Hurricanes Weather the Storm, Rout Bulls 49-12

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The South Florida Bulls’ dream start to the season came to a crashing halt on Saturday night. After a pair of thrilling upsets, the No. 18 Bulls were thoroughly outplayed by the No. 5 Miami Hurricanes, who rolled to a 49-12 victory at Hard Rock Stadium.

The Hurricanes wasted no time asserting their dominance. Led by quarterback Carson Beck, who threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, Miami scored on its first two possessions to take an early 14-0 lead. The Bulls responded with a pair of field goals from Nico Gramatica, but their offense consistently struggled to find its rhythm and was unable to get into the end zone.

Even a lengthy weather delay in the first half couldn’t stop the Hurricanes’ momentum. Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr. was a force on the ground, rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns, while the Miami defense created turnovers and shut down the Bulls’ offense. Byrum Brown threw a pair of interceptions, ending his long streak without a pick, and the Bulls also lost a fumble.

While USF’s defense managed to create two turnovers of its own, the Bulls’ offense failed to capitalize on the opportunities. The Hurricanes’ defense stood tall, stopping a crucial fourth-down attempt inside their own 10-yard line in the third quarter, which effectively sealed the game. Miami then marched 91 yards for a touchdown to extend their lead to 35-6.

The Bulls finally scored their first and only touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard pass from Brown, but by then, the game was already well out of reach. The loss drops USF’s record to 2-1 on the season and serves as a humbling reality check after a week of national acclaim. The Bulls will look to rebound next week when they return home to face South Carolina State.

Key Performers

Miami:
• Carson Beck was efficient, completing 23 of 28 passes for 340+ yards and 3 TDs.
• Mark Fletcher Jr. provided the bruising runs that opened holes — two rushing touchdowns on big plays (38-yard, 13-yard).
USF:
• Chas Nimrod led the USF receiving corps, pulling in over 125 yards.
• Byrum Brown had moments through the air, but couldn’t fuel enough sustained drives.
What This Means

Miami looked every bit like a top-5 team in this performance. The offense was balanced, the defense made plays, and they never allowed USF to build momentum. For USF, this loss highlights areas where they need to improve: protecting the ball, finishing drives, and controlling the line of scrimmage.

USF had burst onto national consciousness with wins over Boise State and Florida — but this game shows the gap between being surprising and being consistent.

Looking Ahead

For Miami, this win solidifies their undefeated start and boosts their résumé against ranked foes. For USF, the road doesn’t get easier. They’ll need to rebound quickly and learn what it’s like to withstand a high-powered offense if they want to stay in the Top-25 conversation.