A look at USF’s second season under Alex Golesh

USF quarterback Bryce Archie (3) celebrates with quarterback Izzy Carter during the Bulls 63-30 win over Tulsa on Nov. 23. ORACLE PHOTO / WILL RAINSBERGER

Two hurricanes in the Tampa area, one season-ending quarterback injury, and one of the longest games in college football history to cap the season.

What a year it was for USF football.

The Bulls finished 7-6 for a second straight season, beating San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl to notch USF its second consecutive postseason win. 

The five overtime game was the longest bowl game in college football history since overtime rules were adopted – a record that was broken when Toledo won in six overtimes less than 48 hours later.

Related: USF takes Hawaii Bowl in overtime thriller

Bulls head coach Alex Golesh finished his second season in good company – joining Jim Leavitt as the only USF coach with multiple bowl wins.  

There was a lot of the same in 2024 for the Bulls – a quick-tempo offense, a poignant rushing attack and shaky defense. 

But, a proper second season of Golesh and star quarterback Byrum Brown was marred by injury. 

The Bulls’ single-caller exited midway through his fifth start of the season on Sept. 28 against Tulane with a leg injury and wouldn’t return for the rest of the regular season. 

Quarterback Bryce Archie would start for the remainder of the season – throwing for 1,914 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. 

After the Hawaii Bowl, Golesh revealed the injury that sidelined Brown for seven games was a broken leg. Brown further confirmed that with a post on his Instagram story showing an X-ray with a visible fracture in the bone.  

The Bulls offense went stagnant at times under Archie – the Bulls’ average yards per game dropped from 451.6 to 408.3. 

Even without Brown’s scrambling for most of the season, USF had a powerful running game, rushing for 180.2 yards per game, good enough for 39th in the country. 

A porous defense plagued USF again, letting up 436.9 yards per game – 131st in the country. That’s marginally worse than the Bulls’ 115th ranked defense last season. 

The Bulls put together their second straight winning season – light years ahead from being one of the worst programs in the nation under former coach Jeff Scott, who won just four games in three seasons. 

But seven wins likely won’t be enough to compete for an American Athletic Conference title. 

The Bulls have struggled to beat winning teams. Golesh is 1-8 against a team with a winning record. Five of USF’s losses this season came against such an opponent. 

Nonetheless, the growth is noteworthy. The Bulls couldn’t seem to beat anyone under Scott, even going nearly two calendar years without an FBS win. 

USF will need to be competitive against the AAC’s top programs – it lost by multiple scores to Tulane, Memphis and Navy. 

MVP – Kelley Joiner, Running Back

Kelley Joiner’s sixth season was one for the books. 

The unlikely hero was the offensive anchor for the Bulls all season – finishing with 799 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns while averaging 6.6 yards per carry. 

Those numbers were all career highs for Joiner – who’s been with the Bulls since 2019. 

Related: USF’s Kelley Joiner is rising to the occasion in his final season

Joiner’s signature performance came against UAB, scoring three second-half touchdowns en route to a 35-25 win. 

The 25-year-old running back announced he will be entering April’s NFL Draft. 

Looking ahead 

USF boasts a challenging nonconference slate next season, including a visit from a College Football Playoff contender. 

The Bulls will open the season against Boise State on Aug. 30, who finished 12-0 this season and was the No. 3 seed in the inaugural 12-team playoff format.

USF will also travel to two in-state foes – Miami and Florida.

Brown will return for his fourth season at USF hoping to replicate a record-setting 2023 campaign.

With a handful of offensive portal additions – including running back Cartevious Norton from Charlotte and wide receiver Chas Nimrod from Tennessee – the Bulls will look to establish themselves as one of the premier teams in the AAC.



Noah Vinsky, Sports Editor

Noah Vinsky is the sports editor for The Oracle. He’s a mass communications and psychology dual-major and started writing for The Oracle in the fall of 2022. His focus is on football, men’s basketball and the on-campus stadium development. Reach him at noahjosephvinsky@usf.edu

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