(Photo: Bleacher Nation)
Campus Clash
(18) South Florida Bulls at (5) Miami Hurricanes
South Florida: (2-0)
They weren’t given much of a chance in Week 2—and I get it. They were playing a better team, according to many, and if you’ve watched as much college football as I have, you know The Swamp in Gainesville is one of the toughest places to play. That crowd can be a serious difference-maker. I always say: when you’re not given a chance to compete in a game, that’s bulletin board material for the underdog—and I think that’s exactly what happened on Saturday. South Florida went into The Swamp and just took it. Even in their season opener, they handled their business against the Boise State Broncos, who just happened to be a playoff team a season ago. The South Florida Bulls hired Alex Golesh as their next head coach, and he has a record of 16–12 in his first 28 games. If you watch their offense, they thrive on tempo, pace, and pushing the football down the field with speed. The guy who anchors this attack is quarterback Byrum Brown—a true dual-threat who can hurt you with both his arm and legs when given the chance. The only issue I have with the Bulls’ offense is how much they rely on the quarterback to bail them out. Football is a team sport that takes every guy doing his job. Tell me if you’ve heard this before: the quarterback shouldn’t be your leading rusher. For this group to stay consistent, finding a reliable running back to complement Byrum will be crucial. This Saturday, they face another in-state test—against another Florida team.
Miami: (2–0)
After watching them take care of business against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, I left that game impressed. Keep in mind: this was the No. 1-ranked offense in the country a year ago with Cam Ward under center. They had playmakers across the board and beat you with tempo and balance. Head coach Mario Cristobal wanted a veteran quarterback to keep things steady, so he brought in Carson Beck from Georgia via the transfer portal—and he’s been a pleasant surprise. One thing I always stress when replacing a star of Cam’s caliber: don’t try to be them. You’ll never duplicate what they did. Play your style, and the wins will follow. Before Week 1, I asked: which version of Carson would the Hurricanes get? The one who threw 24 touchdowns for the Dawgs a few years ago—or the 2024 version who threw 12 interceptions? So far, the change of scenery has done him well. In Week 2, he went 22-of-24 for 267 yards and two touchdown passes. I haven’t been impressed with what I’ve seen from Clemson early on, but I have liked what I’ve seen from “The U.” They’ve taken care of the ball, and the defense has handled its business. If they keep this up, this is a playoff-caliber team. They’re back home for a showdown with South Florida on Saturday.
South Florida X-Factor: Keshaun Singleton
Earlier, I mentioned others need to step up to take pressure off Byrum Brown—this is one of them. Keshaun Singleton is the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart. I like how quickly he can separate from defenders and make himself available. He’s great on short routes, can burst upfield, and wins most of his 50/50 battles thanks to his 6’3″ frame and ability to use his height. If Singleton can get going early and often, it could be a long day for the Miami secondary.
Miami X-Factor: Mark Fletcher Jr.
This offense is just better when Mark Fletcher Jr. is handling the rock. While he’s not a true power back, he can burn defenders with his speed—but he also has the potential to truck someone if he really wants to. He’s got a strong stiff-arm, great vision, and the ability to cut through lanes and burst through traffic. Just imagine if he fully committed to becoming that bruising back—nobody on defense would want to tackle him. He’s trying to power ahead every time he touches the ball.
Final Thoughts:
Who would’ve thought this would be a must-watch matchup in Week 3? South Florida proved last week that anyone can be beaten. Winning in The Swamp is no small feat—and they did it. On the other side, Miami has come out strong, taking care of business in their early non-conference games. The key question: can someone other than Byrum Brown step up for South Florida? That’ll be critical to watch. Miami can’t afford to do what Florida did—take this opponent lightly. Expect USF to run some trick plays and show they belong. But this is also a golden opportunity for Miami to prove they’re playoff material. As always, this game will be won at the line of scrimmage—and right now, Miami has the best offensive line in the country. They just need to keep playing their brand of football. That said, USF has athletes at all three levels of the defense, so this could be a collision course. While I expect South Florida to keep it close and make it interesting, Miami simply has too much talent across the board.
