Ranking the 25 greatest games in USF football history

Almost a quarter-century into its existence, USF soccer nonetheless has neither a league championship trophy nor indoor observe facility to name its personal.

However its dearth of {hardware} doesn’t connote a scarcity of highlights. The Bulls have rewarded their longsuffering followers with some breathtaking on-field moments, stretching from the twentieth century to the Taggart period, from South Bend to South Florida.

As this system embarks on its silver-anniversary season, we’re commemorating the event with a collection of Bulls-centric tales, lists and timelines. To kick issues off, we’ve ranked (in ascending order) the highest 25 video games in program historical past. The standards for our checklist included historic significance, stakes and easy ol’ drama.

25. USF 31, Cincinnati 16

Nov. 19, 2005 (Tampa)

This victory, mixed with Connecticut’s loss to Louisville two weeks later, helped the Bulls clinch this system’s first bowl berth. D’Juan Brown had a 26-yard pick-six and Andre Corridor (29 carries, 101 yards) eclipsed 1,000 dashing yards for the season as USF constructed a 31-7 lead en path to its sixth win of the season. On Dec. 4, the Bulls accepted an invite to face N.C. State within the Meineke Automobile Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., ending a irritating run of bowl futility. The 2002 squad, a Division I-A impartial that completed 9-2, had no convention tie-in and couldn’t land an invite; whereas the 2004 crew (7-4) completed one Division I-A triumph shy of bowl eligibility.

24. USF 24, East Carolina 7

Dec. 23, 2006 (Birmingham, Ala.)

Not precisely a mesmerizing win, however a milestone one, for certain. In search of this system’s first postseason triumph in one thing referred to as the Papajohns.com Bowl, the Bulls delivered. USF scored all of its factors within the first half, whereas the protection offered an admirable tribute to coordinator Wally Burnham, who had flown again to Tampa to be along with his ailing mom (who handed away on sport day). ECU drove contained in the Bulls’ 30-yard line 5 occasions within the second half however by no means scored. Meantime, former beginning quarterback Pat Julmiste ended his profession on a excessive be aware of kinds, changing Matt Grothe (damaged fibula) within the second half and totaling 112 yards.

23. USF 38, Tulsa 30

Oct. 18, 2014 (Tulsa, Okla.)

Earlier than overseeing his program’s radical turnaround, Willie Taggart teetered getting ready to unemployment greater than as soon as. This 60-degree Saturday was a kind of events. Dealing with a 1-5 Tulsa crew, USF dedicated two turnovers and surrendered 314 first-half yards to the Golden Hurricane en path to a 27-7 halftime deficit. However behind sophomore quarterback Mike White, the Bulls scored on 5 of their first six drives of the second half. Tailback Marlon Mack (130 dashing yards) began the rally with a 54-yard scoring run, and the tandem of White and receiver Andre Davis (six catches, 154 yards) ended it with three scoring connections. The comeback from the 20-point deficit stays the biggest in USF historical past.

22. USF 45, TCU 44 (2OT)

Sept. 25, 2004 (Fort Value, Texas)

The wildest USF end that no one — or not less than no one watching on TV — ever noticed. After successful an NCAA-record three double-overtime video games in 2003, the Bulls tacked on a fourth, forcing the additional classes with scoring drives of 73 and 68 yards within the final 4 minutes. Andre Corridor’s second additional time scoring run gave the Bulls a 45-38 lead, however TCU answered with Brandon Hassell’s 16-yard keeper on fourth-and-1 earlier than issues obtained actually loopy. A bobbled snap foiled the following TCU point-after strive, however nobody in Tampa noticed it as a result of WFTS-Channel 28 misplaced the satellite tv for pc feed from ESPN Regional and lower to Hurricane Jeanne protection.

21. USF 32, Nevada 31

Sept. 8, 2012 (Reno, Nev.)

