n front of a roaring home crowd at Raymond James Stadium, the South Florida Bulls delivered a statement victory Saturday night, dominating Tulane 38-17 to punch their ticket to the American Athletic Conference Championship Game.
The win not only sealed South Florida’s place in the title game, but reignited their College Football Playoff hopes, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch with Florida Atlantic that could send the winner to the national semifinals.
Leading the charge was Bulls quarterback , who turned in a career-defining performance. He accounted for over 400 yards of total offense, throwing for three touchdowns and running for another. His composure in the pocket and explosiveness on the ground left Tulane’s defense scrambling all night.
“This is what we’ve been building toward,” Bynum said after the game. “We knew what was on the line. We knew we had to respond — and we did that together, as a team.”
South Florida fell behind early 7-0 in the first quarter, but a big second quarter fueled by a 75-yard bomb from Bynum to wide receiver Yaseen and a bruising goal-line run by the QB. Tulane fought back to make it 21-17 at half, but that was as close as they’d get. The Bulls’ defense tightened up, forcing two second-half turnovers that shifted momentum firmly back to the home side.
Linebacker Shuler led the defensive effort, finishing with 6 tackles, a sack, and a key fourth-quarter interception that snuffed out Tulane’s last real chance at a comeback.
The Bulls' offense then capitalized, with Dawson orchestrating a pair of long, clock-chewing touchdown drives to put the game out of reach.
With the win, South Florida (11-1) earns a second shot at Florida Atlantic (12-0), who edged the Bulls in a 45-42 thriller earlier this season. This time, the stakes are even higher. With multiple top-ranked teams falling in recent weeks, the AAC title game could effectively serve as a play-in for the College Football Playoff — an unprecedented moment for both programs.
“This is what college football is all about,” said Bulls head coach Larry Bell. “Rematch. Rivalry. Championship on the line. Playoff on the line. We’re exactly where we want to be.”
Kickoff for the AAC Championship Game is scheduled for next Saturday in Boca Raton. Expect fireworks.
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