Strength in Unity.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Run of the Bulls ‣ USF Football News
Andrew Lake -- 247 Sports Staff Writer

‣ HB Mitchell officially medically retires, to finish degree at USF

USF running back Gerald Mitchell was back on campus this week for the first time since early September when he took a leave of absence from the team.

A former five-star recruit, Mitchell rushed for 755 yards last season in what was an injury riddled season only to begin his junior season with more injury issues, ultimately leading to him announcing his medical retirement on social media this week.

In the post where he thanked his teammates, coaches, fan, family and the school, Mitchell did mention that he intends to finish out his college degree at USF.

‣ Despite defensive struggles, Bulls litter finalist announcement for defensive awards

USF is ranked 124th in total defense and 126th in passing defense but yet, the nation is enamored with the talent level on the Bulls defense.

Three Bulls -- LB Dallas Gross, LB Travis Hughes and safety Ray Thompson -- were named as finalists for the Bednarik with Gross and Hughes being finalists for the Nagurski and Butkus with Thompson being a finalist for the Thorpe.

Defensive linemen Dale Bolen and Daniel Elliott were also named finalist for the Lombardi.

‣ ACC, SEC engaged in 'preliminary' talks regarding potential trade

USF and UCF's addition to the Big 12 has gone almost as well as anyone could have imagined. The Bulls have been a strong football program that is carrying the conference's banner in bowl season along with primetime non-conference matchups that have for the most part gone in the Bulls/Big XII's favor.

The SEC, after losing Texas A&M and Missouri to the Big XII this fall, is looking for a similar influx of new blood. The conference has not kept it secret that it's interested in Miami and Florida State and according to a Sports Illustrated report, it's willing to part ways with South Carolina in order to do so.

The report mentions preliminary talks of a potential 'trade' that would allow Florida State and Miami to join the SEC for a reduced exit fee in exchange for South Carolina returning to it's original conference. Culture and brand wise, the move would make sense for the SEC although for the ACC, it'd be losing arguably it's two biggest brand names.

The ACC, which hosts its championship game in North Carolina, would however lock up all three major Carolina schools in USC, UNC and Clemson. The Gamecocks strong basketball program -- both women and men -- is another sweetener to the deal but nevertheless, it's a tall task that the SEC, Miami and Florida State are trying to pull off.

The Bulls play the Hurricanes next season and both Miami and Florida State in 2027.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Week 14 Preview: at Central Florida Golden Knights
Record: 7-4, 4-3 Big XII
Head Coach: Darrell Hazell (35-27 at UCF, 5th year, 57-55)

Team Leaders
Passing: Derrick Williams (72.7% completion, 2566 yards, 32 TD, 3 INT, 201.3 QB rating)
Rushing: Jeff Sands (682 yards, 5.8 ypc, 6 TD)
Receiving: Lionel Baker (65 receptions, 1025 yards, 13 TD)
Defense: Brent Fuller (53 tackles, 14 TFL, 4.5 sacks)

Team Rankings
Total Offense: 9th
Total Defense: 110th
Points Per Game: 1st
Turnover Differential: 4th

Team Schedule
at Arkansas: W 49-42
vs. Memphis: L 28-27
vs. Houston: W 45-33
vs. Oklahoma: L 38-24
at Oklahoma State: W 55-31
at Colorado State: W 52-24
at Iowa State: W 66-17
vs. Baylor: L 40-35
at #6 Texas: L 42-28
vs. Texas Tech: W 44-31
at TCU: W 49-33

Injuries
OLB Bernard Coleman, Rs Junior | 6'6", 226lbs | 81 ovr, 83 spd, 98 acc, 86 tkl, 73 prc, 74 bsh, 76 pur, 69 zcv

Central Florida Golden Knights Projected Starters
QB Derrick Williams, Rs Senior | 6'3", 211lbs | 98 ovr, 86 spd, 74 acc, 89 thp, 95 tha
HB Jeff Sands, Rs Senior | 5'11", 211lbs | 91 ovr, 90 spd, 89 acc, 90 btk, 78 car, 90 elu
WR Lionel Baker, Rs Senior | 6'1", 194lbs | 88 ovr, 83 spd, 85 acc, 89 cth
WR Jeff Wright, Senior | 6'1", 207lbs | 85 ovr, 85 spd, 99 acc, 78 cth
WR Mike Smith, Senior | 6'4", 226lbs | 83 ovr, 95 spd, 94 acc, 82 cth
TE Kevin Williams, Senior | 6'3", 268lbs | 87 ovr, 84 spd, 84 acc, 72 cth, 82 rbk
LT Martin McNeal, Rs Senior | 6'7", 328lbs | 86 ovr, 87 str, 86 pbk, 88 rbk
LG Nick Lee, Rs Senior | 6'3", 297lbs | 85 ovr, 83 str, 88 pbk, 88 rbk
C Kyle Burke, Rs Sophomore | 6'2", 303lbs | 76 ovr, 77 str, 72 pbk, 86 rbk
RG Kenneth Dukes, Rs Sophomore | 6'3", 298lbs | 76 ovr, 80 str, 81 pbk, 82 rbk
RT Dustin Powers, Rs Senior | 6'5", 281lbs | 86 ovr, 92 str, 86 pbk, 84 rbk
---------------------
DE Brad Bolen, Senior | 6'6", 264lbs | 80 ovr, 76 spd, 91 acc, 76 str, 77 tkl, 75 pmv, 78 fmv, 81 bsh
DE Brent Fuller, Junior | 6'3", 246lbs | 81 ovr, 73 spd, 87 acc, 79 str, 78 tkl, 84 pmv, 82 fmv, 83 bsh
DT Anthony Wise, Freshman | 6'3", 260lbs | 69 ovr, 61 acc, 81 str, 73 tkl, 76 pmv, 68 fmv, 80 bsh
DT David Bell, Rs Junior | 64", 266lbs | 79 ovr, 86 acc, 76 str, 72 tkl, 81 pmv, 78 fmv, 81 bsh
LB Dominic Holmes, Rs Senior | 6'2", 229lbs | 89 ovr, 88 spd, 99 acc, 88 tkl, 79 prc, 85 bsh, 79 pur, 81 zcv
LB Brian Berg, Rs Sophomore | 6'2", 239lbs | 70 ovr, 76 spd, 85 acc, 76 tkl, 64 prc, 76 bsh, 71 pur, 71 zcv
LB/S Tim Sims, Rs Junior | 5'11", 185lbs | 82 ovr, 86 spd, 88 acc, 76 tkl, 79 prc, 76 bsh, 85 pur, 76 zcv
CB Billy Robbins, Rs Senior | 6'1", 181lbs | 86 ovr, 91 spd, 83 acc, 99 mcv, 96 zcv, 95 press
CB Maurice Brown, Senior | 6'1", 176lbs | 83 ovr, 91 spd, 94 acc, 88 mcv, 92 zcv, 83 press
S Brett Stewart, Senior | 6'1", 186lbs | 86 ovr, 88 spd, 93 acc, 82 tkl, 82 zcv
S Demario King, Rs Junior | 6'1", 204lbs | 75 ovr, 82 spd, 91 acc, 74 tkl, 81 zcv


