In a shocking upset, the University of South Florida Bulls defeated the No. 13 ranked Florida Gators 18-16 with a last-second field goal, marking their second consecutive win against a ranked opponent. Florida coach Billy Napier bluntly stated his team’s performance was ‘not good enough’ in the aftermath of the loss.
The game, held at Florida’s home stadium, saw South Florida enter as 18.5-point underdogs but emerge victorious thanks to a dramatic finish. With less than three minutes remaining, the Bulls attempted a 58-yard field goal that fell short, giving Florida a chance to seal the win. However, the Gators’ offense went three-and-out quickly, punting the ball back to USF with 2:25 left on the clock.
Florida’s defense then unraveled under pressure, committing two costly penalties that extended South Florida’s final drive. A pass interference call and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty—resulting in the ejection of defensive lineman Brendan Bett for spitting—moved the Bulls into field goal range. This set the stage for Nico Gramatica, son of former NFL kicker Martin Gramatica, to boot a 20-yard field goal as time expired for the win.
Throughout the game, Florida struggled with discipline, accumulating 11 penalties for 103 yards, several of which negated potential touchdowns. In the first half, holding and pass interference penalties wiped out two scores on the same possession, forcing the Gators to settle for a field goal instead. These missed opportunities ultimately proved costly in the close contest.
Coach Napier took full responsibility for the loss, emphasizing the need for improvement and ownership from his team. ‘We created it. We deserve it,’ he said regarding the criticism, acknowledging that such performances invite scrutiny. Napier’s record now stands at 20-20 over four seasons, increasing pressure on his tenure amid a challenging upcoming schedule.
South Florida’s victory is historically significant, as they become only the fourth unranked team in the AP poll era (since 1936) to win their first two games against ranked opponents. After routing No. 25 Boise State 34-7 in their opener, the Bulls have now secured their first road win against a ranked team since 2011, signaling a potential resurgence under coach Alex Golesh.
The loss raises questions about Florida’s consistency and readiness for tougher opponents ahead, including games against No. 3 LSU, No. 5 Miami, No. 7 Texas, and No. 19 Texas A&M. For USF, the win sets up a highly anticipated matchup against Miami next week, where they could join an elite group of teams to start a season 3-0 with three wins over ranked foes.
In summary, this upset highlights South Florida’s growing prowess and Florida’s ongoing struggles, with implications for both programs moving forward in the college football season.