South Florida hosts Kent State for the first time, as Brian Hartline's Bulls try to stop a two-game skid against a struggling Golden Flashes offense
TAMPA, Fla. — Kent State and South Florida have never played. It's homecoming at Raymond James Stadium, and the Bulls want to end a two-game slide.
Kent State (2-4) visits South Florida (4-2) at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ in a nonconference game. USF, in Brian Hartline's first season, lost 17-13 to Temple and 31-24 at UTSA after a 3-0 start that included a win at Army. Kent State lost 38-7 at Western Michigan last week.
South Florida's offense is built on running back D.J. Crowther, who has 476 yards and seven touchdowns. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. has completed 93 of 152 passes for 1,073 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Bryson Rodgers leads the receivers with 27 catches. Ayden Jackson has 37 tackles, and Michael Williams II has 2.5 sacks.
Kent State has struggled to score. ESPN's Football Power Index ranks the Golden Flashes' offense 132nd in efficiency. Quarterback Dru DeShields has thrown for 980 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions. Wayne Harris has 368 receiving yards, and Mason King leads the rushers with 202 yards. Rocco Nicholl has three sacks, and Joel Cordoba has 30 tackles. Mark Carney is in his second season, his first after being promoted from interim coach.
The Golden Flashes have beaten Wofford and Ball State, and they lost 13-10 to Ohio. But they've been outscored 97-10 in their road losses at Ohio State and Western Michigan.
USF's offense ranks 73rd in ESPN's index, against a Kent defense ranked 102nd. The Bulls' defense ranks 93rd.
The histories are short and long. South Florida played its first season in 1997 under Jim Leavitt. Kent State has played since 1920, and its lone MAC title came in 1972 under Don James.
The weather should be warm and mostly dry, 70 degrees with gusts near 24 mph. Neither team listed injuries of note.
Kent State hosts Akron next week. South Florida gets an open week before hosting UAB on Oct. 31.
USF's run game should control the clock, and Kent's offensive struggles make it hard for the Flashes to keep pace. Van Buren's ball security is a big part of the plan: he hasn't thrown an interception all season, and a homecoming crowd should give the Bulls another lift.
Our call: South Florida 32, Kent State 10.