South Florida Bulls Dominate North Texas in Record Home Game
DENTON, Texas—In a thrilling display of college football, the South Florida Bulls defeated the North Texas Mean Green 63–39 on October 6, 2023. The matchup, held at a sold-out DATCU Stadium, marked a historic occasion for the Mean Green, drawing a record crowd of 31,386 fans—an attendance milestone since the stadium’s opening in 2011.
The game was particularly significant for North Texas, which entered the contest with a perfect 5–0 record for the first time since 1959. South Florida, ranked among the top teams, provided a rare opportunity for the home side to showcase its progress against a formidable opponent. The excitement surrounding the matchup did not disappoint, delivering what many consider the most entertaining college football game of the weekend.
Dynamic Plays Define the Matchup
The game featured a dizzying array of plays, with both teams pushing the boundaries of conventional football strategy. Wide receivers took turns as quarterbacks, running backs threw touchdown passes, and a normally reliable quarterback for North Texas, who had not thrown an interception this season, ended the night with three. According to ESPN, the first half alone saw an unprecedented number of turnovers, with six turnovers and six touchdowns across 86 plays.
The high-energy third quarter was particularly explosive, yielding 35 points and showcasing impressive offensive and defensive plays. South Florida’s linebacker Jhalyn Shuler scored on a fumble recovery, evading defenders with ease, which highlighted the gap in performance between the two teams.
South Florida’s Resilience Shines Through
Despite a shaky start, the Bulls demonstrated their potential as a serious contender. Early in the game, South Florida struggled with three turnovers on their first four drives, allowing North Texas to capitalize with two long scoring drives. However, Byrum Brown, the Bulls’ dynamic quarterback, found his rhythm, finishing with 245 passing yards, 82 rushing yards, and accounting for five touchdowns against just one interception.
Head coach Alex Golesh noted the team’s ability to regroup and turn the tide in their favor, particularly during a rapid sequence of plays that saw South Florida score four touchdowns in just over four minutes. This resilience suggests the Bulls possess the capability to perform at a high level even when not at their best—a promising sign for the remainder of the season.
With this victory, South Florida positions itself favorably for a potential bid in the Group of Five alongside teams like Memphis, Navy, and Tulane. As the Bulls continue their season, they will face critical matchups against these teams, starting with an important road game against Memphis later this month. The Bulls already have significant wins against Boise State and Florida, and their ability to secure victories against bowl-bound teams will bolster their standing in the college football landscape.
As the season progresses, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if South Florida can maintain this momentum and challenge for a prominent spot in the College Football Playoff picture.
