The South Florida Bulls turned a competitive first half into a one-sided performance Saturday night, overwhelming the Delaware State Hornets 59–17 at Raymond James Stadium to open the season 3–0. In front of 32,345 fans, South Florida combined an explosive offense with a dominant second-half defensive effort, scoring 38 unanswered points after Delaware State had closed within four late in the first half.
South Florida established its tempo immediately. The Bulls marched 72 yards on their opening possession in just four plays, with D.J. Crowther finishing the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. The early score set the tone for an offense that would eventually produce 611 total yards, including 290 on the ground. Crowther emerged as one of the night’s central figures, carrying the ball 11 times for 101 yards and three touchdowns as South Florida repeatedly found openings in the Hornets’ defense.
Delaware State, however, refused to disappear quietly. The Hornets answered South Florida’s early scores and remained within striking distance throughout much of the opening half. After trailing 21–7, Delaware State cut the deficit to 21–17 before the Bulls regained control. Quarterback Ui Ale provided a steady passing attack for the Hornets, completing passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, according to Delaware State’s official game recap.
The decisive sequence came just before halftime and carried into the second half. South Florida added another touchdown to take a 28–17 advantage at the break, then completely shut down Delaware State after intermission. The Bulls scored 14 points in the third quarter and another 17 in the fourth while holding the Hornets scoreless, turning what had been a competitive contest into a rout. 
Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. directed the Bulls’ balanced attack with an efficient passing performance, completing 23 of 32 attempts for 300 yards and a touchdown. South Florida’s ability to move the ball both through the air and on the ground kept Delaware State’s defense under pressure throughout the night. The Bulls’ seven rushing touchdowns were one short of the program record of eight, set in the first game in school history in 1997.
For South Florida, the victory represented more than another win on the schedule. It marked the program’s first 3–0 start since 2018 and extended the Bulls’ winning streak at Raymond James Stadium to nine games. The performance also continued an impressive stretch of offensive production, with the 611-yard total ranking tied for the 11th-highest single-game yardage mark in program history.
Delaware State entered the matchup with renewed momentum under head coach DeSean Jackson, following an 8–4 season in 202
5 after the program had gone 2–21 over the previous two seasons. The Hornets showed flashes of that progress against South Florida, particularly during the first half, but ultimately could not sustain their offensive production against the Bulls’ defense after halftime.
By the final whistle, the scoreboard reflected a game that had changed dramatically from the tightly contested opening half. South Florida’s 38 consecutive points erased any doubt and gave the Bulls their third victory of the season, while Delaware State left Tampa with a 2–2 record. For USF, the emphatic finish provided another strong chapter to an unbeaten start and demonstrated the team’s ability to turn a close game into a decisive result.
The Bulls will now turn their attention to their next challenge on the road against Bowling Green, while Delaware State returns home to prepare for Towson.
