The South Florida Bulls found their way back into the win column Saturday night, but it was their defense—not their offense—that delivered the most memorable performance of homecoming weekend.

USF defeated Kent State 29-2 at Raymond James Stadium, using a school-record-tying 96-yard fumble return by defensive end C.J. Hicks, a pair of safeties and a second-half offensive surge to end a two-game losing streak. The Bulls improved to 5-2 overall and 1-2 in American Athletic Conference play, while completing their first undefeated nonconference schedule since 2018.+1

The final score suggested a comfortable evening for the Bulls. The first half told a different story. USF struggled to establish its offense, and Kent State repeatedly threatened to turn the game in its favor. But the Golden Flashes came away with just two points despite reaching the doorstep of the end zone twice.

Each missed opportunity became more costly as the night progressed.The decisive moment arrived in the second quarter, when Hicks transformed a potential Kent State touchdown into one of the biggest defensive plays of the Bulls’ season.

Kent State established early control by marching 77 yards on a 14-play possession. The Golden Flashes reached the USF 3-yard line but failed on fourth down when the Bulls’ defense contained the runner near the sideline.

The reprieve lasted only one play.

Pinned at their own 3-yard line, the Bulls handed the ball to D.J. Crowther, who was tackled in the end zone by Kent State’s Dion’Dre Taylor for a safety. The Golden Flashes had taken a 2-0 lead without scoring a conventional touchdown.

Kent State soon threatened again, advancing deep into USF territory. Quarterback Dru DeShields appeared to reach the end zone on a short run, but officials ruled that his forward progress had stopped short of the goal line.

On the next critical play, DeShields mishandled the snap on third-and-goal. Hicks scooped up the loose football and sprinted 96 yards downfield for a touchdown, giving USF a 7-2 lead.

The play tied USF’s program record for the longest fumble return, matching Kayvon Webster’s 96-yard return against Notre Dame in 2011. The coincidence was particularly striking because Webster had been introduced to the homecoming crowd moments before Hicks made history.

Hicks later explained that he was initially focused on maintaining his position on the edge. Once the ball came loose, his priorities became simple: secure it and run.

“Just run as fast as you can. Don’t get caught. Don’t fall down.”

— C.J. Hicks, describing his 96-yard touchdown return.

Kent State had another opportunity before halftime, but a 46-yard field-goal attempt missed. USF then put together a late possession that ended with Nico Gramatica converting from 49 yards with five seconds remaining.

The Bulls went to the locker room ahead 10-2, despite generating just 101 yards of offense compared with Kent State’s 197.

The Bulls’ offensive struggles continued briefly after halftime. USF failed to convert a fourth-and-1 near midfield, handing possession back to Kent State. The Golden Flashes appeared to have another chance to close the gap, but a promising drive ended when a field-goal attempt broke down after a mishandled snap. The Bulls’ defense had again escaped trouble.

USF finally assembled the kind of possession its supporters had been waiting for: a 15-play, 73-yard march that consumed eight minutes and 30 seconds. Michael Van Buren Jr. connected with tight end Evan Dangler for a 12-yard gain, and the quarterback added a 10-yard run as the Bulls moved into scoring range.

Crowther contributed several carries to move the offense toward the goal line. Backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek took over near the end zone and scored on a one-yard plunge late in the third quarter. Gramatica’s extra point pushed the advantage to 17-2.

The long drive was important for more than the points. It gave the defense additional rest and demonstrated that USF could sustain a possession rather than rely on a single explosive play.

The Fourth Quarter: Van Buren Connects With Seldon

USF delivered its most explosive offensive play early in the fourth quarter. Van Buren dropped back and connected with Cameron Seldon for a 36-yard touchdown, completing a five-play, 65-yard drive. The score extended the lead to 24-2 and provided the Bulls with a much-needed big play through the air.

Seldon finished with four receptions for a career-high 60 yards. Van Buren completed 22 of 27 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception, giving USF a reliable passing performance even as the running game struggled to find consistency.

Gramatica added a 33-yard field goal later in the quarter.

