The South Florida Bulls escaped with a 14-6 win over Bowling Green on Saturday, September 26th, at Doyt L. Perry Stadium, but the Bulls’ offensive struggles overshadowed the result. USF managed just 214 total yards, committed two first-half fumbles, and failed to score until the fourth quarter, relying on the defense to secure the victory in front of a blustering Bowling Green crowd celebrating Homecoming.
The matchup also featured an Ohio State connection on the sidelines, with USF head coach Brian Hartline and Bowling Green head coach Eddie George, both former Buckeyes who went on to play in the NFL. George won the Heisman Trophy in 1995 before a nine-year NFL career, while Hartline spent seven years in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns.
Offense
South Florida’s offense never found a rhythm, and much of the problem started up front. Injuries forced the Bulls to shuffle their offensive line, and the constant rotation made it difficult for the unit to establish any consistency or continuity against Bowling Green’s defensive front.
Quarterback Michael Van Buren finished the game completing 7 of 11 passes for a measly 52 yards. He was sacked six times, and Bowling Green’s defensive end Myles Bradley repeatedly broke through the offensive line. Bradley accounted for 4.5 sacks against the Bulls, setting a new single-game record for the Falcons, much to the dismay of USF fans.
The running game was the bright spot. Running Back D.J. Crowther carried the ball 23 times for 143 yards and a touchdown, while back-up quarterback Luke Kromenhoek added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. But even with Crowther’s production, the Bulls struggled to sustain drives, making the offensive line issues difficult to overlook.
Tim Beck and Brian Hartline will need to make necessary adjustments to get the offense clicking for conference play.
Defense
USF’s defense bailed out the offense numerous times on Saturday. Bowling Green finished with just 207 total yards and never found the end zone, settling for two first-half field goals.
The Bulls came up with key stops throughout the game, particularly when the Falcons had opportunities created by South Florida’s offensive miscues. The Bulls’ defense held BGSU scoreless in the second half, and defensive tackle Asani Redwood came up with a fourth-down stop late in the fourth quarter, while the defensive front made life difficult for Bowling Green quarterback Jay Kastanin.
Linebacker Zavier Hamilton led the way with 11 tackles, while Redwood added 3 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. Defensive back Ayden Jackson was also active sideline to sideline, finishing with 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 pass breakups. Jackson made several open-field tackles that prevented the Falcons from turning short plays into bigger gains.
With the offense unable to consistently move the ball, the defense had little room for error and ultimately did enough to preserve a victory. The defensive effort deserves a nod for keeping the Bulls in the contest.
What’s Next?
Next up, the Bulls return home to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for a conference showdown with the Temple Owls. The matchup marks USF’s second game of American Conference play after opening the conference slate with a win over Army in Week 2.
Tune in to ESPNU on October 3 to see if South Florida can keep its perfect start to the 2026 season rolling.
As always… GO BULLS!