Photo Credit: ESPN
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The South Florida Bulls return home Saturday night with plenty of momentum. USF hosts Delaware State at Raymond James Stadium on September 19. Kickoff arrives at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Bulls enter the matchup with a perfect 2-0 record. They also own a 1-0 mark in American Conference play. Meanwhile, Delaware State enters Tampa with a 2-1 record. The Hornets already have three games under their belts this season. USF opened the year with a 19-9 victory over FIU. The Bulls then stunned Army 28-24 at Michie Stadium. That comeback win gave the Bulls their first conference victory of the season. It also showed plenty of fight from Brian Hartline’s team. Now, USF gets its first chance to build momentum at home.
Van Buren Leads the Way
Michael Van Buren Jr. has quickly become a major storyline for the Bulls. The junior quarterback has started both games this season. He also delivered his best performance against Army. Van Buren completed 19 of 30 passes for 239 yards. He also rushed for 45 yards on five carries. Most importantly, he accounted for all four USF touchdowns. He threw two touchdown passes and scored twice on the ground. His biggest moment came during the final minute.
Van Buren found Joshua Porter for a 38-yard touchdown on fourth down. The score gave USF a 28-24 lead with only 19 seconds remaining. That play capped a wild fourth-quarter comeback. USF trailed Army 24-14 with five minutes remaining. The Bulls then scored 14 unanswered points to steal the victory. That performance should give Van Buren plenty of confidence. However, Delaware State could present a different challenge. The Hornets have already played three games this season.
Delaware State Brings Confidence
Delaware State opened its season with an impressive 41-34 victory over Stony Brook. The Hornets then suffered a 22-15 loss at William & Mary. They bounced back last Saturday with a 21-6 victory over Bowie State. That victory gives Delaware State momentum heading into Tampa. Head coach DeSean Jackson enters his second season leading the Hornets. Delaware State’s 2026 schedule includes six MEAC games. However, Saturday represents a major opportunity against an FBS opponent. The Hornets will need to handle USF’s athleticism on both sides of the ball. They also need to avoid giving the Bulls short fields. USF has played clean football through two games. The Bulls have not committed an offensive turnover this season. They also own a plus-four turnover margin. That could become a major factor Saturday night.
Defense Must Keep Improving
USF’s defense has shown flashes during the first two games. The Bulls held FIU to nine points in the opener. They then forced Army into several difficult possessions during Saturday’s comeback. USF allowed Army to run effectively at times. The Black Knights finished with 219 rushing yards. Still, the Bulls made the critical plays when the game reached its final minutes. Zavier Hamilton recorded the first sack of his career against Army. Herlin Perry Jr. also recovered the fumble that sealed the victory. Those moments show the defense can create game-changing plays. Against Delaware State, consistency will matter even more. The Bulls cannot afford to overlook an opponent with a winning record.
Home Crowd Could Matter
Saturday marks USF’s second home game of the season. The Bulls opened the year at Raymond James Stadium against FIU. They then traveled to West Point for their conference opener. Now, they return home with a 2-0 record. That creates an opportunity to establish a strong home-field rhythm. USF also has plenty of momentum after last week’s dramatic victory. The Bulls should carry that confidence into Saturday night. Still, Delaware State deserves respect. The Hornets have already won twice this season. They also enter the game after beating Bowie State by 15 points. USF needs to start quickly and avoid making the game unnecessarily difficult.
A Chance to Reach 3-0
This game gives USF an important opportunity before the schedule gets tougher. The Bulls travel to Bowling Green on September 26. They then host Temple on October 3. After that, USF travels to UTSA for a Thursday night conference matchup. Therefore, Saturday represents more than another nonconference game. A victory would move USF to 3-0 for the second straight season. It would also give the Bulls additional confidence before another road trip. Van Buren and the offense should receive plenty of attention.
However, the defense and special teams could ultimately decide how comfortable this game becomes. USF has already shown it can win close games. Now, the Bulls have a chance to show they can control one from start to finish. Saturday night should provide another important test for Hartline’s team. The Bulls enter with momentum, confidence, and a perfect record. Delaware State enters with nothing to lose. That combination could make for an interesting night at Raymond James Stadium.
I am excited to see the South Florida Bulls back at home with a chance to go to 3-0 in 2026.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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[…] rainy night at Raymond James Stadium did little to slow down the USF Bulls. USF rolled past Delaware State 59-17 on Saturday night. The rain kept the crowd smaller than usual, but […]