The South Florida Bulls are no longer a surprise; they’re a statement.
Behind a ferocious defensive performance and a career day from Junior quarterback Byrum Brown, USF rolled into East Lansing and routed the Michigan State Spartans, 45-24, to move to 3-0 on the young season.
Brown was electric, carving up the Spartan secondary for 357 yards and six touchdown passes, but it was the Bulls’ defense that set the tone and never let up. South Florida picked off Michigan State quarterbacks seven times, tying a school record and leaving the Spartan offense in disarray from the opening snap.
“They were hungry, they were flying around, and they believed,” said Bulls head coach Larry Brown. “That’s the type of identity we want — fast, physical, and fearless.”
Despite the lopsided final score, the game was surprisingly tight early. At one point in the second quarter, the score sat at 17-14 in favor of Michigan State. Yet in a bizarre stat line, Michigan State had only 17 total yards of offense at the time and had not scored an offensive touchdown; both of their scores coming via a pick-six and a special teams return.
“That was the weirdest 17-14 score I’ve ever been a part of,” said Brown, laughing after the game. “But we weren’t rattled. We knew our defense was dominating, and once we started clicking, it was over.”
Click they did. Brown found six receivers for touchdowns, spreading the ball with poise and precision. His connection with senior wideout Sean Atkins was especially lethal, including a 35-yard strike midway through the third quarter that blew the game open at 38-17.
From there, it was a downhill sprint. The Bulls' defense continued its relentless pressure, notching three sacks and adding two more interceptions in the fourth quarter, one of which was returned deep into Spartans territory.
Michigan State, now 0-2, was left looking for answers. The home crowd at Spartan Stadium, hopeful for a bounce-back win, began to file out early in the fourth quarter.
For USF, the victory marks a signature win and validates the offseason buzz surrounding the Bulls as a team on the rise.
“This was about proving we belong,” said linebacker Jhalyn Shuler, who had one of the seven picks. “People don’t expect USF to come into Big Ten country and dominate. But we expect it.”
With the way this team is playing and with Byrum Brown looking every bit the star quarterback; expectations in Tampa might need adjusting. The Bulls are no longer just looking for respect.
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