What this early-season contest lacked in stakes, it atoned for with arguably essentially the most exhilarating end in program historical past. Down by 11 with 4:31 to play, the Bulls mounted an 80-yard scoring drive, capped by B.J. Daniels’ 52-yard scoring go to Chris Dunkley, to trim their deficit to 31-26. Then, after forcing Nevada to go three performs and out, Daniels struck once more, connecting with Jefferson Excessive alumnus Andre Davis for the successful 56-yard landing go with 38 seconds remaining. Davis completed with 12 catches (nonetheless a single-game USF document) for 191 yards. “I noticed coronary heart and want and competitiveness,” USF coach Skip Holtz stated. “With two-and-a-half minutes to go, I heard guys on the sideline saying, ‘Hold your heads up. We’re going to win this factor.’”

20. USF 44, No. 21 Temple 23

Nov. 14, 2015 (Tampa)

This Friday night time rout marked a pivotal second within the Bulls’ turnaround beneath Willie Taggart. USF college students stormed the sphere and dislodged the goalposts following the triumph, which clinched bowl eligibility for the primary time in a half-decade. Sophomore Quinton Flowers was quintessential Flowers, totaling 320 yards and three touchdowns because the Bulls rolled to a 31-10 halftime lead. Lakewood Excessive alumnus Rodney Adams had seven catches for 147 yards, together with a 68-yard TD catch. “I might say climbing is simpler than hanging on, and our guys are climbing in the fitting course,” Taggart stated following the Bulls’ sixth win in seven video games after a 1-3 begin. “That is what we thought it may be right here, and once more, it’s solely the start.”

19. No. 23 USF 38, Texas Tech 34

Dec. 23, 2017 (Birmingham, Ala.)

After an excruciating finish to their common season (chronicled afterward this checklist), the Bulls have been despatched — or banished — to the Birmingham Bowl for the second consecutive postseason. Whereas all components appeared conducive to ending 2017 with a thud, the Bulls ended with a thrill. Within the remaining sport of his fabled profession, Quinton Flowers accounted for 417 yards and 5 touchdowns, together with a 26-yard landing reference to Tyre McCants with 16 seconds remaining. Flowers, who arrived in Birmingham with 27 USF data, exited with seven extra, together with the Bulls’ profession dashing yardage mark (3,672).

18. USF 31, Louisville 28 (2OT)

Oct. 4, 2003 (Tampa)

In a single surreal six-game stretch in 2003 (USF’s first season in Convention USA), the Bulls performed three double-overtime video games. This was the primary, and arguably most riveting, as USF prolonged its residence win streak to 21 video games. The Bulls pressured additional time with a 14-play drive within the waning minutes, capped when de facto possibility quarterback Brian Fisher rolled proper, froze a defender and pitched to Clenton Crossley for a 1-yard landing with 10 seconds to play. Linebacker Devon Davis then snagged an interception within the second OT, organising Santiago Gramatica’s game-winning 26-yard area purpose.

17. USF 46, South Carolina 39 (OT)

Dec. 29, 2016 (Birmingham, Ala.)

Lower than 4 weeks after Willie Taggart bolted for Oregon, the Bulls headed to the Birmingham Bowl with an interim coach (T.J. Weist) and delivered arguably essentially the most thrilling postseason triumph in program historical past. Behind sport MVP Quinton Flowers (three dashing, two passing touchdowns), USF constructed a 39-22 lead earlier than the Gamecocks rallied to power additional time. On USF’s first offensive play within the additional session, Flowers — flushed from the pocket — rolled to his proper and flung a 25–yard scoring strike to tight finish Kano Dillon. Countryside Excessive alumnus Mike Love pressured a fumble with a sack on the following USC possession to seal the triumph.

16. USF 31, Clemson 26

Dec. 31, 2010 (Charlotte, N.C.)

