Bulls Shock the Swamp: USF Upsets Florida in Statement Win. Now Ranked 18th in FBS.

On a humid Saturday night in Gainesville, the University of South Florida Bulls silenced a sold-out Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with one of the biggest wins in program history: a gritty, thrilling 18-16 victory over the Florida Gators.

On a night destined to be etched in USF lore, Nico Gramatica’s 20-yard field goal split the uprights as time expired. It marked USF’s first-ever victory in Gainesville and their second straight win over a ranked opponent.

It was a game that few outside of Tampa gave the Bulls a chance to win. Florida came in with its usual SEC swagger, boasting a fast-paced offense and a deep roster of blue-chip athletes. But USF, behind a balanced attack and a defense that made plays in key moments, flipped the script.

Quarterback Byrum Brown led the charge, throwing for 263 yards and a touchdown while adding 66 rushing yards, anchoring a balanced and efficient offense. His 66-yard touchdown pass to Keshaun Singleton early in the third quarter proved decisive.

He also led the Bulls down the field aided by an unbelievable 29-yard catch-and-run by RB Alvon Isaac to help put the Bulls in position for Nico Gramatica’s game-winning field goal. From the USF 39-yard line, QB Byrum Brown was chased from the pocket, escaped pressure and dumped it to Isaac in the right flat.

Isaac was bottled up but broke a pair of tackles and raced down the sideline to the Florida 32. From there, the Bulls gained 30 more yards on five more plays to set up Gramatica’s chip shot.

Florida led 9-3 late in the first half, but USF responded with 12 unanswered points to move ahead 15-9 late in the third quarter. Quarterback DJ Lagway briefly swung the game back in Florida’s favor, finding Eugene Wilson III for a 9-yard touchdown with 12:29 remaining.

Lagway finished 22 of 33 for 222 yards and one score, but the Gators’ offense sputtered down the stretch due to USF’s defense playing out of their minds all night long. To say they were impressive would be an understatement.

Both USF & Florida struggled with penalties as USF had 9 for 75 yards while Florida had 11 for 103 yards. Florida’s penalties, especially on the final drive, were costly and helped set up USF’s game-winning field goal.

Despite missing a 58-yard try with under three minutes remaining, Gramatica rebounded under pressure. Following Florida’s failure to run out the clock, USF engineered a brilliant 87-yard, 8-play drive, capped by Gramatica’s clutch 20-yard field goal as the crowd fell silent.

As the final whistle blew, USF players stormed the field, celebrating not only a road win over an SEC power but also a program-defining moment. It was the Bulls’ first-ever victory over Florida and a statement that the team was no longer to be overlooked.

The players rushed the field and afterwards, Coach Golesh celebrated with his family with hugs and smiles all around.

This victory places the Bulls back into the AP Top 25 at number 18, following their upset of Boise State last week. It’s their first road win against a Top 25 team since 2011, and only the third time since 2000 an unranked team has started 2-0 by beating two ranked foes (joining 2012 Oregon State and 2008 East Carolina).

For the Gators, it was a bitter reminder that college football’s power balance is shifting. For the Bulls, it was validation, proof that the climb back to national relevance is well underway.

Florida’s home meltdown ignited frustrations from the coaching staff. Gators head coach Billy Napier lamented the performance, calling it “just not good enough,” and facing intensified scrutiny. Adding insult to injury, defensive lineman Brendan Bett was ejected late in the fourth after spitting on USF’s Cole Skinner—drawing widespread criticism.

In Tampa, fans will remember this night for decades. In Gainesville, it will be remembered as the night the Bulls charged into The Swamp — and walked out victors.

USF Coach Alex Golesh Reaction

“We’ve got to be able to go handle success… This ain’t the same old South Florida, my brother.”

Additionally, media analyst Danny Kanell weighed in postgame:

“Oh what a win for the South Florida Bulls… The South Florida Bulls look like the clear-cut leader in the clubhouse from the Group of Five to make the College Football Playoff. Incredible.”

Looking Ahead

Here’s what’s next on the horizon for both teams:

• USF (2–0) rides this wave into a showdown at No. 5 Miami next Saturday—a pivotal test in their rise under Coach Alex Golesh.
• Florida (1–1) will regroup and prepare for a challenging trip to No. 3 LSU, where they haven’t won in Baton Rouge since 2016.

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Game in Numbers – Quick Snapshot

Category	USF Bulls	Florida Gators
Total Yards	391	324
Passing Yards	Brown – 263	Lagway – 222
Rushing Yards	Brown – 66	Baugh – 93
Penalties	—	11 for 103 yards
Momentum Moment	87-yard final drive	Penalty collapse
Final Play	Gramatica 20-yard FG	—

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