Honestly, if you’re a South Florida fan, watching a game against Memphis feels a bit like Groundhog Day. But not the fun kind where you learn to play the piano. It’s the kind where you play a great three quarters, look like the better team, and then somehow, some way, the Tigers find a path to victory while you’re left staring at the scoreboard in disbelief.
The South Florida vs Memphis football rivalry—if you can call a series this one-sided a rivalry—hit a new peak of frustration on October 25, 2025. USF walked into Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium ranked No. 18 in the country. They had the momentum. They had Byrum Brown looking like a video game character. They even had a 14-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Then the wheels came off. Or rather, Memphis just decided they weren't losing at home.
The Heartbreak in Memphis: A 2025 Recap
You’ve got to feel for Alex Golesh. His Bulls squad ran for 295 yards. They outgained the Tigers 564 to 450 in total offense. Usually, when you put up those kinds of numbers, you're planning your post-game celebration by the middle of the fourth. Instead, Brendon Lewis orchestrated a 17-point comeback that kept the Tigers' 11-game home winning streak alive.
The final score, 34-31, was a masterclass in "it's not over 'til it's over."
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Memphis didn't just win; they snatched it. Lewis hit Cortez Braham Jr. for a 10-yard fade with just 67 seconds left on the clock. It was clinical. USF had one last gasp, driving down the field to set up a 52-yard field goal for Nico Gramatica. The kick had the distance, but it sailed wide left as the clock hit zero. Just like that, USF's four-game winning streak died, and their hopes for a perfect conference run took a massive hit.
By the Numbers: Why USF Lost Despite the Stats
- Turnovers: The Bulls entered the game with a 15-game streak of forcing at least one turnover. That streak ended in Memphis.
- The 4th Quarter Collapse: Memphis gained 76 of their 129 total rushing yards in the final 15 minutes.
- Third Down Woes: While USF was great on 3rd downs (12-of-18), they couldn't stop the Tigers when it mattered late in the game.
- Red Zone Efficiency: Memphis was a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone. They didn't leave points on the table.
The Long Shadow of History
If you look at the all-time record, the South Florida vs Memphis football series is heavily tilted toward the 901 area code. Memphis leads the series 10-4. What’s even crazier is the current streak. Memphis has now won five straight against the Bulls, dating back to 2019.
South Florida hasn't tasted victory against the Tigers since 2016. That was the Quinton Flowers era. If you remember that game, it was a 49-42 shootout where Flowers was basically a one-man wrecking crew, rushing for 210 yards and three scores. Since then? It’s been all Tigers.
There was that 59-50 wild game in 2023. Then the 2024 game, which was weirdly played in Orlando at Camping World Stadium because Hurricane Milton messed up the scheduling in Tampa. Memphis won that one 21-3 in a game that felt like it was played underwater.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
People tend to think USF is the "flashy" team and Memphis is the "gritty" one. That's a bit of a lazy narrative. In reality, both these programs are built on explosive offense. Under Ryan Silverfield, Memphis has maintained a streak of scoring at least 20 points in 47 consecutive games. That is the longest active streak in the nation.
USF isn't exactly slow, either. Golesh’s "Go-Fast" offense is designed to tire out defenses. In the 2025 matchup, they were snapping the ball so fast the TV cameras could barely keep up. But speed doesn't always equal finishing power. Memphis has developed this uncanny ability to stay composed when the pace gets chaotic.
Key Players Who Defined the 2025 Clash
Byrum Brown (USF QB): He finished with 390 total yards and three touchdowns. He's now third all-time in USF history for rushing touchdowns with 25. Despite the loss, he proved he's one of the elite dual-threat guys in the country.
Brendon Lewis (Memphis QB): He wasn't even 100% coming into the game after getting dinged up against UAB. It didn't matter. He threw for 307 yards and led the game-winning drive like a pro.
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Sam Franklin (USF RB): He had a 73-yard touchdown run that looked like it would be the nail in the coffin. It was the longest offensive play for the Bulls all season.
The Road Ahead: Can USF Break the Curse?
So, where do these two go from here? The 2025 loss effectively "muddied the road" to the College Football Playoff for the Bulls. When you're in the American Athletic Conference, you basically have to be perfect—or close to it—to get that G5 playoff spot.
Memphis, on the other hand, used this win to cement themselves as the team to beat in the AAC. They’ve got Tulane and Navy on the horizon, but winning the "big one" against a ranked South Florida team gives them the inside track to the conference title game.
If you're looking for actionable takeaways from the recent history of South Florida vs Memphis football, here’s the deal:
- Don't bet against Memphis at home. They have turned the Liberty Stadium into a fortress.
- Watch the turnover margin. In almost every game Memphis has won in this series, they either won the turnover battle or played "cleaner" football in the fourth quarter.
- The Byrum Brown Era is ending. With news of Brown entering the transfer portal after the 2025 season, the dynamic of this matchup is going to change drastically next year.
Keep an eye on the coaching carousel. There are already rumors about Ohio State's Brian Hartline potentially being in the mix for future roles in the Florida area, and how that affects recruiting could shift the balance of power in the AAC. For now, the Tigers are the kings of this rivalry, and the Bulls are still looking for an answer to the Memphis puzzle.
Next time these two meet, ignore the rankings. Ignore the season stats. Just look at who has the ball in the final four minutes, because in this series, that’s the only thing that actually seems to matter.