USF stuns No. 25 Boise State 34-7 for first win over a ranked team since 2016
By Associated Press
August 28, 2025 at 9:45 PM EDT
The Bulls open the season by scoring 34 straight points, sparked by Keshaun Singleton's 45-yard touchdown reception on a fake punt and two TD runs by Byrum Brown in his return from injury.
Quarterback Byrum Brown ran for two touchdowns, Keshaun Singleton caught a 45-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt and South Florida routed No. 25 Boise State 34-7 on Thursday night in the opener for both teams.
South Florida beat a Top 25 opponent for the first time since topping then-No. 22 Navy 52-45 on Oct. 28, 2016. They had lost 18 straight against ranked teams.
“I told our team last night that this is going to be a display of our identity,” USF coach Alex Golesh said. “We’ve worked. We’ve got a bunch of seniors that have been through a lot. Some that are in their sixth year here.”
Brown, playing for the first time since an injured lower leg sidelined him for eight games last year, completed 16 of 24 for 210 yards and added 43 yards on the ground. Cartevious Norton had an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Singleton had five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown, while Chas Nimrod had three catches for 96 yards.
Singleton's touchdown reception on the fake punt in the third quarter turned a close matchup into a Bulls runaway.
With South Florida facing a fourth down at the Broncos 45, Golesh decided to sneak backup quarterback Locklan Hewlett in as the punter. The freshman was able to execute the fake punt to perfection, hitting an open Singleton inside the 20, and the receiver broke three tackles from there to get in the end zone.
"It got the momentum going at just the right time when it was teetering back and forth," Golesh said.
Boise State's Maddux Madsen completed 25 of 46 for 225 yards, with a touchdown pass to Chris Marshall to open the scoring. They were outscored 34-0 the rest of the way. The Broncos lost three fumbles and failed to convert on fourth down three times in USF territory.
"You have to create extra possessions," Golesh said. "The three turnsovers were absolutely monumental. Four fourth-down stops were absolutely huge. That's a team that doesn't fumble. That's a team that fumbled five times all last year."
South Florida will next face two more ranked opponents — Florida and Miami — before their American Conference schedule begins. The Bulls play at Gainesville on Sept. 6.
Boise State next hosts Eastern Washington on Sept. 5.
“Whoever wins the turnover margin and wins the explosive battle, it’s like 98% of the time you win the game — college or NFL,” Broncos coach Spencer Danielson said. “We were not explosive enough on offense. We’ve got to look and see why. ”
Golesh began his postgame press conference by honoring former USF men's basketball coach Amir Abdul-Rahim, who died on Oct. 24, 2024, of complications from a medical procedure. Abdur-Rahim led the Bulls to a school-record 25 wins and an AAC regular-season conference championship in his only year as coach.
“He was one of the coolest, greatest men that I’ve been around. I was only around him for a year and a half. I quoted Amir (to the football team after the game), ‘This ain’t the same old South Florida anymore,’ and I truly believe that.”
South Florida beat a Top 25 opponent for the first time since topping then-No. 22 Navy 52-45 on Oct. 28, 2016. They had lost 18 straight against ranked teams.
“I told our team last night that this is going to be a display of our identity,” USF coach Alex Golesh said. “We’ve worked. We’ve got a bunch of seniors that have been through a lot. Some that are in their sixth year here.”
Brown, playing for the first time since an injured lower leg sidelined him for eight games last year, completed 16 of 24 for 210 yards and added 43 yards on the ground. Cartevious Norton had an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Singleton had five catches for 93 yards and a touchdown, while Chas Nimrod had three catches for 96 yards.
Singleton's touchdown reception on the fake punt in the third quarter turned a close matchup into a Bulls runaway.
With South Florida facing a fourth down at the Broncos 45, Golesh decided to sneak backup quarterback Locklan Hewlett in as the punter. The freshman was able to execute the fake punt to perfection, hitting an open Singleton inside the 20, and the receiver broke three tackles from there to get in the end zone.
"It got the momentum going at just the right time when it was teetering back and forth," Golesh said.
Boise State's Maddux Madsen completed 25 of 46 for 225 yards, with a touchdown pass to Chris Marshall to open the scoring. They were outscored 34-0 the rest of the way. The Broncos lost three fumbles and failed to convert on fourth down three times in USF territory.
"You have to create extra possessions," Golesh said. "The three turnsovers were absolutely monumental. Four fourth-down stops were absolutely huge. That's a team that doesn't fumble. That's a team that fumbled five times all last year."
South Florida will next face two more ranked opponents — Florida and Miami — before their American Conference schedule begins. The Bulls play at Gainesville on Sept. 6.
Boise State next hosts Eastern Washington on Sept. 5.
“Whoever wins the turnover margin and wins the explosive battle, it’s like 98% of the time you win the game — college or NFL,” Broncos coach Spencer Danielson said. “We were not explosive enough on offense. We’ve got to look and see why. ”
Golesh began his postgame press conference by honoring former USF men's basketball coach Amir Abdul-Rahim, who died on Oct. 24, 2024, of complications from a medical procedure. Abdur-Rahim led the Bulls to a school-record 25 wins and an AAC regular-season conference championship in his only year as coach.
“He was one of the coolest, greatest men that I’ve been around. I was only around him for a year and a half. I quoted Amir (to the football team after the game), ‘This ain’t the same old South Florida anymore,’ and I truly believe that.”