----------------

-----------------------------------------------
#3 USF (12-0, 8-0) | 10 | 3 | 0 | 14 || 27
UCF (7-4, 4-4) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 || 10
-----------------------------------------------

Williams Struggles Once More Against Bulls as USF Finishes Regular Season Undefeated
James Pittman was one of the better quarterbacks in the Big XII last season but injuries, turnovers and his eventual benching led many to forget about the Texas native.

He reminded folks at home and in attendance just how good he is with a beautiful 38-yard strike to Malcolm Francois Jr. in the back of the endzone to seal the Bulls 27-10 victory over UCF on Saturday night.

Pittman was the best quarterback on the field as Derrick Williams' draft stock likely took a dive with a poor performance against USF for the second year in a row. Without some fourth quarter stat padding, Williams had less than 120 yards passing at the end of the third and two interceptions. He also averaged just two yards per carry on the ground as everyone he went, Dallas Gross was there to meet him.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[UCF] S. Glover, 48 Yd FG (5:31)
[USF] V. Everett, 20 Yd pass from J. Pittman (3:04)
[USF] K. Justice, 24 Yd FG (0:43)

Quarter 2
[USF] K. Justice, 26 Yd FG (6:43)

Quarter 3

Quarter 4
[USF] J. Barbour, 25 Yd pass from J. Pittman (8:59)
[UCF] J. Wright, 7 Yd pass from D. Williams (6:07)
[USF] M. Francois Jr, 38 Yd pass from J. Pittman (5:43)
----------------------------------------------------------------
#3 South Florida Bulls
QB James Pittman: 26 of 40, 371 yards, 3 touchdowns, interception.
HB David Fuller: 12 carries, 50 yards.
HB Derrick Green: 11 carries, 85 yards.
WR Darius Downs: 7 receptions, 122 yards.
WR Jason Barbour: 5 receptions, 79 yards, touchdown.
WR Malcolm Francois Jr: 3 receptions, 43 yards, touchdown.
LB Dallas Gross: 12 tackles, tackle for loss.
LB John Reed: 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.
S Jake Lott: 3 tackles, interception.

UCF Golden Knights
QB Derrick Williams: 27 of 35, 212 yards, touchdown, 2 interceptions, sacked 5 times, 16 carries, 36 yards.
HB Jeff Sands: 8 carries, 41 yards.
WR Mike Smith: 9 receptions, 66 yards.
WR Jeff Wright: 5 receptions, 62 yards, touchdown.
S Brett Stewart: 13 tackles.
DE David Bell: 3 tackles, tackle for loss, sack.
S Demario King: 2 tackles, interception.


