The No. 8 Miami Hurricanes (3-0) head to Tampa to take on a talented South Florida team (2-1) in a significant matchup for both sides. The Hurricanes are heavy favorites, with BETMGM listing them as 16.5-point favorites. However, Miami is aware that just two weeks ago, USF went toe-to-toe with the No. 4 ranked Alabama before the Crimson Tide pulled away in the final seven minutes of the game in Tuscaloosa.
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WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Miami is seeking to finish what would be a perfect 4-0 record in nonconference games, plus a third win against a Sunshine State opponent already this season. South Florida has a chance to beat a top 10 team for the first time in nearly 17 years — the Bulls are 0-8 in such games since topping then-No. 5 West Virginia 21-13 on Sept. 28, 2007.
KEY MATCHUP
Miami’s ballcarriers vs. South Florida’s ballhawks. The Bulls have already shown that they’re excellent at knocking footballs loose this season, getting five takeaways off of fumbles in the season’s first three games. The Hurricanes know they have to protect the football; wasted possessions are how upsets can happen.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Miami: LT Jalen Rivers is back after a two-game absence with a neck injury, and his experience is going to be needed against South Florida’s stout defensive front. He’s the key to the blocking scheme that Miami uses to protect QB Cam Ward.
South Florida: Dual-threat QB Byrum Brown won’t be the highest-profile player on the field, however he’s just as important to the Bulls as Ward is to Miami. The junior was one of just two FBS players to throw for over 3,000 yards while running for 800-plus last season. The other was Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Through three games, Brown has thrown 448 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He’s also rushed for a team-leading 254 yards and a pair of scores
FACTS & FIGURES
Ward is 89 passing yards from 15,000 in his college career, including his time at Incarnate Word and Washington State. … The teams met six times from 2005 through 2013 but, until now, haven’t played since. They’ll play at Miami in 2025 and 2028. … USF scored 23 points in its lone win over Miami, back in 2010. In Miami’s five wins over USF, the Bulls averaged 10 points. … USF has lost 18 consecutive games against Top 25 opponents. The Bulls’ last win over a ranked team was on Oct. 28, 2016, a 52-45 win over then-No. 22 Navy. … Miami has outscored opponents by 133 points so far this season, the third-best differential nationally entering the week behind Tennessee (178) and Ole Miss (159). … The Bulls (who have already faced Alabama and lost 42-16 after a fourth-quarter collapse) will be one of two teams to already face two top 10 opponents this season. Kent State — which plays No. 10 Penn State on Saturday — is the other.
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