindset needed to win the AAC championship and possibly compete in the College Football Playoffs.
This was the first game the Bulls got out of the blocks quickly as USF built a 23-0 lead in the first quarter. The Bulls had struggled to get going in the first quarter in the previous four games, but came out firing on all cylinders against Charlotte.
The Bulls are 4-1 on the season and will play at undefeated 5-0 North Texas this Friday night on ESPN. This game could go a long way toward determining the AAC regular-season champion. The Bulls will need another fast start.