South Florida got plenty of help in upsetting a ranked team for the second straight week. And in doing so the Bulls will likely break into the AP Top 25 for the first time in seven seasons.
Nico Gramatica hit a 20-yard field goal as time expired Saturday to lift the Bulls to an 18-16 victory over 13th-ranked Florida, their first victory over the Gators in five tries.
UF committed 11 penalties for 103 yards, including two major infractions on the final drive, and questionably managed the clock down the stretch.
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Gramatica missed a 58-yarder with 2:52 remaining but got a chance to redeem himself after Florida failed to pick up a first down and took only about 20 seconds off the clock. The Bulls responded with an 87-yard drive that was aided by the two UF penalties, one a spitting infraction on defensive lineman Brendan Bett, who was ejected.
The win in front of 89,909 fans at the Swamp in Gainesville was a huge step forward for the Bulls in coach Alex Golesh's third season.
“A bunch of guys that bought into a vision when it wasn't super cool,” Golesh said.
USF became only the third unranked team since 2000 to start 2-0 by beating two ranked teams, joining 2012 Oregon State and 2008 East Carolina. USF upset No. 25 Boise State last week in Tampa.
"I'm just so happy for our kids," Golesh said. I'm so happy for our players, the ones who bought in, the ones who stayed the course, the ones who have bought into a process-driven program."
Golesh said it was important for his team to reset because another ranked opponent in No. 5 Miami awaits next Saturday in South Florida. And, of course, the team's American Conference schedule awaits, beginning Oct. 3 against Charlotte. The Bulls have never won a conference title.
"You have to keep growing. You have to keep get better because this is Week 2, and this is such a long season. And there are so many things we have yet to attain at this point," he said.
"But I do want to enjoy it, I do want them to feel like they did something really, really cool, which is won a football game against a really good opponent."
USF quarterback Byron Brown completed 23 of 36 passes for 263 yards, with a team-high 66 yards rushing. His 66-yard touchdown pass to Keshaun Singleton put the Bulls in front for the first time, 13-9, with 2:03 left in the third quarter.
Florida's next possession ended with a snap over the punter's head that went out of the back of the end zone for safety, putting USF on top 15-9 just before the third quarter ended.
The Gators again took the lead, 16-13, with 12:29 left in the fourth quarter on D.J. Langway's 4-yard touchdown pass to Eugene Wilson III, out of Tampa's Gaither High. The five-play drive was set up by freshman Vernon Brown III's 40-yard punt return and a USF personal foul for a late hit that set up UF at the Bulls' 20.
But the Gators, who were 17½ -point favorites, were never able to put USF away, placing UF coach Billy Napier back on the proverbial hot seat.
“There’s no excuse here,” Napier said. “I’m not up here to make excuses.”
Napier called two pass plays in the waning minutes when his offense needed to milk the clock and was in charge of a team that melted down at every turn in crunch time. Singleton's TD catch came as Florida defenders were staring at the sideline. And then there was Bett's penalty on the final drive for spitting at an opponent, one play after Wharton High product Dijon Johnson was called for pass interference.
Throw in Napier's offense finishing with 355 yards and settling for three field goals early, and it's no surprise Florida's faithful were calling for his job afterward.
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“We created it. We deserve it,” Napier said. “If you play football like that, you’re going to be criticized. It comes with the territory, right? Only thing you can do is go get it fixed, and that’s what we’ll start working on (Sunday).”
Napier dropped to 20-20, including 14-7 at home. He is 1-1 for the fourth consecutive season. As a result, the Gators (1-1) will surely drop in the rankings.
“These guys I’ve bled with, cried with,” Florida cornerback Devin Moore said. “There have been a lot of long nights, so I’m very motivated — me and other people on the team. Everyone can hold everyone accountable. ... I’m ready to get back to work, clean this film up, and just improve.”
Florida begins Southeastern Conference play next Saturday at No. 3 LSU. The Gators last won in Baton Rouge in 2016.
“I don’t want to discredit South Florida,” Napier said. “Give them some credit for hanging around and finding a way to win the game.”
Should the Bulls crack the AP Top 25, it will be the first time since the end of the 2017 season, when they finished 10-2 during Charlie Strong's first season as head coach. Strong is currently the defensive line coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
WUSF's Rick Mayer contributed to this report.