This Meineke Automobile Care Bowl triumph was USF’s fourth bowl victory however first towards a BCS (or to make use of the fashionable vernacular, Energy 5) program. Taking part in for the primary time since aggravating a quad damage 34 days earlier than, quarterback B.J. Daniels completed 20-for-27 for 189 yards because the Bulls constructed a 31-13 lead. Defensively, the Bulls returned a pair of picks for a mixed 93 yards, which led to 10 factors; and knocked Tigers quarterback Kyle Parker (damaged ribs) out of the sport. Afterward, USF first-year coach Skip Holtz proclaimed a Massive East title as this system’s subsequent purpose. Everyone knows how that turned out.

15. USF 14, Illinois State 13

Oct. 16, 1999 (Tampa)

Earlier than an introduced Raymond James Stadium viewers of twenty-two,054, the Bulls’ futility towards ranked opposition resulted in one fell shank. Redbirds kicker Jake Strader’s 24-yard field-goal try with six seconds remaining sailed broad left, clinching USF’s first triumph towards a ranked Division I-AA foe in seven tries. The Bulls scored the go-ahead landing on a 50-yard drive late within the third quarter, highlighted by Marquel Blackwell’s 27-yard completion to Charlie Jackson on third-and-16. ISU drove 63 yards on its final possession, organising Strader’s try. “He choked,” stated USF freshman Jon Chivas, who had blocked a Strader PAT earlier within the sport. “I’m sorry about it, however we wanted it.”

14. USF 20, Troy State 10

Sept. 30, 2000 (Tampa)

The Bulls have been transitioning to Division I-A in 2000, making them ineligible for any sort of playoff or postseason sport. Consequently, they approached this encounter with the Trojans — ranked first in I-AA — as their nationwide championship. Earlier than a Raymond James Stadium crowd of 25,786, the Bulls totaled 436 yards and held Troy State to 221 en path to this system’s largest win to that time. “Tears got here out of my eyes,” linebacker Vassay Marc stated. “I felt on prime of the world.”

13. USF 24, No. 7 West Virginia 19

Nov. 25, 2006 (Morgantown, W.Va.)

One may argue this win set the desk for the Bulls’ 6-0 begin (and transient No. 2 BCS rating) the next season. A 21-1/2-point underdog getting into Milan Puskar Stadium, USF held a Mountaineers run sport averaging 330 yards to lower than half that (132), and snapped West Virginia’s eight-game residence win streak. The Bulls twice stopped the hosts contained in the USF 5-yard line, the latter occurring when security Danny Verpaele pressured a Steve Slaton fumble contained in the 1. “It’s a giant win, an important win for our crew, for our program,” Bulls coach Jim Leavitt stated afterward. “This in all probability is the most important, since you gained right here and it’s so onerous to win right here. It’s so onerous to beat these guys wherever.”

12. USF 31, UCF 14

Sept. 17, 2005 (Tampa)

For the reason that inception of USF’s program, the Bulls’ nuisance neighbors had been clamoring to begin a geographic rivalry. So earlier than a raucous, then-record crowd for a USF residence sport (45,139), the Bulls gave the Knights precisely what they requested for. Andre Corridor ran for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns as USF prolonged the Knights’ dropping streak to 17 video games, longest within the nation on the time. The victory can be the primary of 4 in a row for USF to begin this collection. “It was time to place up or shut up,” USF senior offensive guard Chris Carothers stated. “They didn’t put up.”

11. USF 26, No. 17 Auburn 23 (OT)

Sept. 8, 2007 (Auburn, Ala.)

The preliminary seeds within the Bulls’ 6-0 begin (culminating with a No. 2 BCS rating) have been planted on the Plains earlier than an ESPN2 Saturday night time viewers. On his twenty first birthday, Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe hit Jessie Hester on a 14-yard scoring go in additional time, giving USF one other landmark triumph (its first towards an SEC crew in 5 tries). Grothe accounted for 215 complete yards and a pair of touchdowns, whereas the protection pressured 5 turnovers. Even beleaguered kicker Delbert Alvarado, who missed three area objectives, atoned with a 19-yarder with 55 seconds remaining to power additional time. 5 weeks later, the Bulls have been the excitement of faculty soccer.

