Nobody saw that coming. Seriously. When the 2025 college football season kicked off on a muggy Thursday night in Tampa, most of the "experts" had their money on the boys from Idaho. The No. 25 Boise State Broncos were supposed to be the disciplined, battle-tested group ready to spoil Alex Golesh’s home opener. Instead, the South Florida Bulls decided to turn Raymond James Stadium into a total nightmare for the visitors.
It was 92 degrees at kickoff. You could feel the humidity through the TV screen. For a team used to the crisp air of the Pacific Northwest, that Florida heat is a different kind of animal. But it wasn't just the weather that did the Broncos in. It was a relentless, "bar fight" mentality from a USF squad that looked faster, hungrier, and—frankly—a lot meaner than they have in years.
By the time the clock hit zero, the scoreboard read South Florida 34, Boise State 7. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. The Bulls didn't just beat a ranked opponent; they dismantled them.
The Fake Punt That Changed Everything
If you missed the third quarter, you missed the moment the soul left the Boise State sideline. USF was up 10-7, a tight game by any measure. The Bulls were facing a 4th-and-5. They lined up to punt. Standard stuff.
Except they didn't have a punter back there.
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They had snuck in true freshman quarterback Locklan Hewlett. He’s a skinny kid, looks just like a specialist if you aren't staring at the roster. Boise State fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Hewlett took the long snap, looked up, and uncorked a 45-yard moonshot to Keshaun Singleton. Touchdown.
The stadium absolutely erupted. That single play didn't just add six points; it completely deflated the Broncos. "It was set up perfectly," Hewlett said afterward. "I saw the way they lined up, and I knew it could work." Honestly, calling a fake punt touchdown with a freshman QB in your season opener against a Top 25 team takes some serious guts. Coach Golesh basically told the world he isn't playing for participation trophies anymore.
Byrum Brown’s Violent Return
We have to talk about Byrum Brown. After missing the end of last season with an injury, there were questions about whether he’d still have that same dual-threat magic. Those questions were answered about five minutes into the game.
Brown finished with two rushing touchdowns, but it was how he scored them that mattered. He wasn't dancing around defenders. He was running through them. On a 23-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, he lowered his shoulder and leveled a Boise State defender at the goal line. It was physical. It was loud.
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- Byrum Brown Stats: 175 rushing yards on the season, with 14 rushing TDs total across 12 games.
- Game Impact: 210 passing yards and two scores on the ground against Boise.
- The Tone: He asked the coaches to "run him a little bit" to get his rhythm back. They did, and the Broncos paid the price.
The Bulls' offense under Golesh is built on speed, but against Boise, it was built on power. They ran for 117 yards as a team, but it felt like 500 because of the way they were punishing the Broncos' front seven.
Defensive Chaos and the "Bar Fight" Mentality
While the fake punt got the highlights, the USF defense won the game. They forced three fumbles and stopped Boise State on fourth down four different times. That’s seven turnovers or turnover-on-downs. You aren't winning many games when you give the ball away like that.
Linebacker Jhalyn Shuler was a human guided missile, racking up 14 tackles. He and Mac Harris led a unit that held Boise State scoreless for the final three quarters. Think about that for a second. A No. 25 ranked team, known for high-octane offense, couldn't find the end zone for 45 minutes of football.
"The mentality for us is we always want to train for a bar fight," Harris said. That’s a pretty accurate description of what happened on the field. It was messy, it was high-intensity, and it was exactly what USF needed to prove they belong in the national conversation.
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What it Means for the 2025/2026 Landscape
This game wasn't just a one-off fluke. USF used this momentum to go 9-4 on the season, including a massive road upset against No. 13 Florida. They’ve finally figured out how to win the big ones. For Boise State, it was a wake-up call. They struggled with the loss of Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty to the NFL, and while Maddux Madsen threw for 225 yards, he didn't have the help he needed in the run game.
The Broncos finished their season 9-5, eventually losing to Washington in the LA Bowl. But that August night in Tampa was where the cracks first showed.
Key Takeaways from the Matchup:
- Preparation is everything: USF practiced that fake punt for months. They waited for the exact right look, and it paid off.
- Home Field Advantage: Don't underestimate the "Ray-Jay" humidity. Boise looked gassed by the middle of the third quarter.
- The Golesh Era: USF has found its identity. They play fast, they take risks, and they hit hard.
If you’re a fan of South Florida Bulls football vs Boise State Broncos football, you’ve already got the 2027 rematch circled on your calendar. The Bulls will have to travel to the blue turf of Albertsons Stadium on September 11, 2027. It’ll be a very different environment, likely much colder, and you can bet the Broncos haven't forgotten the 34-7 drubbing they took in Florida.
For now, the Bulls hold the crown in this emerging cross-country rivalry. They proved that on any given Thursday, a "Group of Five" powerhouse can get absolutely bullied if they aren't ready for a fight.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, keep a close eye on the recruiting trails for both schools. Boise State is looking to reload their backfield to replace the production they lost, while USF is focusing on keeping their defensive core together for another run at the American Athletic Conference title. Watching how these teams handle their non-conference schedules in the coming months will tell you everything you need to know about the 2027 rematch.