USF SHOCKS THE BRONCOS: GROUP OF FIVE RACE BLOWS WIDE OPEN
Updated: Oct 31
TAMPA, Fla. – The opening Thursday of the 2025 college football season delivered a shock far bigger than a typical Week 1 surprise. At Raymond James Stadium, South Florida didn’t just beat No. 25 Boise State. The Bulls crushed them, 34–7, handing the Broncos their worst defeat against an American Athletic Conference opponent in more than a decade. A thunderclap that already reshapes the College Football Playoff race and the Group of Five. hierarchy.
Byrum Brown, the leader reborn
The story of this game begins with Byrum Brown, the Bulls’ quarterback, under scrutiny after a 2024 season cut short by injuries. Against Boise, he delivered a true leader’s performance: calm in the pocket, efficient, and decisive in key moments, whether through the air or on the ground, lowering his shoulder like a 231-pound bruiser.
Brown didn’t need to throw for 400 yards. His brilliance lay elsewhere: every decision seemed right, every run came at the perfect time. His two second-half rushing touchdowns broke the Broncos’ will. Stats: 16 completions on 24 attempts for 210 yards, plus 43 rushing yards on 14 carries with 2 TDs.
“This is who we are,” Brown said after the game. “We’ve been talking all offseason about identity, about toughness, about responding to adversity. Tonight, we showed it.”
Around him, the playmakers rose to the occasion. Keshaun Singleton provided the highlight of the night with a 45-yard fake punt touchdown, finishing with 5 receptions for 93 yards and a score. Chas Nimrod added 96 yards on just 3 receptions, including a 55-yard strike that flipped field position. Finally, Cartevious Norton sealed the deal with a late rushing touchdown (7 carries, 15 yards). The USF offense struck with creativity and power.
A Florida defense that dominated
If the offense lit up the scoreboard, USF’s defense set the tone from start to finish. The Bulls didn’t allow a single point after the first quarter and punished every Boise mistake.
Linebacker Jhalyn Shuler delivered a monster game, everywhere at once with 14 tackles and a pass breakup. Up front, Rico Watson III added 1.5 sacks, constantly harassing Maddux Madsen and forcing hurried throws.
In total, South Florida forced three fumbles and stopped the Broncos cold on multiple drives into Bulls territory.
Boise State: a nightmare opener
For Boise State, this was a disaster from start to finish. Ranked No. 25 and projected once again as the Group of Five favorite after finishing 12–1 in 2024, the Broncos collapsed in Tampa.
Missing their star running back Ashton Jeanty, last year’s Heisman finalist now with the Las Vegas Raiders, the offense looked powerless. Boise was held to 122 rushing yards (3.2 per carry) and never found rhythm.
Quarterback Maddux Madsen tried to keep them afloat but struggled mightily: 25-of-46 passing, 225 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, averaging only 4.9 yards per attempt. Sire Gaines led the ground game with 44 yards on 9 carries, but failed to provide spark. In the air, Latrell Caples caught 4 passes for 58 yards, while Chris Marshall scored the lone touchdown on a 19-yard grab.
Head coach Spencer Danielson didn’t sugarcoat it: “Whoever wins the turnover margin and wins the explosive battle, it’s like 98% of the time you win the game, college or NFL. We were not explosive enough on offense. We’ve got to look and see why.”
The play that flipped the game: the fake punt
At 10–7 in the third quarter, the game still hung in the balance. Then Alex Golesh made the boldest call of the night. Facing 4th-and-6 at the Boise 45, USF lined up to punt. In reality, it was backup quarterback Locklan Hewlett who took the snap and launched a deep ball.
On the other end, Singleton hauled it in, broke three tackles, and raced to the end zone. Touchdown, 45 yards. 17–7. The stadium erupted. Boise staggered — and never recovered.
“We didn’t see that in time and that’s on me,” Danielson admitted. “That’s a fake area of the field, in the 40s, and we didn’t execute the right way.”
From there, South Florida smelled blood: another rushing score by Brown, then Norton’s clincher. Boise, meanwhile, came up empty on its final three possessions.
A historic win
Thursday’s victory was massive for the program. South Florida snapped an 18-game losing streak vs. ranked opponents. Their last ranked win came back in 2016 against Navy (52–45).
It was also their largest margin of victory over a Top 25 team since 2005. For Boise State, it ended a streak of 61 straight games scoring at least 10 points, a symbol of consistency shattered in one night.
CFP implications: Group of Five early chaos
With the 12-team CFP format, the five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed a spot. In 2024, Boise State had been the obvious Group of Five representative, even with just one loss to Oregon.
But after this collapse, their candidacy is hanging by a thread. To get back in the mix, the Broncos will likely need to:
Beat Notre Dame in South Bend on October 4.
Run the table in the Mountain West.
Hope other conference champions falter.
In other words: almost impossible!
Meanwhile, South Florida suddenly has everything to play for. Picked only fifth in the AAC preseason poll, the Bulls have vaulted into national relevance. And their upcoming schedule offers two statement chances: at Florida on September 6, and at Miami on September 13. Even one win could be enough to push them into the Top 25.
“This is a foundational win,” said CBS Sports bowl expert Brad Crawford. “If Boise doesn’t bounce back, and if Brown stays healthy, the AAC might just crash the New Year’s Six again.”
What’s next
South Florida (1–0): travels to Gainesville to face Florida on September 6, then to Miami the following week.
Boise State (0–1): hosts Eastern Washington on September 5 in a must-win before their pivotal trip to Notre Dame in October.
Key Stats of the Game
South Florida Bulls
Byrum Brown (QB) – 16/24 passing, 210 yds; 43 rush yds, 2 rush TDs
Keshaun Singleton (WR) – 5 receptions, 93 yds, 1 TD (45-yd fake punt)
Chas Nimrod (WR) – 3 receptions, 96 yds
Cartevious Norton (RB) – 7 carries, 15 yds, 1 TD
Boise State Broncos
Maddux Madsen (QB) – 25/46 passing, 225 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Sire Gaines (RB) – 9 carries, 44 yds (4.9 avg)
Latrell Caples (WR) – 4 receptions, 58 yds
Chris Marshall (WR) – 2 receptions, 19 yds, 1 TD
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