TAMPA – The Miami Hurricanes rolled into Raymond James Stadium for a Saturday night showdown against the South Florida Bulls and left no doubt, cruising to a 50-15 victory. With 65,000 fans packed in for what many considered a major road test, the Canes once again showed why they are climbing the national ranks, improving to 4-0 in dominant fashion.
What looked like a potential nail-biter in the first half quickly turned into a rout as Miami’s defensive adjustments and disciplined second-half play overwhelmed USF. The Bulls, who had given powerhouse Alabama all it could handle just weeks earlier, struggled to keep pace with the Canes after halftime. Despite their early fight, the Bulls were unable to replicate their success against Alabama, where they rushed for over 200 yards. Against Miami, they were held to a mere 62 yards on 32 attempts, a testament to Miami’s ability to neutralize USF’s primary weapon.
The Bulls entered the game riding high, confident in an electric atmosphere and eager to make a statement in what was essentially their “Super Bowl.” This feisty and physical Bulls team, led by head coach Alex Golesh, had destroyed Syracuse 45-0 in last year’s bowl game and stayed within a point of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for three quarters earlier this season. In fact, the Bulls held Alabama to just 17 points in a narrow 17-3 loss in Tampa. On Saturday, they took the lead twice in the first half, capitalizing on a Jacolby George turnover and converting a series of long field goals to stay in the game. A 58-yard kick by freshman Nico Gramatica and a trick-play touchdown pass from wide receiver Sean Atkins to quarterback Byrum Brown even put the Bulls ahead 15-14. But Miami responded with a 76-yard bomb from Cam Ward to Sam Brown Jr. right before halftime, giving the Canes a 22-15 lead.
Quarterback Cam Ward acknowledged the challenge South Florida presented. “I believe they were the toughest opponent so far, just because they’re so physical. It’s a physical team over there, and they showed it today,” Ward said after the game.
Miami’s first half was uncharacteristic, marred by sloppy play and a string of penalties that disrupted their usual rhythm, in part due to South Florida’s physicality. Head coach Mario Cristobal recognized the challenge, saying,“We knew this was going to be a physical game, and we had to be physical. And that’s not what we’ve been. We started doing it, and it wasn’t a matter of want-to or arrogance for not doing things the right way. We just got off of what we are. If we want to put on display who we are, we have to show it in the way we play, not in the way we talk.”
After the break, Miami shifted gears. The Canes outscored the Bulls 28-0 in the second half, using a balanced attack of explosive passing plays and gritty red-zone runs. Cam Ward was sensational, throwing for 404 yards and three touchdowns, and led the Canes on two methodical scoring drives in the third quarter, both capped by running back Damien Martinez, who rushed for two touchdowns, completing a hat trick for the game.
In addition to Ward and Martinez, freshman Jordan Lyle broke free for a 91-yard score late in the game—the longest rushing play from scrimmage in the history of the University of Miami. The offensive fireworks were complemented by a lockdown defensive performance, which pitched a shutout in the second half and forced the Bulls into difficult third-down situations throughout the game.
With this win, Miami has further solidified its position as one of the top programs in the nation, moving up to No. 7 in the AP Top 25. The Hurricanes’ next challenge is Virginia Tech and the start of ACC play, which has been their Achilles’ heel in recent years. So far, Miami has proven they’re ready to take on any opponent, armed with a high-powered offense, a stifling defense, and the ability to adjust and dominate when it matters most. The Canes have recorded dominant road victories at the Swamp and in Tampa, winning all of their games in blowout fashion. This is what great teams do—they blow out the teams they should, proof of the focus and culture that Mario Cristobal is building. “We’re excited about where we’re headed,” Cristobal said. “But there’s a lot of work left to do, and we’re ready to keep improving.”
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