--------------

Week 14 & 15 Top Stories
1. Alabama notches a conference win against Auburn behind the arm of Hall.
2. The Golden Gophers remain unbeaten as they knock off conference foe Rutgers.
3. Ohio State beats Michigan at The Big House.
4. Notre Dame's win over USC eases the pain of losing DE Gary Jacobs.
5. Virginia is floored in a lopsided 31-3 ACC loss to Virginia Tech.
6. Rivero and Navy are devastated after losing to rival Army.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 14 Big XII Results
USF 27 - UCF 10 :: OKST 37 - KU 31 OT :: TEX 42 - BAY 31
TTU 31 - TCU 7 :: OU 38 - WVU 14 :: ISU 34 - KSU 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference Championship Week
Big XI :: Oklahoma (8-4, 6-2) at #3 USF (12-0, 8-0)
C-USA :: Louisiana Tech (7-5, 6-2) at Marshall (8-4, 6-2)
SEC :: #25 Florida (7-5, 6-3) at #10 Alabama (9-3, 7-2)
MWC :: New Mexico (8-4, 6-2) at #23 San Jose State (10-2, 7-1)
Pac-12 :: #4 UCLA (10-2, 7-2) at #5 Stanford (11-1, 8-1)
ACC :: Wake Forest (7-5, 6-3) at #7 Virginia Tech (10-2, 7-2)
Big Ten :: #2 Minnesota (12-0, 9-0) at #1 Ohio State (12-0, 9-0)
MAC :: Ball State (7-5, 6-3) at Kent State (9-3, 8-1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
BCS Rankings
1. Ohio State, 12-0
2. Minnesota, 12-0
3. USF, 12-0
4. Stanford, 11-1
5. UCLA, 10-2
6. Texas, 11-1
7. Virginia Tech, 10-2
8. Penn State, 10-2
9. North Carolina, 8-4
10. Alabama, 9-3
11. Colorado, 8-4
12. Michigan, 9-3
13. Georgia Tech, 9-3
14. Oregon, 9-3
15. Ole Miss, 9-3
16. Notre Dame, 7-4
17. Miami, 8-4
18. Navy, 10-2
19. Auburn, 9-3
20. Missouri, 8-4
21. BYU, 9-3
22. Syracuse, 8-4
23. Florida, 7-5
24. San Jose State, 10-2
25. Iowa, 8-4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heisman Finalist
QB Clifton McFarland (Texas): 249 of 350, 3680 yards, 41 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 137 carries, 540 yards, 9 touchdowns.
QB Alphonse Bush (Ohio State): 146 of 274, 2003 yards, 25 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 175 carries, 887 yards, 13 touchdowns.
HB Rory Jackson (Georgia Tech): 239 carries, 1611 yards, 21 touchdowns.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top 247 Five-Star Commitments
#1 Jay Jacobs [ATH #1]: 6'3", 185lbs | Norwalk, CA | University of South Florida
#2 Jacob Jackson [ATH #2]: 6'1", 228lbs | Lima, OH | University of Southern California
#3 Jack Jenkins [HB #1]: 6'1", 205lbs | Newington, CT | Penn State
#5 George Ostrander [ATH #3]: 6'1", 213lbs | Almonte Spring, FL | University of Minnesota
#6 Jake Davison [WR #2]: 6'3", 215lbs | River Road, NC | Virginia Tech
#7 Paul Coleman [HB #2]: 6'2", 206lbs | Lyman, WY | University of Southern California
#8 Nik McClelland [DT #1]: 6'1", 295lbs | La Porte, IN | Ohio State University
#10 Lionel Jude [ATH #5]: 6'0", 211lbs | North Ridgeville, OH | Notre Dame
#11 Chris Heinz [TE #1]: 6'3", 220lbs | Euless, TX | University of Wisconsin
#12 J.J. Crowell [ATH #6]: 5'11", 201lbs | Valdese, NC | University of North Carolina
#13 Josh Curry [WR #3]: 6'0", 194lbs | Port Orange, FL | University of Minnesota
#14 Victor Flowers [DT #2]: 6'0", 295lbs | Milwaukee, WI | Vanderbilt University
#15 Kevin Bergstrand [HB #3]: 6'0", 196lbs | River Ridge, LA | University of Nebraska
#17 Vince Carroll [ATH #7]: 6'2", 188lbs | McGehee, AR | University of Michigan
#18 John Little [TE #2]: 6'5", 273lbs | Borger, TX | Texas Christian University
#19 Jimmy Burns [WR #4]: 6'2", 205lbs | Athens, AL | University of Miami
#20 Cornelis Parker [DT #3]: 6'1", 275lbs | Mineral Wells, TX | Texas Christian University
#22 Sam Carrington [ILB #1]: 6'0", 223lbs | San Ramon, CA | Clemson University
#23 Robbie Taylor [DT #4]: 6'5", 256lbs | Mullins, SC | Clemson University
#24 Robbie Lowe [QB #1]: 6'0", 180lbs | Ithaca, NY | Syracuse University
#26 Darrell Jones [TE #3]: 6'6", 247lbs | Weddington, NC | Notre Dame
#27 Eric Miller [WR #5]: 6'0", 199lbs | Dillon, SC | University of Pittsburgh
#28 Hayden Stovall [HB #6]: 6'2", 192lbs | Bath, ME | University of Colorado
#29 Kurt Jackson [ATH #9]: 6'3", 219lbs | Westfield, NJ | University of Texas

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Bulls land four commitments ahead of recruiting dead period as class takes shape
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports USF Insider

Christmas came a bit early for the South Florida Bulls.

Four-star defensive end Jim Horner along with linebacker Kenny Frye, wide receiver Bradley Wilkinson and running back Ronnie Smith all committed to the Bulls this past week after being hosted on campus this past weekend.

The visits were the last for this calendar year as the recruiting dead period will be in place until after the bowl season. The four players were able to lock up a spot on USF's class which is now nearing to completion with fourteen players committed.

Horner is just the third defensive linemen in the class and the second defensive end. A Georgia kid with good measurables, Horner is probably a year or two away from entering the rotation but has plenty of upside. He's dealt with character issues in the past, causing Clemson to drop him as a commitment. USF is taking a chance on a talented player that paired with Mike Atkins, provides a nice two-pack combo for this class at a position of need.

Another out of state get was Frye who is originally from Whitehall, Pennsylvania before spending his senior season at IMG in hopes to raise his recruiting profile. He did get an offer from USC but for the most part, Frye's recruitment was largely a quite one. The biggest knock on Frye is the lack of a true position. He played defensive end his first three seasons, registering 26 sacks but has played primarily stand up linebacker/edge at IMG and has struggled when asked to move in space and cover. He's a tweener and could stand to add some weight to his frame. The ideal position for him might be Sam linebacker where they have more pass rushing responsibilities than coverage.

For Smith and Wilkinson, it's pretty easy to see why USF went after them as they are some of the fastest players in their respective states at their position. Wilkinson is one of the faster players in the entire country and if he's ever able to figure out the position, he could be dangerous. A potential switch to running back is not out of the question although his slender frame is not ideal.

