As much of the children dreamed of Santa on Christmas Eve, the South Florida Bulls delivered one of the most unforgettable gifts of the college football season. In a game that will go down as an all-time classic, USF defeated San José State 41-39 in a five-overtime thriller in the Hawai‘i Bowl, marking the NCAA’s first bowl game to go beyond three overtimes.
The game nearly ended in regulation, but not without drama. Down by three points with less than a minute left, USF set the stage for their eventual victory with a clutch punt return and a pair of first downs to get into field goal range. John Cannon’s kick, aided by a fortuitous bounce, sent the game into overtime tied at 24-24.
Overtime turned into a classic college football shootout, with each team matching the other in clutch plays.
First Overtime: South Florida struck first with a 23-yard completion from Bryce Archie to tight end Payten Singletary, capped by a 2-yard touchdown run from Ta’Ron Keith. San José State responded on fourth-and-goal with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Chevan Eget to Matthew Coleman, extending the drama.
Second Overtime: Both teams traded field goals, with USF’s Cannon hitting a 36-yarder and San José State’s Kyler Halvorsen answering with a 24-yarder.
Third Overtime: With the two-point conversion rule in effect, both teams converted. USF scored on a 3-yard shovel pass from Archie to Singletary, while San José State’s Eget found Coleman again for two points.
Fourth Overtime: Trickery almost paid off for the Bulls when Byrum Brown entered as quarterback and split wide. However, their attempt at a touchdown pass fell incomplete, and neither team scored.
Fifth Overtime: Finally, South Florida broke the deadlock. Cannon hit a walk-off field goal, sealing the Bulls’ victory.
South Florida quarterback Bryce Archie finished 24-of-34 for 235 yards and a touchdown, while Ta’Ron Keith electrified the game with a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown. Wide receiver Sean Atkins hauled in 11 receptions for 104 yards, surpassing Andre Davis as USF’s all-time receiving yards leader with 2,167 yards.
San José State’s Chevan Eget battled valiantly, completing 33-of-58 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Coleman was his favorite target, with multiple key catches in high-pressure moments.
Despite being outgained 441-291 and struggling in the ground game, South Florida made their biggest plays on special teams and defense. Their resilience and knack for timely execution propelled them to back-to-back winning seasons and bowl victories, a remarkable feat after a 7-6 record and Boca Raton Bowl win last year.
For fans who stayed up into the early hours of Christmas, the game was a gift that kept on giving. The Hawai‘i Bowl once again showcased the magic of postseason college football, proving that even on Christmas Eve, the game can deliver unforgettable moments.