10. USF 23, Miami 20 (OT)

Nov. 27, 2010 (Miami)

Very similar to their unbelievable conquest of FSU the season earlier than, the Bulls knocked off one other state blue-blood away from residence with a rookie quarterback. Stepping in for injured veteran B.J. Daniels after halftime, walk-on freshman (and Jesuit Excessive alumnus) Bobby Eveld led the Bulls to touchdowns on their remaining two drives, together with a nine-play, 81-yard march to power additional time. Then, trailing 20-17 within the additional session, Eveld discovered Joel Miller on a 9-yard slant go close to the purpose line, organising Demetris Murray’s successful 1-yard scoring run. “When you’re going to have a canine that bites, it begins as a pup,” Bulls coach Skip Holtz stated. “In the present day, Bobby Eveld confirmed he had some enamel.”

9. USF 45, Syracuse 24

Oct. 10, 2015 (Tampa)

The sport that saved Willie Taggart’s job, reworked the fortunes of a foundering program and launched the true Quinton Flowers to the world. USF limped into its homecoming sport 1-3 as hypothesis swirled that Taggart was one defeat from being fired. However on the behest of a few of Flowers’ friends, Taggart had agreed to free his sophomore quarterback from the confinements of his unfold, zone-read offense. Flowers responded with improvisational aptitude (314 complete yards, three touchdowns), starting a surreal 28-6 stretch for USF with Flowers as starter.

8. No. 19 USF 37, No. 11 Kansas 34

Sept. 12, 2008 (Tampa)

A 12 months after successful their first six video games en path to a No. 2 BCS nationwide rating, the Bulls made one other early-season climb, highlighted by this Friday night time, national-TV thriller. In his first faculty sport, freshman kicker Maikon Bonani nailed a 43-yard area purpose as time expired to maneuver the Bulls to 3-0. Nate Allen arrange the game-winner by intercepting Jayhawks quarterback Todd Reesing (373 passing yards), who in any other case stood throw-to-throw with Matt Grothe (338) a lot of the night time. To this present day, scenes from solely a handful of video games are proven to recruits for example of what a Bulls soccer residence environment can resemble. This contest, that includes this system’s seventh-largest residence viewers (58,755), is unquestionably one among them.

7. USF 45, No. 9 Louisville 14

Sept. 24, 2005 (Tampa)

Taking part in their first Massive East sport, the Bulls turned the convention — and Cardinals — on their heads sooner than you may say Bobby Petrino. USF broke out to a 21-0 second-quarter lead (due to a pair of Amarri Jackson scoring runs) and by no means seemed again en path to their first victory towards a ranked Division I-A crew in six tries. By night time’s finish, Chad Simpson had returned a kickoff for a 94-yard landing, and the protection had sacked Louisville’s Brian Brohm 4 occasions. “This was a dream come true,” Jackson stated.

6. No. 5 USF 64, UCF 12

Oct. 13, 2007 (Tampa)

This blowout represented the ultimate step — or stomp — in USF’s surreal ascension within the Bowl Championship Sequence (BCS) rankings. The Knights had no reply for then-national sack chief George Selvie, who tacked on one other one and compelled a fumble for a unit that held UCF to 60 dashing yards on 41 carries. Offensively, Matt Grothe totaled 312 yards (together with 100 on the bottom) in lower than three quarters, and 10 totally different Bulls caught not less than one go. A day after this annihilation, USF’s third win in as many contests towards UCF, the Bulls have been ranked No. 2 within the season’s inaugural BCS standings.

5. USF 80, Kentucky Wesleyan 3

Sept. 6, 1997 (Tampa)

Greater than 40 years after USF first opened its doorways, and greater than a half-decade after a college process power was fashioned to check the feasibility of including soccer, a onetime pipe dream got here to wonderful fruits. Earlier than a Houlihan’s Stadium crowd of 49,212, the Bulls trounced the Panthers — a Division II non-scholarship patsy — of their inaugural sport, totaling 548 yards and scoring on 12 of their 16 possessions. The importance of this Saturday night time can’t be understated. “Did I ever anticipate to see this? By no means in 1,000,000 years,” Diana Busciglio, who arrived at USF in 1960, informed The Tampa Tribune earlier than kickoff.

