DENTON, Texas (AP) — In what could be considered one of the most remarkable stretches of the college football season, No. 24 South Florida delivered a stunning performance on Friday night, scoring four touchdowns in just 4 1/2 minutes to crush North Texas 63-36 and hand the Mean Green their first loss of the season.
The victory pushed the Bulls to 5-1 on the season, with a 2-0 record in American Athletic Conference play. Meanwhile, North Texas saw its unbeaten run come to an end as they fell to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
This matchup had all the makings of an intense contest, with North Texas coming off its best start since 1959, when the school began the season 5-0. With a sellout crowd of 31,386 fans watching at Apogee Stadium, the stage was set for what many expected to be a competitive game. However, South Florida’s offensive fireworks in the second half stole the spotlight and changed the game in dramatic fashion.
A Turnaround at the Half: Bulls’ Big Second Half
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading touchdowns and momentum. Byrum Brown, South Florida’s dynamic quarterback, threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Echols with just two seconds left before halftime, tying the game at 21. This play came after the Mean Green muffed a punt, a crucial mistake that set up the Bulls’ late first-half scoring drive.
But it was what happened immediately after halftime that truly turned the tide. The Bulls came out of the locker room with an urgency and intensity that North Texas could not match. On their first possession of the second half, South Florida stunned the Mean Green with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Christian Neptune, a wide receiver, to Keshaun Singleton. Neptune, who had initially taken a handoff on a sweep, caught the defense off guard with the unexpected throw.
That touchdown ignited an explosive sequence in which South Florida scored three touchdowns in rapid succession. The first of those came courtesy of Sam Franklin, who turned an interception into an 11-yard touchdown following a Drew Mestemaker pick. Moments later, Jhalyn Shuler capped off the barrage with a 34-yard fumble return for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 42-21 and effectively putting the game out of reach for North Texas.
Bulls’ Defense Capitalizes on Mistakes
The explosive second-half performance was largely due to the South Florida defense, which forced four turnovers in the game, including three interceptions. The turnovers came at critical times and allowed the Bulls to capitalize quickly.
Coach Alex Golesh praised his team’s defensive intensity after the game. “We came out of the half just rocking, and that’s offense and defense,” Golesh said. “Defensively, to cause four turnovers against a really good offense, against a really good quarterback that hasn’t turned it over, I thought really intentional by what our guys practiced, what our guys’ mindset was going into the game.”
North Texas, which had been averaging a plus-1.6 turnover margin — one of the best marks in the country — came into the game with only three turnovers on the season. However, they were forced into five turnovers by the South Florida defense, including a muffed punt that set up the first of the quick touchdowns after halftime.
Meanwhile, Drew Mestemaker, the redshirt freshman quarterback for North Texas, had been performing exceptionally well this season, with 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions coming into this game. However, the South Florida defense picked him off three times, significantly disrupting the rhythm of North Texas’ offense. Mestemaker finished the game completing 30 of 46 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, but his inability to avoid mistakes ultimately cost the Mean Green.
Brown’s Historic Performance: Leading the Bulls to Victory
On the offensive side, it was Byrum Brown who led the charge for South Florida. Brown accounted for five total touchdowns, throwing three touchdown passes and running for two more scores. For the second consecutive game, Brown was the catalyst for the Bulls’ high-powered offense. He completed 22 of 28 passes for 245 yards and ran for 82 yards on 21 carries, showing his versatility and ability to lead his team in both the air and on the ground.
After the game, Brown acknowledged his earlier mistakes but was quick to credit his team for its resilience. “Mistakes and turnovers by me. But clean those up and should be more than 60 (points), should be 70-plus every game,” he said.
Brown’s performance was not the only impressive aspect of the game. The South Florida offense has been one of the highest-scoring units in the nation, and their quick-strike ability was on full display against North Texas. In their past four games, the Bulls have averaged 57.3 points per game, and that high-scoring trend continued on Friday night.
North Texas’ Uncharacteristic Mistakes
Despite their explosive start to the season, North Texas was plagued by uncharacteristic mistakes that derailed their chances in this game. Not only did they commit five turnovers, but they also allowed big plays, such as the long fumble return for a touchdown by Shuler, which helped South Florida extend their lead.
Coach Eric Morris of North Texas took responsibility for the loss. “I’ll beat myself up for a long time over this one, just because it was such a great opportunity for our fans, our program, our university, on national TV,” he said. The loss is especially tough for the Mean Green as they had hoped to build on their first 5-0 start in decades.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Recovery
South Florida’s dominant performance moves them one step closer to becoming a force in the American Athletic Conference, with their next game against Florida Atlantic on October 18. The Bulls will look to continue their strong play as they head into the second half of the season, with a focus on cleaning up their turnovers and fine-tuning their offense.
For North Texas, the loss is a tough blow, but they still sit at 5-1 and will look to regroup as they face UTSA on October 18. The Mean Green will need to correct their mistakes and focus on avoiding turnovers if they are to bounce back from their first defeat of the year.
Final Thoughts
South Florida’s victory over North Texas highlighted the importance of taking advantage of opportunities, especially in a high-pressure environment. The Bulls capitalized on the Mean Green’s mistakes in a big way, proving that they have both the offensive firepower and the defensive capabilities to compete with anyone. As they continue their march through the American Athletic Conference, the Bulls will be one of the teams to watch in the coming weeks.
For North Texas, this loss serves as a reminder that even the best teams are vulnerable when they make mistakes. Despite a strong start to the season, the Mean Green will need to regroup and refocus to ensure they remain in contention for the conference title.
