7 days ago3 min read

USF to Face Off with Memphis in Hurricane-Stricken City

Updated: 4 days ago

USF | QB Bryce Archie — © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Just a few days after the biggest hurricane in 100 years could hit the Tampa Bay region, the South Florida Bulls (2-3, 0-1 American Athletic Conference) will take on the Memphis Tigers (4-1, 0-1 AAC) on Oct. 12 in Tampa, Fla. Originally scheduled for Oct. 11 at 7 p.m., the game has been postponed to the following day at 3:30 p.m.

The Game's Ramifications

The Bulls come into the game on a two-game losing streak, losing to the now No. 6 Miami (FL) Hurricanes as well as the Tulane Green Wave. Both teams put upwards of 40 points on them as they struggled to get the offense going. For Memphis, the Tigers beat Middle Tennessee 24-7 on Sept. 28 and lost to Navy in a 56-44 shootout on Sept. 21.

The Bulls can almost certainly be eliminated from the College Football Playoff. However, they are still in play for a bowl game appearance. A fourth loss does not help them. A win here is crucial for USF's postseason action. If they don't make it, it will be seen as taking a step backwards in head coach Alex Golesh's second season.

The Tigers are still very much in the CFP picture with only one loss halfway through the season. The Tigers' only loss comes from the Navy Midshipmen, who will also be competing for the coveted CFP spot. A win against the Bulls will put them one game away from bowl eligibility with a rather favorable schedule after their matchup. Should they win, they could be looking at a long streak of wins and continue to be in contention for the AAC Championship as well as that last automatic spot.

Key Players: USF Bulls

Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown has led the team in both passing yards and rushing yards this season. However, in the Bulls' last game, Brown went down with a left leg injury. The Bulls had a bye following that game. Brown is still day-to-day leading up to the clash with the Tigers. If Brown isn't available, backup quarterback Bryce Archie will be the starter.

He will also have the full arsenal of the Bulls' skill players with all of their running backs as well as the starting receivers. This point is huge because when Archie plays, it is usually with the second-team players, not the starters. If this does happen, imagine the game plan to change significantly to suit Archie.

Key Players: Memphis Tigers

The Tigers are led by quarterback Seth Henigan and running back Mario Anderson Jr. Henigan has 1,339 yards passing while Anderson Jr. has 438 yards rushing. Between the two of them, the Tiger offense has been rolling. Receiver Roc Taylor has been the biggest beneficiary of Henigan's passing stats with 333 yards receiving himself. If the Tigers are going to win, they will need these three to perform well.

Defensively for the Tigers, they will have the advantage as the Bulls should be shorthanded on both sides on the ball. The Bulls could be missing their best players in Brown and linebacker Jhalyn Shuler, the team's leading tackler from 2023. If the defense is able to shut down the Bulls' running game, they will be forcing Archie into passing situations. If that happens, the Tigers will win. It is how the Bulls lost their previous games.