Two programs opened the 2025 season with very different statements. Florida did what a ranked SEC team should do at home and flattened Long Island 55-0, spreading the ball around and letting the depth show. South Florida stunned Boise State 34-7, a wire-to-wire performance that looked like a team ready to trade punches with anyone.
The history is short but memorable. Florida leads the series 3-0, yet the last meeting in 2022 came down to a missed USF field goal in the final seconds. That near miss still lingers in Tampa, and it is part of what makes this matchup feel bigger than Week 2.
What to watch when USF has the ball
Alex Golesh’s offense is built on pace and stress. Senior quarterback Byrum Brown looked steady against Boise State, throwing efficiently and adding tough yards when the offense needed a spark. The Bulls added SEC speed at receiver, and you saw it right away. Tennessee transfer Chas Nimrod stretched the field, Keshaun Singleton worked the middle, and the collective route balance kept the chains on schedule. Golesh also leaned into Brown’s legs once the early drives stalled. That gave USF rhythm, and it opened cutback lanes for a committee that prefers daylight over brute force.
Florida’s defense will be a different animal. The Gators swarmed LIU and never allowed a foothold, winning first downs and unleashing pass rushers on obvious passing downs. Health will be worth tracking across the front and secondary, but the takeaways from Week 1 were clear. They tackled in space, rallied to the ball, and closed vertical windows. If Florida chokes off the perimeter screens that fuel USF’s tempo, Brown will have to hit intermediate shots on time to keep drives alive.
Returners matter in a game like this. USF brings back a veteran quarterback who has played in tight spots and a core that was battle-tested late last year. Florida retools yearly, but several young defenders who flashed in 2024 are now centerpieces. The Bulls’ offensive line communication against the SEC crowd noise will tell you early if this stays close into the fourth quarter.
How Florida wants to play
Billy Napier’s best teams at Louisiana and his best nights at Florida have come when the offense is layered and patient. DJ Lagway showed the full toolkit in the opener. He delivered on rhythm, extended plays when protection bled, and trusted a deep receiver room that welcomed back Eugene Wilson III. Wilson’s speed bends coverage even when the stat line is quiet, and that gravity lets Florida roll through tight ends, backs, and young wideouts without tipping tendencies.
The run game is the heartbeat. Even if the names in the backfield rotate because of early-season dings, the Gators want to mash inside zone, pair it with play-action, and lean on a physical line to wear you down. USF’s front just held Boise State’s run game to modest gains, so Florida’s interior push versus the Bulls’ quickness is a matchup to circle.
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Napier’s group went through fire last fall, with mixed results that forced younger players into bigger roles. That kind of seasoning shows up in drive finishers, red zone choices, and situational poise. If Florida curbs penalties and keeps Lagway on schedule, it will look like a unit that can control the middle eight minutes around halftime.
One look, quick hits
• Series: Florida leads 3-0
• Last meeting: Florida 31, USF 28 on Sept. 17, 2022
• USF 2025 opener: 34-7 win vs Boise State
• Florida 2025 opener: 55-0 win vs LIU
• Key QBs: USF senior Byrum Brown, Florida sophomore DJ Lagway
Why it could swing late
USF thrives when it turns games into tempo races with explosive edges. Florida thrives when the game tilts toward depth, field position, and a pass rush that hunts in obvious passing downs. Special teams and hidden yardage could be a separator in a hot September afternoon in Gainesville.
Key players this season will decide it. Brown’s calm and legs. Nimrod’s vertical pop. Singleton’s third-down reliability. Lagway’s poise and creation. Wilson’s space game. A wave of Gator defenders who want this to be the night they announce what 2025 looks like. If USF handles the moment, the Bulls have the firepower to make the Swamp sweat. If Florida leans on its size and variety, the home crowd will be singing early and often. Either way, this has the feel of a real September measuring stick with a little Florida pride draped over it.
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