By Garin Turner
The Sunshine State is set for an early-season clash as the No. 13 Florida Gators welcome the USF Bulls to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 4:15 p.m. ET. The game will air on SEC Network.
USF is coming off a statement win over then-No. 25 Boise State and now has its sights set on back-to-back upsets. Florida, meanwhile, is looking to keep momentum rolling after dismantling Long Island University in its opener.
Series History and Recent Form
Florida leads the all-time series 3–0, with the most recent matchup in 2021 ending in a narrow 31–28 victory for the Gators.
USF: Defeated Boise State 34–7 after falling behind 7–0 in the first quarter. Florida: Shut out LIU 55–0, flexing its depth on both sides of the ball.
USF Bulls Outlook
Quarterback Byrum Brown proved once again he can carry the offense. He completed 16 of 24 passes for 210 yards while also rushing 14 times for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Alvon Isaac added a burst with three carries for 52 yards, helping USF build rhythm on the ground.
Defensively, the Bulls forced three turnovers and kept Boise State from finding a second gear.
Jhalyn Shuler anchored the unit with 14 tackles and a pass breakup. De’Shawn Rucker added 11 tackles and also broke up a pass.
That defensive toughness will be tested against Florida’s firepower.
Florida Gators Outlook
Florida wasted no time showing off its talent in a blowout win over LIU.
Quarterbacks: DJ Lagway (15/18, 120 yards, 3 TDs) and Tramell Jones Jr. (12/18, 131 yards, 2 TDs) were both sharp, showing depth at the position. Running Game: Jadan Baugh set the tone with nine carries for 104 yards and a score. Receivers: Fifteen different players caught passes, with touchdowns spread out to Hayden Hansen, Tony Livingston, Taylor Spierto, J. Michael Sturdivant, and Eugene Wilson III.
The Gators’ ability to spread the ball around will challenge a USF defense that thrived on creating chaos last week.
Key Matchup
The chess match comes down to USF’s ability to disrupt Florida’s rhythm. If the Bulls can force turnovers and contain the Gators’ quarterbacks, they’ll have a chance to make this interesting. For Florida, the mission is simple: keep Byrum Brown from extending plays and neutralize his dual-threat impact.
What’s Next
USF: Travels to face No. 5 Miami on Sept. 13, its third straight game against a Top 25 opponent. No. 13 Florida: Heads to Baton Rouge to take on No. 3 LSU on Sept. 13 in its first of four ranked SEC matchups.