2025 USF Recruiting Class
WR/DB Jay Jacobs [ATH #1]: 6'3", 185lbs | Norwalk, CA | 5-star | 4.32 40-yd dash, 340 Bench Press, 240 Squat | USF, Washington, UNLV
QB Jed White [QB #6]: 6'5", 239lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star | 4.52 40-yd dash, 250 Bench Press, 345 Squat | USF, Georgia Tech, Florida State
DE Jim Horner [DE #11]: 6'1", 240lbs | Druid Hills, GA | 4-star | 4.62 40-yd dash, 425 Bench Press, 510 Squat | USF, Akron
TE Tariq Smith [TE #9]: 6'8", 267lbs | North Miami, FL | 4-star | 4.60 40-yd dash, 420 Bench Press, 270 Squat | USF, Florida, Auburn, Miami, Florida State
TE Nick Thompson [TE #12]: 6'1", 221lbs | Orlando, FL | 4-star | 4.86 40-yd dash, 420 Bench Press, 255 Squat | USF, UCF
DE Mike Atkins [DE #22]: 6'5", 237lbs | Delray Beach, FL | 4-star | 4.74 40-yd dash, 420 Bench Press, 620 Squat | USF, Texas
CB Pierre Francois [CB #27]: 5'9", 187lbs | Tampa, FL | 3-star | 4.46 40-yd dash, 380 Bench Press, 255 Squat | USF, Ole Miss
DT E.J. Jones [DT #62]: 6'3", 301lbs | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 3-star | 5.00 40-yd dash, 425 Bench Press, 520 Squat | USF, Miami, South Carolina
OLB Kenny Frye [OLB #38]: 6'3", 209lbs | Whitehall, PA (IMG) | 3-star | 4.66 40-yd dash, 365 Bench Press, 555 Squat | USF, USC
HB Ronnie Smith [HB #64]: 6'3", 216lbs | La Marque, TX | 3-star | 4.46 40-yd dash, 265 Bench Press, 290 Squat | USF, Navy, Syracuse
WR Bradley Wilkinson [WR #114]: 6'0", 185lbs | Pembroke Pines, FL | 3-star | 4.36 40-yd dash, 275 Bench Press, 265 Squat | USF, FIU, SMU
CB Jonathan Mirvil [CB #35]: 6'2", 166lbs | Orlando, FL | 3-star | 4.42 40-yd dash, 210 Bench Press, 260 Squat | USF, UCF
S Ralph Gray [S #28]: 6'0", 199lbs | Tampa, FL | 3-star | 4.60 40-yd dash, 345 Bench Press, 310 Squat | USF, UCF
T Bryan McDonald [T #71]: 6'6", 313lbs | Tampa, FL | 3-star | 4.92 40-yd dash, 430 Bench Press, 595 Squat | USF, South Carolina, Florida State

2025 USF Recruiting Board
TE Blake Grigsby [TE #7]: 6'6", 245lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star | Florida, USF, Florida State
OLB Cory Harrison [OLB #32]: 6'3", 241lbs | East Bradenton, FL | 3-star | USF, UCF
C Jason Harrington [C #32]: 6'1", 304lbs | Tampa, FL | Clemson, Texas, Oklahoma State, NIU, USF
G Chris Simpson [G #59]: 6'3", 308lbs | Miami, FL | 3-star | FIU, USF, Marshall, UCF
--------------------
HB George Ostrander [ATH #3]: 6'1", 213lbs | Almonte Springs, FL | 5-star | Committed to Minnesota
C Matt Purcell [C #1]: 6'5", 310lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star | Committed to UAB
HB Stan Dean [HB #10]: 6'1", 202lbs | Wharton, TX | 4-star | Committed to South Carolina
WR Eric Sellers [WR #13]: 6'1", 190lbs | University West, FL | 4-star | Florida, UCF
FB Matt Kennedy [FB #9]: 6'2", 245lbs | Port St. Lucie, FL| 3-star | Duke, Virginia

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Big XII Preview: vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Record: 8-4, 6-2 Big XII
Head Coach: Chase Murphy (8-4 at Oklahoma, 1st year, 25-24)

Team Leaders
Passing: Nathan Woods (61.6% completion, 3074 yards, 28 TD, 7 INT, 156.7 QB rating)
Rushing: Nathan Woods (1062 yards, 4.6 ypc, 11 TD)
Receiving: Chris Fontenot (75 receptions, 1219 yards, 12 TD)
Defense: Jamaal Bryant (50 tackles, 13 TFL, 5.5 sacks)

Team Rankings
Total Offense: 18th
Total Defense: 54th
Points Per Game: 44th
Turnover Differential: 61st

Team Schedule
vs. FCS MW: W 48-16
vs. #3 USF: L 19-13
at UCF: W 38-24
vs. #6 Texas: L 34-32
at Army: L 34-30
at Kansas: W 27-14
vs. Oklahoma State: W 21-20
vs. Kansas State: W 24-18
at Iowa State: W 49-27
at #25 Florida: W 35-27
vs. #21 BYU: L 27-24
at West Virginia: W 38-14

Injuries
OLB Wendell Gaines, Rs Senior | 6'3", 238lbs | 80 ovr, 84 spd, 98 acc, 78 tkl, 84 bsh, 70 zcv

Oklahoma Sooners Projected Starters
QB Nathan Woods, Rs Freshman | 6'3", 190lbs | 93 ovr, 77 spd, 83 acc, 96 thp, 86 tha
HB Curtis Kendrick, Freshman | 6'0", 220lbs | 77 ovr, 87 spd, 80 acc, 78 btk, 77 car
WR Chris Fontenot, Senior | 5'11", 190lbs | 92 ovr, 97 spd, 97 acc, 89 cth
WR Doug Scott, Junior | 6'1", 205lbs | 88 ovr, 85 spd, 98 acc, 89 cth
WR Jeff Chavis, Senior | 5'11", 198lbs | 85 ovr, 93 spd, 98 acc, 80 cth
TE Lee Nichols, Senior | 6'8", 268lbs | 91 ovr, 84 spd, 89 acc, 97 cth, 74 rbk
LT Avery Ross, Junior | 6'4", 304lbs | 87 ovr, 88 str, 85 pbk, 92 rbk
LG Mike Bain, Sophomore | 6'5", 263lbs | 84 ovr, 91 str, 85 pbk, 87 rbk
C Matthew Parham, Senior | 6'3", 325lbs | 90 ovr, 89 str, 88 pbk, 88 rbk
RG Tim Watkins, Sophomore | 6'7", 333lbs | 82 ov, 85 str, 85 pb, 85 rbk
RT Jamaal Paris, Senior | 6'2", 297lbs | 80 ovr, 92 str, 81 pbk, 82 rbk
---------------------
DE Steve King, Rs Senior | 6'5", 269lbs | 81 ovr, 63 spd, 80 acc, 75 str, 82 pmv, 74 fmv, 88 bsh
DE Jamaal Bryan, Rs Senior | 6'3", 259lbs | 79 ovr, 68 spd, 82 acc, 72 str, 86 pmv, 86 fmv, 83 bsh
DT Sam Strickland, Junior | 6'2", 288lbs | 87 ovr, 80 acc, 88 str, 87 pmv, 76 fmv, 78 bsh
DT Xavier Davis, Senior | 6'5", 304lbs | 87 ovr, 77 acc, 83 str, 91 pmv, 83 fmv, 82 bsh
OLB/S Kyle McKinney, Rs Junior | 6'2", 182lbs | 82 ovr, 92 spd, 94 acc, 75 tkl, 74 bsh, 81 zcv
ILB Taylor Wheeler, Rs Senior | 6'1", 260lbs | 79 ovr, 80 spd, 91 acc, 74 tkl, 90 bsh, 77 pur
OLB Blake Smith, Rs Junior | 6'2", 232lbs | 81 ovr, 80 spd, 91 acc, 79 tkl, 81 bsh, 76 zcv
CB Roland Brooks, Junior | 5'11", 194lbs | 89 ovr, 98 spd, 98 acc, 89 mcv, 97 zcv, 82 press
CB Danny Roberts, Junior | 6'3", 168lbs | 85 ovr, 93 spd, 95 acc, 95 mcv, 92 zcv, 85 press
S Brent Brown, Sophomore | 5'11", 176lbs | 83 ovr, 89 spd, 94 acc, 79 zcv, 82 tkl, 87 hit power
S John Larson, Senior | 6'3", 201lbs | 89 ovr, 82 spd, 93 acc, 96 zcv, 80 tkl, 99 hit power