The final points came from the defense once again. After punter Luke Goater pinned Kent State at its own 1-yard line, USF’s Jabari Smith tackled quarterback Nolan Good in the end zone for a safety with 11 seconds remaining.

It was a fitting conclusion to a game in which the defense had supplied both the turning point and the closing punctuation.

Hartline Demands More From the Bulls

Despite the win, head coach Brian Hartline made clear that the final score did not erase his concerns about the offense.

Hartline took responsibility for the team’s recurring mistakes, including penalties, ball security and its inability to translate good practice performances into productive starts on Saturdays.

“We’ve got to figure out our consistency level.”

— Brian Hartline, discussing the team’s continuing problems.

The coach also expressed frustration that the work put in during the week was not consistently showing up on game day. He praised the team’s second-half effort but said USF had failed to take full advantage of its opportunity.

Hartline’s assessment was particularly pointed because Kent State entered the game with defensive vulnerabilities, yet USF again struggled to score an offensive touchdown in the first half. It was the fourth consecutive game in which the Bulls had failed to produce a first-half offensive touchdown.

The head coach said the upcoming bye week would be used to evaluate the roster and identify areas for improvement, emphasizing development rather than sweeping changes.

Van Buren acknowledged the importance of getting the win but did not suggest the performance was complete.

“Winning is the most important thing. Finding a way to win is what do we try to do every single game.”

— Michael Van Buren Jr.

Wide receiver Seldon delivered a similarly straightforward assessment, recognizing the result while emphasizing that the team still has work to do.

“A win is a win, but the issues are always there. We’ve got to get better.”

— Cameron Seldon.

Defensive end Michael Williams II also pointed to the gap between the team’s preparation and its execution. He said the players needed to take greater responsibility for starting games with the same intensity they showed during the week.

Williams finished with five tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, helping anchor a defense that allowed only 31 yards of offense in the second half.

USF vs. Kent State: Final Statistics

USF

29

5-2 overall

FINAL

Oct. 17, 2026

Kent State

2

2-5 overall

Statistic	USF	Kent State
First quarter	0	2
Second quarter	10	0
Third quarter	7	0
Fourth quarter	12	0
Total yards	271	228
Passing yards	193	165
Rushing yards	78	63
First downs	16	15
Third-down conversions	3/12	6/17
Turnovers resulting in touchdowns	1	1

Official scoring and team statistics:

USF Athletics

+1

Key Performers

• C.J. Hicks, USF: 96-yard fumble-return touchdown that tied the program record.
• Michael Van Buren Jr., USF: 22-of-27 passing, 193 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
• Cameron Seldon, USF: Four catches, 60 yards and a 36-yard touchdown.
• Luke Kromenhoek, USF: One-yard rushing touchdown.
• Michael Williams II, USF: Five tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss.
• Dru DeShields, Kent State: 17-of-30 passing for 165 yards.
• Brendyn Smith, Kent State: Four receptions for 56 yards.
• Hayden Dawahare, Kent State: Nine tackles and one sack. USF Athletics+2

Three Things We Learned

1. USF’s defense can change a game on its own. The 96-yard fumble return and two safeties produced eight points and helped keep Kent State scoreless offensively. The defense also limited the Golden Flashes to 31 yards after halftime.

2. The offensive slow starts remain a concern. USF managed just 107 yards of offense in the first half and did not score an offensive touchdown before the break. Against stronger conference opponents, that pattern could become more costly.

3. The bye week arrives at a useful time. At 5-2, USF has a winning record and an undefeated nonconference slate, but the coaching staff has clear issues to address before the final stretch of American Conference play.

What’s Next?

USF gets a bye week before returning to Raymond James Stadium on October 31 to face UAB. The Bulls will have an opportunity to recover, evaluate their offensive execution and prepare for a conference matchup that carries greater weight in the standings.

The bottom line: USF needed a win after two consecutive defeats, and the defense made sure it got one. Hicks’ historic touchdown, the goal-line stops and the late safeties turned a frustrating offensive night into a 29-2 homecoming victory.

The result was encouraging, but Hartline and his players left little doubt that winning alone will not be enough if the Bulls want to finish the season strongly.