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Photo Credit: Cure Bowl
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The college football bowl season is on the verge of starting, and one of the first matchups is the StaffDNA Cure Bowl, which dedicates its mission to raising funding for cancer research. Prior to this year, the bowl has successfully raised over $6.35 million for the cause. The game serves as a touching tribute, with many fans filling out signs to honor loved ones who have passed away from cancer, often wearing pink or their team’s colors. This year, the game returns to Camping World Stadium in Orlando, a change from last year’s contest at UCF that was defined by a massive rainstorm, which famously washed away the field logo.
The 2025 Cure Bowl pits two nine-win teams against each other in their first-ever meeting: the Old Dominion Monarchs and the USF Bulls.
Old Dominion Monarchs (9-3, 6-2 Sun Belt)
The Monarchs enter the bowl on a high note, riding a five-game winning streak.
- Sun Belt Success: ODU finished 6-2 in the highly competitive Sun Belt Conference, though they missed out on the conference championship game, which was won by James Madison.
- Tough Losses: Their two conference losses came against the league’s top teams: James Madison and Marshall.
- Game Plan: ODU has leaned heavily on the ground game for its success this season. They will need that running attack to be sharp as they test the USF defense.
- Bowl History: The Monarchs hold a 1-2 record in their three previous bowl appearances.
USF Bulls (9-3, 6-2 American)
The USF Bulls are celebrating a successful season, reaching nine wins for the first time since 2017.
- Coaching Change: The team faces a major challenge as former head coach Alex Golesh has left to coach the Auburn Tigers, leaving Kevin Patrick as the interim head coach for the bowl game.
- Quarterback Question: Star quarterback Byrum Brown is reportedly not playing in the bowl game. Brown, who still has one year of eligibility left, is listed as a coach for the game, leading to speculation about his future: a return to USF, a transfer, or an early jump to the NFL.
- Bowl Streaks: The Bulls are playing in their third straight bowl game and have won their past two appearances.
- Conference Losses: Like ODU, the Bulls finished $6-2$ in conference play but missed out on the American Championship, taking key losses to the Memphis Tigers and Navy Midshipmen.
Game Information
| Detail | Information |
| Matchup | Old Dominion Monarchs vs. USF Bulls |
| Date | Wednesday, December 17th |
| Kickoff | 5:00 PM ET |
| Location | Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL |
| TV | ESPN |
| Weather | The forecast calls for cooler temperatures in the 60s, with no rain expected. |
The short, two-hour drive from Tampa to Orlando might mean a larger turnout for the Bulls, giving them a slight home-field advantage. With no rain in the forecast, the game should provide a clean slate for both teams as they battle for bowl bragging rights and support a great cause.
Who will win the Cure Bowl? Leave a comment below.
For all your NCAA bowl news, log on to ngscsports.com.
Author Profile
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Director of Operations for NGSC Sports
Covers USF Athletics in Football, Baseball, Lacrosse, and Softball.
Also covered both major and minor league baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays and Clearwater Threshers.
He also covers college football bowl and conference championship games.
It might seem like just covers team sports he also covers both the PGA & LIV Tour and the LPGA Tour. He also announces for the Pinellas Park High School Patriots football.
He also has two sports podcasts in the P&W Sports Report and The Walker Report.
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