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Report: McFarland to start in Big XII championship game
Johnny Murray -- The Tampa Bay Times Sports Columnist

USF redshirt junior quarterback Mike McFarland will suit up and start for the Bulls in the Big XII championship game against Oklahoma according to sources.

McFarland, 22, has completed 75.8 percent of his passes this season and has 23 touchdowns to just five interceptions ever since taking over the starting spot from incumbent starter James Pittman. Pittman started the last two games in McFarland's absence ever since he suffered an injury.

In his full season as a starter, Pittman also threw 24 touchdowns but had thirteen interceptions and averaged under nine yards per attempt. McFarland, the former #1 QB in his class, is averaging over 10 yards per attempt.

McFarland has been listed as high as a third-round pick in the latest mock drafts and after a turbulent start to his USF career, the next two games could help solidify his college career as a success.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Francois slams Big 12 for non-conference scheduling, revenue splits
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles

The Francois' shouldn't expect a holiday card from the Bowlsby's this holiday season.

During a media availability set up by the Big 12 for the league's conference championship game, USF head coach Malcolm Francois Sr. did not hide his feelings for the conference and specifically the leadership.

When asked about his thoughts on Missouri and Texas A&M officially joining the conference, Francois took the opportunity to air out what could be categorized as grievances towards the league.

"If they're coming to pull their weight, it's great and I'm all for it but I'll believe it when I see it. I didn't get a call about them [joining the conference], no one [at USF] got a call until it was time to vote on the matter and by then it seemed like everyone had already made their mind up and I'm over here begging for new facilities and all that and I see the money coming in for the conference and it's crazy to me. We played tough [expletive] games all year long, we go on the road, we play really good teams and when it's time to play each other, we dominate [the Big 12]. So no, I'm not excited about adding teams to split up the pie some more when we're doing all the cooking. Kansas, West Virginia, a lot of them, they're just trying to get to six wins, keep their jobs and then get a nice big check from our hard work, from us elevating the conference. [Expletive] that, go play Alabama on the road, Notre Dame, play some tough games and improve your program like we did and if you're not going to do that then let's have some incentives and divvy up the money differently. We'll whoop Texas A&M, Missouri, anyone else they want to bring in but at some point, there's a price to be paid for that and right now, we're not being paid it."

Francois declined to comment on the matter when follow up questions were asked.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

https://youtu.be/TuEdeAyUByA

-----------------------------------------------
OU (8-5, 6-3) | 17 | 21 | 7 | 3 || 48
#3 USF (13-0, 9-0) | 3 | 7 | 28 | 17 || 55
-----------------------------------------------

Dallas Gross Leads Miracle in Houston as Bulls Rally to Beat Sooners, Win Big 12 Championship
An overlooked corner out of Texas and a linebacker named Dallas was just the cherry on top as Malcolm Francois and USF won yet another round of the USF vs. Big XII battle.

Just 48 hours after his controversial comments on the conference, Francois and the Bulls came back from a 28-point deficit in the first half to beat the Oklahoma Sooners behind pick sixes from Dallas Gross and Ronnie Gay, the latter being the eventual game winner.

USF trailed 38-10 at the half after Malcolm Francois Jr.'s return for a touchdown with 39 seconds left was matched with a touchdown drive by Nathan Woods. Woods would complete his first 23 passes before things started to fall of the rail.

After the teams traded touchdowns, USF was able to score on three straight drives due to a Woods pick six and then a third-down deflection to setup Derrick Green's touchdown to end the third and cut the Sooners lead to seven.

The Bulls got the ball to the red zone with four minutes left in the game but failed to capitalize, having to settle for a field goal which was matched by Oklahoma to bring their lead back to seven. With 1:44 left in the game, Mike McFarland saved his best throw of the game for a 50-yard bomb to Joel Bass to tie the game. Nine seconds later, it was Ronnie Gay who jumped off his coverage assignment to interception Woods' pass and score.

