After going 7-6 last season, South Florida is rewriting the script this season. Averaging 46.5 points per game in their previous American Conference games, they posted their sixth straight home win by more than 25 points against UTSA. This marks one of their best nine-game seasons since 2018. Now, with a 7-2 record, they finally checked into the AP poll ranks, giving Warren Sapp’s daughter a reason to shower Alex Golesh’s team with praise.

Taking their second hit of the season against Memphis, South Florida’s status seemed shaky. But after last week’s 45-10 halftime and 55-23 success against UTSA, they are back on the AP poll rankings for the fifth time this season. After Week 11, they got into 25th position in the latest poll and just missed re-entering the Coaches Poll with 26th rank. Now, that level of success calls for celebration, and Mercedes Sapp is right there for it.

As she takes her happiness to Instagram Story, hyping South Florida’s latest AP poll ranking with a caption that reads, “Hellllooo,” all in caps. Knowing her ties with South Florida, serving as Director of NIL Engagement, this celebration becomes evident. And let’s not forget the Bulls have given enough reasons for celebration. Going in seventh nationally with 485.5 total yards per game and a dynamic ground game, which has provided six straight games of 235 yards or more with 3 TDs, now ranks 10th in the nation, averaging 226.9 yards per game. Now that’s progress.

Even their defense is turning heads, ranking 7th with 19 turnovers gained this year and 9th in 7.2 tackles for loss, allowing just 76.3% scoring this season. Even their presence in the red zone is strong, with 2.78 sacks, placing them 14th in the nation. Well, many think the success is the result of heavy NIL investment in the roster, as seen with UTSA’s HC Jeff Traylor, who said USF is the “best team in our league.” It comes with a hint of a jab, though.

“They have done a great job; they’ve invested, like, incredibly well in their program. Do some research on the amount of money that’s on that roster. It’s really mind-boggling. They look the part. Alex spent his money very wisely, and he’s got a great roster,” Traylor said.

South Florida did indeed make significant investments in the roster, but that’s not the only reason behind their success. It’s their dedication that pushed them so far, and the result? USF defeated two ranked teams, Florida and Boise State, this season despite not being part of the “Power 4.”

Now, with all this success, the playoff chatter is in the books for USF. For now, the Bulls might face a challenging game at Navy next week, and if they win that game, they will face UAB and Rice in the regular season with a possible American championship game. But if they fail to come up strong against Navy, the playoff hopes might go straight down the drain.

But with all of it, Alex Golesh has another reason to celebrate.

Alex Golesh’s program continues to make headlines

With Week 11 games wrapping up, college football also gained a new star who has been turning heads throughout the season. As PFF hits with their “Week 11 College Football Team of the Week ⭐” list, USF’s quarterback Byrum Brown takes his deserved spot. His performance against UTSA not only kept USF’s championship hopes alive but also set records.

Notably, Brown completed 14 of 15 passes for 348 total yards with three total touchdowns. In the process, he became the first quarterback in college football or the NFL over the past 30 years to achieve 200 passing yards, 100 rushing yards, and a 90% completion percentage, according to On3’s Brett McMurphy’s report. Even Alex Golesh couldn’t hold back his praise for him as he said, “[Brown’s] so self-aware, so conscious of what he feels like he is truly as close to a coach on the field as you can ever imagine.”

Brown’s only incompletion came before 10 minutes left in the third quarter, after 11 straight completions put USF ahead by 35 points. Now you know why there’s so much hype around him. So, let’s wait and see if he can take his team to the championship or not. For now, South Florida continues to improve and become a top-class player.