The USF football team (1-11; 0-8 AAC) demonstrated unwavering resilience in a hard-fought game at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday. The Bulls battled back from a 28-point deficit to take a late lead but eventually succumbed to No. 25 UCF (9-3; 6-2 AAC) on a touchdown with just 20 seconds left, losing 46-39.
This win marked UCF’s sixth consecutive victory in the War on I-4 series, which will be on hiatus until at least 2028 due to UCF's upcoming move to the Big 12. The Knights' high-powered offense, ranked No. 13 nationally, quickly asserted dominance, racing to a 28-0 lead midway through the second quarter and amassing 245 rushing yards in the first half. USF struggled early, committing two turnovers that UCF converted into touchdowns.
However, the Bulls began their comeback late in the second quarter with a two-yard touchdown pass from Byrum Brown to Sean Atkins, making it 28-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, USF scored 22 unanswered points, closing the gap to 31-29. They then took a 39-38 lead in the fourth quarter after a 42-yard touchdown run by Brown.
USF’s defense forced three second-half turnovers, including recovering the ball at the UCF 49-yard line with just over five minutes to play. Despite their efforts, the Bulls couldn’t secure a first down and returned the ball to UCF. The Knights then orchestrated an 82-yard drive, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Mikey Keene to Alec Holler, who was ruled inbounds after a review, sealing the victory for UCF.
UCF’s offense was led by quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, who rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown and passed for 73 yards before leaving the game with a hamstring injury. The Knights totaled 547 yards of offense, with 345 rushing yards. USF’s ground game also shone, with a season-best 298 yards. Brian Battie led with 144 yards and a touchdown, marking his fifth consecutive 100-yard game. Brown added 140 passing yards and a touchdown, along with 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his second career start.
The game opened with UCF scoring on a 64-yard rushing touchdown by Plumlee, followed by another drive capped by a three-yard rushing touchdown from RJ Harvey, putting UCF up 14-0. USF’s Brown fumbled near the goal line, and UCF capitalized with a 20-yard rushing touchdown from Plumlee. A botched pass led to another turnover, and UCF extended their lead to 28-0 with a touchdown pass to Ryan O'Keefe.
USF showed signs of life when Brown connected with Atkins for a touchdown before halftime. The Bulls’ defense stiffened, forcing UCF into a field goal to start the second half. A 69-yard run by Battie set up a touchdown, and defensive turnovers led to two more USF scores, narrowing the gap to 31-29. Despite taking the lead late in the game, USF couldn’t hold off UCF’s final drive.
The loss highlighted several key stats: USF's defense forced three turnovers, the offense had two 100-yard rushers, and the team ran for a season-high 298 yards. Notably, Battie tied a school record with his fifth consecutive 100-yard game, and linebacker Dwayne Boyles recovered two fumbles, contributing to USF’s comeback efforts.
Interim Head Coach Daniel Da Prato praised the team’s resilience and efforts in adversity, expressing pride in their performance despite the outcome. Looking ahead, USF will introduce its 2023 recruiting class on NCAA Early Signing Day, while UCF prepares to face No. 19 Tulane in the AAC championship game.
As the "War on I-4" takes a break, USF aims to build on the promise shown by its young players and the determination exhibited throughout a challenging season.