The defense would finish its impressive second half performance with a fourth down stop by Gross, his 17th tackle of the game. Gross would win MVP for his performance.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[OU] B. Brown, returned fumble 22 Yds (9:05)
[OU] R. Young, 49 Yd FG (4:53)
[USF] K. Justice, 39 Yd FG (2:16)
[OU] C. Fontenot, 35 Yd pass from N. Woods (0:21)

Quarter 2
[OU] L. Nichols, 2 Yd pass from N. Woods (6:54)
[OU] B. Bright, 4 Yd pass from N. Woods (0:49)
[USF] M. Francois Jr, returned kickoff 104 Yds (0:39)
[OU] D. Scott, 39 Yd pass from N. Woods (0:04)

Quarter 3
[USF] M. McFarland, 2 Yd run (7:30)
[OU] C. Kendrick, 35 Yd run (5:24)
[USF] J. Dixon, 3 Yd run (4:01)
[USF] D. Gross, returned interception 19 Yds (3:50)
[USF] D. Green, 3 Yd run (1:15)

Quarter 4
[USF] K. Justice, 32 Yd FG (4:19)
[OU] R. Young, 37 Yd FG (2:43)
[USF] J. Bass, 50 Yd pass from M. McFarland (1:44)
[USF] R. Gay, returned interception 37 Yds (1:35)
----------------------------------------------------------------
#3 South Florida Bulls
QB Mike McFarland: 17 of 26, 224 yards, touchdown, sacked 6 times.
HB Derrick Green: 16 carries, 107yards, touchdown.
HB David Fuller: 4 carries, 20 yards (left game with injury).
WR Darius Downs: 8 receptions, 122 yards.
WR Joel Bass: 1 reception, 50 yards, touchdown.
LB Dallas Gross: 17 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, sack, interception, touchdown.
CB Ronnie Gay: 4 tackles, tackle for loss, interception, touchdown.

Oklahoma Sooners
QB Nathan Woods: 36 of 44, 364 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
HB Curtis Kendrick: 25 carries, 116 yards, touchdown.
TE Lee Nichols: 7 receptions, 29 yards, touchdown.
WR Brandon Holmes: 5 receptions, 83 yards.
WR Chris Fontenot: 5 receptions, 72 yards, touchdown.
WR Benji Bright: 5 receptions, 30 yards, touchdown.
LB Blake Smith: 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.
DE Steve King: 3 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

Conference Championship Game Results
Big XII :: #3 USF 55, Oklahoma 48
C-USA :: Marshall 34, Louisiana Tech 7
SEC :: #10 Alabama 31, #25 Florida 24
MWC :: #23 San Jose State 41, New Mexico 38 OT
Pac-12 :: #5 Stanford 41, #4 UCLA 31
ACC :: #7 Virginia Tech 47, Wake Forest 42
Big Ten :: #2 Minnesota 40, #1 Ohio State 38
MAC :: Ball State 34, Kent State 27
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New Years Six Bowl Matchups
Rose Bowl :: #4 Ohio State (12-1, 9-1) at #3 Stanford (12-1, 9-1)
Fiesta Bowl :: #8 North Carolina (8-4, 6-3) at #10 Colorado (8-4, 5-4)
Sugar Bowl :: #5 Texas (11-1, 7-1) at #9 Alabama (10-3, 8-2)
Orange Bowl :: #6 Virginia Tech (11-2, 8-2) at #14 Ole Miss (9-3, 7-2)
Cotton Bowl :: Florida (7-6, 6-4) at Oklahoma (8-5, 6-3)
National Championship :: #2 USF (13-0, 9-0) at #1 Minnesota (13-0, 10-0)
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CFB Awards
Heisman: QB Clifton McFarland (Texas): 249 of 350, 3680 yards, 137 carries, 540 yards, 50 total touchdowns.
Maxwell: QB Clifton McFarland (Texas): 249 of 350, 3680 yards, 137 carries, 540 yards, 50 total touchdowns.
Walter Camp: QB Clifton McFarland (Texas): 249 of 350, 3680 yards, 137 carries, 540 yards, 50 total touchdowns.
Bednarik: LB Dallas Gross (USF): 130 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, forced fumble, 3 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.
Nagurski: LB Dallas Gross (USF): 130 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, forced fumble, 3 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.
O'Brien: QB Clifton McFarland (Texas): 249 of 350, 3680 yards, 137 carries, 540 yards, 50 total touchdowns.
Walker: HB Rory Jackson (Georgia Tech): 239 carries, 1611 yards, 21 touchdowns.
Biletnikoff: WR Roderick Ostrander (Texas): 81 receptions, 1451 yards, 18 touchdowns.
Mackey: TE Jerry Brown (Minnesota): 73 receptions, 1122 yards, 16 touchdowns.
Outland: C Derrick Morris (Ohio State): 27 pancakes, 5 sacks allowed.
Rimington: C Derrick Morris (Ohio State): 27 pancakes, 5 sacks allowed.
Lombardi: DE James Moody (Syracuse): 70 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles.
Butkus: LB Dallas Gross (USF): 130 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, forced fumble, 3 interceptions, 2 touchdowns.
Thorpe: CB Kingsley Briggs (Ohio State): 50 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 12 pass breakups.
Groza: K Randy Wallace (Miami of Ohio): 26 of 29 FG, Long of 51, 43/43 XP
Guy: P Ernest Patterson (Ohio State): 42 punts, 32.9 Yd Net, Long of 72, 15 downed inside the 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
AP First Team All-Americans
QB Jerome Sullivan, Virginia Tech (Sr)
HB Rory Jackson, Georgia Tech (Sr)
HB Luke White, Stanford (Sr)
WR Roderick Ostrander, Texas (Sr)
WR Jared Munoz, Virginia Tech (Sr)
TE Jerry Brown, Minnesota (Sr)
T Charles Pettway, Michigan (Sr)
T John Smart, Texas (Sr)
G Keith Battle, Minnesota (Jr)
G Bernard Livingston, USF (Jr)
C Nick Gordon, Alabama (Sr)
DE James Moody, Syracuse (Jr)
DE Dale Bolden, USF (Jr)
DT Daniel Elliott, USF (Sr)
DT Ricky Alford, Oregon (So)
LB John Reed, USF (Jr)
LB Dallas Gross, USF (So)
LB Travis Hughes, USF (So)
CB Kingsley Briggs, Ohio State (Sr)
CB Ronnie Gay, USF (Sr)
S Jake Lott, USF (So)
S Ray Thompson, USF (Jr)
K Randy Wallace, Miami University of Ohio (Jr)
P Ernest Patterson, Ohio State (So)
KR Isaac Miller, Kentucky (Sr)

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

USF Bowl Practices Notes
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles

With Christmas in the rearview mirror, the South Florida Bulls football team arrived in Miami this past Monday to begin their final week of preparation for the Minnesota Gophers, a team the Bulls have never faced and don't share a common opponent with this season.

