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<\/a><\/p>\nTAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 5: Head coach Brian Hartline of the South Florida Bulls before his debut against the Florida International Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on September 5, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n
South Florida (3-0, 1-0 American) hasn\u2019t won with style points under Brian Hartline, but that\u2019s not important, because they\u2019re winning ball games and sport an undefeated record after three weeks.<\/p>\n
The Bulls have overcome early game adversity in all three matchups this year, outlasting FIU in a defensive war of attrition, stunning Army with a 10-point comeback in the final five minutes, and playing a tightly contested first half against FCS Delaware State before dominating after the break.<\/p>\n
There has been one central theme of all three wins: South Florida is a fourth quarter team. The Bulls\u2019 highest scoring output in each game has been in the final stanza, and they\u2019re outscoring opponents 44-16 in fourth quarters.<\/p>\n
South Florida\u2019s offense isn\u2019t generating its 2025 numbers, but the Bulls are improving on a weekly basis. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. has shown increasingly more comfort since the second half of the Army game, where he led two touchdown drives late in the fourth quarter. The former Mississippi State and LSU starter is fresh off his first 300-yard showing since 2024, and he has refrained from mistakes this year, owning a 66.3 completion rate without an interception. With help from the offensive line, he\u2019s done a good job avoiding sacks too, and he\u2019s only taken two on the season.<\/p>\n
Van Buren turned this pocket elusiveness into a team-high 45 rushing yards at Army. But in the other games, he hasn\u2019t utilized his legs as much. Instead, D.J. Crowther and Jason Collins Jr. are making it their mission to keep the Bulls\u2019 run game churning. Crowther posted the first 100-yard run game last week, supplemented with three touchdowns, but the Bulls have yet to generate a 60-yard rusher against FBS competition this year.<\/p>\n
While most of USF\u2019s offensive production can be attributed to transfers, one holdover particularly stands out. Wide receiver Joshua Porter burned Army\u2019s coverage for the game-winning touchdown in Week 2, and he\u2019s currently the leading receiver for the Bulls with 181 yards. Big Ten transfers Bryson Rodgers and Arhmad Branch are also steady contributors in a unit that\u2019s still learning to gel.<\/p>\n
The most impressive component of the Bulls\u2019 3-0 start has been the rebuilt defense under former East Carolina defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge. USF ranks third in the American with 16.7 points allowed per game, and it gets off the field when it needs to, sporting the best third down defense in the conference. It\u2019s a bend-don\u2019t-break unit. The Bulls allowed between 350-390 yards in all three games, but that production hasn\u2019t translated to the scoreboard.<\/p>\n
USF\u2019s ability to generate turnovers is one reason for that. The Bulls, which tied for ninth in takeaways last season, are sustaining the trend this year with a 5-1 advantage thus far. Safety Tavin Ward was the only primary starter retained from 2025\u2019s opportunistic defense, and he\u2019s off to a stellar start to 2026 with 16 tackles and an interception. Ward is one of four defensive backs included in the team\u2019s top seven tacklers. USF is required to make a slew of stops in the secondary considering it ranks 92nd nationally in pass defense \u2014 and that\u2019s in a three-game sample size with one matchup being against run-heavy Army.<\/p>\n
Bowling Green Falcons outlook<\/p>\n