USF Dominates Delaware State 59-17, Remains Perfect at 3-0

South Florida Controls the Ground Game in Week 3 Victory

The USF football team did exactly what it was supposed to do Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium, taking care of business against Football Championship Subdivision opponent Delaware State with a convincing 59-17 victory.

The win moved the Bulls to 3-0 on the season and kept them undefeated in the Hartline era. While USF’s offense produced 59 points, the most impressive aspect of the performance was its dominance on the ground. The Bulls piled up 290 rushing yards, consistently finding room to create explosive plays.

D.J. Crowther was at the center of that success, running with authority throughout the night. Crowther finished with 101 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries, averaging an impressive 12.6 yards per carry. His ability to turn limited opportunities into chunk plays gave the Bulls another dangerous weapon in the running game.

USF’s physicality eventually wore down Delaware State, allowing the Bulls to pull away and turn what was initially a competitive game into a comfortable victory.

Delaware State Keeps It Competitive Early

Although the final score was lopsided, Delaware State showed plenty of fight during the first half. The Hornets’ offense was able to keep pace with USF for much of the opening two quarters, making it a 21-17 game before the Bulls scored just before halftime. That late score provided USF with important momentum heading into the locker room and helped set the stage for the second-half surge.

Delaware State’s performance was particularly notable under first-year head coach DeSean Jackson, who experienced a bit of a homecoming Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium. Jackson spent two seasons playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, making his return to the stadium a memorable one despite the eventual loss.

After the game, Jackson and USF head coach Hartline shared a moment and congratulated each other. The exchange brought together two former NFL wide receivers who have transitioned into college football head-coaching roles. Hartline also was complimentary of Jackson and the work he has done building the Delaware State program in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Bulls Turn Attention to Bowling Green

With Saturday night’s victory, USF improved to 3-0 and remained perfect under Hartline. The Bulls have now handled their first three challenges of the season and will face another opportunity to maintain their unbeaten start next weekend when they travel to Ohio to take on Bowling Green.

USF will enter that matchup with plenty of momentum after producing 59 points and 290 rushing yards against Delaware State. The Bulls will look to carry that offensive efficiency and physicality into their next test as they continue their pursuit of an undefeated season.