It's been a busy month for the Bulls since they beat the Oklahoma Sooners in Houston. A few quick notes:

1. Defensive coordinator Dave Doeren 'in good standing' despite struggles
   USF had a pretty good run of defenses which seemed to have slowed down the past two seasons with the team allowing a mediocre 28.2 points per game and being 119th in total defense and 126th in pass defense. They are, however, second in the Big 12 and after a strong second half showing in the Big 12 championship game, Doeren is in good standing with the program and is expected to be back next season as DC if he chooses to.
   -
2. Sophomore LB Hughes practicing with the team; expected to play in National Championship Game
   USF's defense should get a big boost when it plays Minnesota as star linebacker Travis Hughes was spotted as the team's final practice in Tampa before traveling to Miami. Hughes has missed the past few games with an injury but was on pace to have yet another award winning season. Hughes is second on the team in tackles with 93 and would be a key piece in slowing down tight end Jerry Brown, who won the Mackey Award which is given to the nation's best tight end. Brown has 159 career receptions for 2426 yards and 29 touchdowns. He has 16 touchdowns his season and over 1,100 yards.
   -
3. Bass, McFarland could go pro depending on NC performance
   Junior WR Joel Bass and redshirt junior QB Mike McFarland have both had slow starts to their USF career but strong third seasons have them contemplating the draft, especially McFarland. Those within the program "wouldn't be surprised" if McFarland does choose to go pro while Bass is "more 50/50". Other draft eligible upperclassmen that could be playing be their last games for the Bulls include safety Ray Thompson and offensive guard Bernard Livingston, two All-Americans.
   -
4. USF keeping an eye on SEC expansion talks; relationship with Big 12 'beyond repair' according to source
   The rumors of a SEC/ACC trade that would send South Carolina and a considerable exit fee to the ACC in exchange for Florida State and Miami was laughed off message boards. In recent weeks, however, it's gaining steam with more credible reports substantiating the once sophomoric gossip fodder. According to an ESPN report, the ACC is open to the discussions and a conclusion is expected to be reached within the next few months. The original plan was for Florida State and Miami to replace Missouri and Texas A&M but with South Carolina also out, it does leave the room open for a potential third team should the SEC decide to stick with fourteen members. USF has reportedly tried to begin chatter with the SEC due to its deteriorating relationship with the Big 12 which has been described by a Big 12 source as 'beyond repair'. A source within the SEC's offices, however, has told The Tampa Bay Chronicles that the interest at this point is "one-sided" as the conference is not looking to add a fourth Florida team should Florida State and Miami join the University of Florida in the SEC.
   -
5. Bulls expected to hire offensive coordinator to call plays in 2025
   Despite having tremendous success in his second go-round as the Bulls play-caller, head coach Malcolm Francois Sr. has reportedly been interviewing potential offensive coordinators. Since the retirement of Doc Holliday, Francois has served as the team's offensive coordinator. Charlie Weis has been a reported potential hire along with former Bulls offensive coordinator and recently fired Hawaii head coach Walt Wells. Wells was the original OC in Francois' first staff at USF and would be a logical hire.

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

National Championship Game Preview: vs. #1 Minnesota Gophers
Record: 13-0, 10-0 Big Ten
Head Coach: Clarence McKinney (60-41 at Minnesota, 8th year, 80-48)

Team Leaders
Passing: Patrick Byrd (66.1% completion, 3704 yards, 45 TD, 9 INT, 170.8 QB rating)
Rushing: Jeff Mayhew (1235 yards, 7.2 ypc, 12 TD)
Receiving: Jerry Brown (73 receptions, 1122 yards, 16 TD)
Defense: Chris Anthony (43 tackles, 16 PBU, 5 INT)

Team Rankings
Total Offense: 5th
Total Defense: 36th
Points Per Game: 4th
Turnover Differential: 6th

Team Schedule
at NC State: W 41-17
vs. #20 Missouri: W 39-38
at Ohio: W 41-31
at Michigan State: W 38-20
at #23 Iowa: W 38-21
at Northwestern: W 52-35
vs. Wisconsin: W 45-14
at Purdue: W 24-14
vs. Nebraska: W 37-28
vs. Maryland: W 45-20
vs. Illinois: W 35-14
vs. Rutgers: W 45-19
vs. #4 Ohio State: W 40-38

Injuries
LT Nick Lloyd, Rs Sophomore | 6'4", 298lbs | 78 ovr, 87 str, 81 pbk, 82 rbk

