USF took a giant leap toward bowl contention with a blowout win over Charlotte on Saturday, powered by a record breaking game at Jerry Richardson Stadium.

The Bulls set a program record with 425 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in their 59-24 victory.  

Defensively, USF forced four turnovers, including a pick-six by corner Brent Austin and a fumble scoop and score by linebacker Mac Harris. 

South Florida’s aggressive defense complemented the offense, helping secure the team’s largest scoring output since 2017, when they defeated East Carolina 61-31. 

The win leaves the Bulls one victory shy of securing bowl eligibility with two games remaining.

Related: USF routes Charlotte in blowout win, most points scored since 2017

A historic day on the ground

USF’s run game was unstoppable, led by graduate running back Kelley Joiner’s 140 yards and two touchdowns, including a highlight 54-yard score in the third quarter. 

Running back Nay’Quan Wright chipped in 43 rushing yards and two short-yardage touchdowns, while quarterback Bryce Archie contributed 72 yards with his legs.

Senior back Ta’Ron Keith and freshman back Alvon Isaac also found the endzone with one score a piece, contributing to the Bulls’ staggering 8.9 yards per carry.

The run dominance set South Florida up to break its previous single-game rushing record of 421 yards set in 2017. 

“The run game, it ain’t just line up and hand the ball off, there’s so much that goes into it,” head coach Alex Golesh said after the game. 

The offensive line dominated as well, allowing no sacks and clearing the way for four different USF rushers to score.

“I thought those guys did a really good job of opening the crease,” Golesh said.

Bulls keep bowl hopes alive

The win keeps USF’s postseason hopes alive as the Bulls improve to 5-5, and 3-3 in the American Athletic Conference.

With its last home game against Tulsa next week, USF has a chance to clinch bowl eligibility again after last year’s breakout season. 

Saturday’s performance showcased the Bulls’ ability to execute effectively in all phases of the game, but there is still room for improvement.

“Second half as complete as you can have,” Golesh said. “First half still kind of fumbled around a little bit.”

Related: Column: Is USF football regressing or just rebuilding?

Why USF won

Offensively, the Bulls thrived off explosive plays with multiple long runs setting up quick touchdowns throughout the game.

The defense played a pivotal role, forcing four turnovers that led to 17 points and helped sustain the Bulls’ momentum.

Austin’s pick-six and Harris’ fumble return for a touchdown helped shift momentum in the Bulls’ favor. 

Golesh noted forcing negative plays and putting Charlotte in difficult situations allowed the defense to excel. 

“Such a momentum game, defensively, where you start getting some negatives and then you get them behind the chains, and then they got to throw the ball and I think that’s where we’ve excelled all year,” Golesh said. 

Why Charlotte lost

Charlotte’s offense moved the ball at times, with quarterback Deshawn Purdie throwing for 256 yards and a touchdown.

However, the 49ers couldn’t overcome four costly turnovers, including two in the third quarter that led directly to USF touchdowns.  

Penalties further hampered Charlotte’s chances, as the team was flagged 12 times for 103 yards. 

“Extremely different effort by all of us,” Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi said post game.

USF will face Tulsa in its last home game of the season at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday. The game will start at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Bulls Unlimited.