It’s been a long, but much-needed bye week for the USF Bulls. After a heartbreaker in Memphis, the Bulls are eager for a bounce back and fans are hoping a rebound game is in the cards. While it may be early November, the regular season is still far from over, with each week presenting it’s own unique challenges and no easy tasks. Earlier in this season, this matchup may have been overlooked. However, there’s actually a lot more at stake for both teams this time around. With that being said, let’s jump right into this 2025 game preview.
USF Bulls vs. UTSA Roadrunners 2025 College Football Preview
For South Florida, Week 11 brings another high-stakes conference matchup against the UTSA Roadrunners. And for San Antonio, they will look to play spoiler to another American team in back-to-back weeks.
USF vs. UTSA: Matchup History and Excerpts
These two teams have only had one previous meeting, which came in the 2023 season. The Roadrunners defeated the Bulls in San Antonio by a score of 49-21. Historically, there isn’t a lot to go off of in terms of how both teams have shaped up against each other in the past, paving the way for a deeper dive of how UTSA has fared against additional American Conference opponents and their overall regular season performance up until this point.
UTSA currently holds a 4-4 record, is eighth in the American, and 2-2 in conference play. Following a dominating victory over Rice in Week 7, the Roadrunners put on a showstopper against Tulane last week and came out with an impressive 48-26 win.
Despite their record, UTSA plays at a higher caliber and executes efficiently when they’re in the proper setup and take the necessary steps to do so. A win and overall performance of that level will likely give this team a huge momentum swing heading into a primetime Thursday night clash with the Bulls in Tampa.
Keys, Players, and Predictions
Key Players for South Florida
The team’s leading rusher is none other than quarterback Byrum Brown. Brown continues to be impactful, and a dominate presence in both the pass and run game, leading the charge for this Bulls offense. Leading wide receiver Chas Nimrod, who departed from the North Texas game with an ankle injury, has been out for the last two games but is making continuous strides in his recovery. He’s currently listed as day-to-day and is questionable to return this week. Nonetheless, Nimrod remains a key asset for the Bulls, and once he is officially cleared to play, his return will be highly anticipated.
The wide receiver core remains strong and intact with the likes of Christian Neptune, Jeremiah Koger, Keshaun Singleton, and Mudia Reuben. The backfield, however, has faced it’s share of setbacks; most recently with Alvon Isaac, who has been dealing with lower-body injuries. After leaving the Memphis game early, Isaac has since been cleared to play in this week’s game, adding another reliable handoff back into the mix. Running backs Sam Franklin and Nykahi Davenport have also been very effective in paving routes throughout the line and beyond.
The defense is anchored by linebackers Mac Harris and Jhalyn Shuler. Mac is leading the team with 69 tackles and 5.5 sacks for 25 yards. Safety Tavin Ward is the leader of the secondary and is third on the team in tackles behind Shuler and Harris.
Key Players for UTSA
Owen McCown is the starting quarterback for UTSA, currently tallying nearly 1,700 passing yards and just four interceptions for the season. McCown is a left-handed quarterback, posing alternate challenges for USF’s defensive unit to account for. His go-to handoff is running back Robert Henry Jr., a very powerful and speedy back currently recording 955 rushing yards. Will Henderson III is another familiar presence in the backfield for the Roadrunners.
Devin McCuin is the leading wide receiver with 460 receiving yards, along with fellow receivers AJ Wilson, David Amador II, and tight end Houston Thomas all being very effective as well.
The defensive charge is led by linebacker Shad Banks Jr, he currently holds 51 total tackles, including 32 solo, and two interceptions. Next to Banks Jr is fellow linebacker Kendrick Blackshire. Safety Jimmy Wyrick is the primary play-caller of the secondary. He will play a major role in the prevention of any explosive shots downfield from USF’s offense.
2025 Preview: How USF Wins vs. UTSA in Week 11
Feed off of the environment
The energy of the student section and the fans at Raymond James Stadium have been at an all-time high, and the Bulls football program has been admiring every minute of it. A home-team crowd may be just what they need to give them that additional boost of energy and positive spark. Additionally, ESPN will be broadcasting live from campus ahead of the game, giving students and fans even more of an incentive to start the pre-game festivities and tailgating early.
Defense calling everything
The Bulls are getting the Roadrunners at an all-time high. The defense will need to contain the likes of McCown and Henry Jr. as much as possible in order to limit explosive plays and consecutive scores. They also need to pay extra close attention to changes in scheme or lineups. With the momentum that UTSA has obtained, it’s possible they will try to execute new stops and trick plays to catch the Bulls defense off guard and gain the upper hand in the matchup.
Play fast, but clean
We know that USF’s offense runs very quickly, often with nearly a few seconds between each snap. As this style of play is usually effective in wearing out opposing defenses, it also opens the door for potential errors and avoidable mistakes. The preferred tempo that USF likes to play will be beneficial, as long as it’s not at the cost of miscues and other faulty situations that will give up points.
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Mackenzie Neglia
Currently a student at the University of South Florida, raised in a New York football family. Always looking for a new book, coffee shop, and travel spot.