Minnesota Gophers Projected Starters
QB Patrick Byrd, Rs Senior | 6'2", 212lbs | 94 ovr, 84 spd, 79 acc, 84 thp, 94 tha
HB Jeff Mayhew, Rs Senior | 6'1", 206lbs | 92 ovr, 92 spd, 93 acc, 91 btk, 78 car, 84 trk, 88 elu
WR Rob Bennett, Senior | 6'2", 178lbs | 87 ovr, 83 spd, 96 acc, 87 cth
WR Joe Ferwerda, Rs Junior | 6'1", 217lbs | 83 ovr, 88 spd, 83 acc, 86 cth
WR Leon Brown, Rs Freshman | 5'10", 190lbs | 82 ovr, 93 spd, 94 acc, 82 cth
TE Jerry Brown, Rs Senior | 6'2", 247llbs | 91 ovr, 82 spd, 90 acc, 90 cth, 82 rbk
LT Justin Poole, Senior | 6'6", 270lbs | 81 ovr, 83 str, 85 pbk, 86 rbk
LG Joey Smith, Sophomore | 6'3", 302lbs | 85 ovr, 90 str, 83 pbk, 89 rbk
C Brent Harper, Sophomore | 6'0", 277lbs | 80 ovr, 83 str, 82 pbk, 84 rbk
RG Keith Battle, Rs Junior | 6'4", 325lbs | 91 ovr, 86 str, 91 pbk, 92 rbk
RT Ashton Johnson, Sophomore | 6'4", 287lbs | 81 ovr, 82 str, 81 pbk, 88 rbk
---------------------
DE Jamal Taylor, Rs Sophomore | 6'5", 269lbs | 83 ovr, 81 spd, 89 acc, 80 str, 78 pmv, 85 fmv, 79 bsh
DE Bill Williams, Rs Junior | 6'3", 266lbs | 86 ovr, 81 spd, 91 acc, 74 str, 88 pmv, 95 fmv, 82 bsh
DT A.J. Archie, Rs Junior | 6'2", 312lbs | 82 ovr, 73 acc, 84 str, 78 tkl, 84 pmv, 80 fmv, 83 bsh
DT Dave Cain, Freshman | 6'5", 285lbs | 77 ovr, 79 acc, 79 str, 82 tkl, 78 pmv, 75 fmv, 78 bsh
LB Damien Newman, Rs Junior | 6'1", 236lbs | 83 ovr, 81 spd, 92 acc, 81 tkl, 76 prc, 81 bsh, 85 pur, 83 zcv
LB Jim McDonald, Senior | 6'0", 220lbs | 87 ovr, 86 spd, 89 acc, 79 tkl, 87 prc, 93 bsh, 88 pur, 69 zcv
LB Michael Dodd, Rs Junior | 6'4", 232lbs | 79 ovr, 87 spd, 99 acc, 79 tkl, 80 prc, 72 bsh, 75 pur, 76 zcv
CB Chris Anthony, Rs Senior | 5'11", 206lbs | 84 ovr, 93 spd, 88 acc, 93 mcv, 88 zcv, 87 press
CB Kasey Darby, Rs Senior | 6'1", 184lbs | 84 ovr, 92 spd, 89 acc, 90 mcv, 90 zcv, 84 press
S Greg Deangelis, Rs Junior | 5'10", 178lbs | 81 ovr, 91 spd, 92 acc, 77 tkl, 79 zcv, 76 hit power
S Ralph Robinson, Rs Junior | 6'0", 189lbs | 81 ovr, 80 spd, 85 acc, 87 tkl, 83 zcv, 79 hit power

[Thugger Jackson]

Re: Strength in Unity.

https://youtu.be/jejk2lbvJLA

-----------------------------------------------
#2 USF (14-0, 10-0) | 10 | 14 | 11 | 10 || 45
#1 MINN (13-1, 10-1) | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 || 42
-----------------------------------------------

Justice Wins Second National Championship for Bulls With GW Field Goal
During his childhood summers, Malcolm Francois would, in his own words, escape the harsh realities of living in Liberty City and spend a few weeks with his uncles in Carol City, a stone throw away from Miami Gardens.

"It's funny looking back at it now because most people would consider Carol City just another ghetto," said Francois in a 2018 interview, "But to me as a kid, it was paradise compared to what back home was like."

It was only fitting that Miami Gardens would be the site of Francois' crowning achievement, winning his second national championship for his alma matter and his son scoring two touchdowns in USF's electric 45-42 win over Minnesota.

Francois Jr.'s second touchdown tied the game with 1:39 left in the game. Minnesota was driving down the field until another Miami native, linebacker Travis Hughes, forced a fumble and gave USF the ball back. It wouldn't be long until sophomore Kevin Justice knocked in his 23rd field goal of the season and his most important one, a walk-off victory for the Bulls.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[MINN] K. Darby, returned interception 62 Yds (9:41)
[USF] K. Justice, 42 Yd FG (7:21)
[MINN] J. Mayhew, 40 Yd run (6:12)
[USF] R. Fox, 4 Yd run (0:30)

Quarter 2
[USF] M. Francois Jr, 22 Yd pass from M. McFarland (7:00)
[MINN] L. Brown, 9 Yd pass from P. Byrd (4:41)
[USF] M. McFarland, 40 Yd run (3:25)

Quarter 3
[MINN] J. Ferwerda, 11 Yd pass from P. Byrd (7:14)
[USF] K. Justice, 22 Yd FG (3:48)
[MINN] R. Bennett, 1 Yd pass from P. Byrd (3:01)
[USF] J. Barbour, 31 Yd pass from M. McFarland -- 2pt (0:41)

Quarter 4
[MINN] M. Madsen, 6 Yd pass from P. Byrd (5:47)
[USF] M. Francois Jr, 16 Yd pass from M. McFarland (1:39)
[USF] K. Justice, 37 Yd FG (0:00)
----------------------------------------------------------------
#2 South Florida Bulls
QB Mike McFarland: 30 of 43, 413 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
HB Derrick Green: 15 carries, 78 yards.
HB David Fuller: 10 carries, 73 yards.
WR Joel Bass: 7 receptions, 94 yards.
WR Jason Barbour: 7 receptions, 88 yards, touchdown.
WR Darius Downs: 5 receptions, 72 yards.
TE Vincent Everett: 3 receptions, 46 yards.
WR Malcolm Francois Jr: 2 receptions, 38 yards, 2 touchdowns.
LB Travis Hughes: 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss.
CB Ray Hill: 5 tackles, interception.

#1 Minnesota Gophers
QB Patrick Byrd: 36 of 46, 349 yards, 4 touchdowns, interception.
HB Jeff Mayhew: 15 carries, 117 yards, touchdown.
WR Leon Brown: 13 receptions, 154 yards, touchdown.
TE Jerry Brown: 5 receptions, 57 yards.
WR Rob Bennett: 5 receptions, 47 yards, touchdown.
CB Chris Anthony: 9 tackles, tackle for loss.
LB Jim McDonald: 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack.
S Greg Deangelis: 9 tackles, interception.
CB Kasey Darby: 4 tackles, interception.