4. USF 23, No. 16 Notre Dame 20

Sept. 3, 2011 (South Bend, Ind.)

Probably the most bittersweet victory in Bulls historical past. Lower than 24 hours after program patriarch (and native icon) Lee Roy Selmon suffered a stroke again residence in Tampa, the Bulls entered Notre Dame Stadium teeming with poignance and goal. “Lee Roy needs us to win this sport,” then-USF president Judy Genshaft stated previous to kickoff. Speedster Kayvon Webster set the tone, returning an Irish fumble 96 yards for a landing on the opening drive. The protection by no means relented, even amid two rain delays totaling almost three hours. Twice extra, Notre Dame would transfer inside USF’s 10, solely to be intercepted (first by DeDe Lattimore, then Michael Lanaris). By dusk, the Bulls had handed the Irish solely their tenth season-opening residence loss of their 125-year existence. The next day, Selmon handed away at age 56.

3. No. 13 UCF 49, No. 22 USF 42

Nov. 24, 2017 (Orlando)

From the stakes to the splash performs to the seismic momentum swings, this Black Friday showdown in Orlando offered all the pieces — besides a victory for the Bulls. With the American Athletic Convention’s East Division title on the road, the No. 13 Knights and No. 22 Bulls thrust the “Warfare on I-4” into the nationwide consciousness, combining for 1,186 yards and quite a few indelible moments. The picture of burly Bulls slot receiver Tyre McCants churning into the top zone — with a Knights defender helplessly tugging his jersey — has been immortalized through gif. So too has Mike Hughes’ successful 95-yard kick return with 1:28 to play. And we stay satisfied Quinton Flowers’ historic effort (605 complete yards) merited the retirement of his No. 9 jersey on the spot.

2. USF 17, No. 18 FSU 7

Sept. 26, 2009 (Tallahassee)

Fairly presumably an important win, and biggest storybook second, in USF lore. In his first collegiate begin, in his hometown, Bulls freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels — stepping in for injured veteran Matt Grothe — helped engineer the varsity’s first win towards one of many state’s “Massive Three” applications (Florida, FSU, Miami). Daniels threw for 2 touchdowns and totaled 341 yards, whereas the protection pressured 4 turnovers and sacked Christian Ponder 5 occasions. Three months later, Bobby Bowden would coach his remaining sport for the skidding ‘Noles, however this system’s apparent decline hardly lessened the importance of the win for USF. “It wasn’t a fluke,” Bulls coach Jim Leavitt stated. “This was the most important win for South Florida.”

1. No. 18 USF 21, No. 5 West Virginia 13

Sept. 28, 2007 (Tampa)

You needn’t flip far via any current USF media information to come back throughout numerous pictures from this nationally televised Friday night time sport. In some methods, this contest — then billed as the most important faculty soccer sport in Tampa’s historical past — nonetheless is taken into account this system’s signature triumph. Earlier than what stays the second-largest residence crowd in Bulls historical past (67,012), USF served discover to the nation, stifling the Mountaineers’ daunting run sport (their 188 yards fell far shy of their 357-yard common) for the second 12 months in a row. Linebacker Ben Moffitt’s 26-yard pick-six within the first quarter (his first of two interceptions) stays embedded within the fan base’s collective consciousness. To this present day, the victory stays the Bulls’ solely win towards a top-five Division I-A crew. Two weeks later, USF had risen to No. 2 within the BCS rankings with a 6-0 mark.

• • •

By no means miss out on the most recent with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida faculty sports activities and extra. Observe our Tampa Bay Instances sports activities crew on Twitter and Facebook.