Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Dominic Feo
The University of South Florida is taking a trip to the bayou this Saturday, Sept. 28 to face off a Tulane team whose season has mirrored the Bulls thus far.
Both teams will play in their first conference game with a record of 2-2. The Bulls and the Green Wave have beat opponents in smaller conferences, but have lost two games each to ranked teams.
Since the Bulls joined the American Conference in 2013, they have played Tulane four times, winning their first meeting in 2017 before losing the next three. The matchup history is listed below:
– Oct. 21, 2017 – USF 34, TUL 28 (Win)
– Nov. 3, 2018 – USF 15, TUL 41 (Loss)
– Nov. 20, 2021– USF 14, TUL 45 (Loss)
– Oct. 15, 2022 – USF 31, TUL 45 (Loss)
The game will be at Yulman Stadium and broadcast on ESPNU at 12 p.m.
There are three keys to the game that will decide if USF walks out of this game undefeated in conference play.
Contain Mahki Hughes
Tulane running back Mahki Hughes finished last season as the rushing yards leader in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). That title has stayed with Hughes through the first four weeks, with Hughes already up to 424 yards on the season.
If the Bulls want to win, it starts with keeping Hughes from having a good day and keeping an eye on senior linebacker Jhalyn Shuler.
Shuler was USF ‘s leading tackler last season, but he is currently questionable to play due to an apparent knee injury that has kept him out since week two. If Shuler does not play, look for junior cornerback De‘Shawn Rucker to make an impact.
Rucker has been an above-average tackler this season, posting 21 solo tackles which is good for second in the AAC.
Keeping Hughes from running the ball efficiently will force Tulane to rely on their freshmen quarterback Darian Mensah to make plays.
Protect Byrum Brown
USF will not win this game or their conference if their offensive line does not improve.
In four games, junior quarterback Byrum Brown has been sacked 11 times. That is more than any other quarterback in the AAC and tied for fifth most of any quarterback in college football.
The offensive line needs to give Brown more time to make plays whether that is through the air or as a runner.
Brown is the engine that keeps the team running, being the season leader in passing and rushing yards. If the Bulls want Brown to keep up that workload into November, the offensive line needs to keep his jersey clean.
Get Sean Atkins the ball
For the last two seasons, most games have been decided by how often senior wide receiver, Sean Atkins touches the ball. The Viera native was second in the AAC in receptions last season, but he is down to fifth so far this season.
Second-year head coach, Alex Golesh has found different ways to get Atkins the ball with mixed results. Aside from catching passes, Atkins has returned punts, got carries in the backfield and thrown two touchdown passes in his career.
Atkins is looking to build off a big performance last week in the loss to Miami. He ended that game with 11 catches for 125 yards and a passing touchdown to Brown on a trick play.
If the Bulls get Atkins the ball early and often, they should be able to get the offense in a groove.
With the hardest games of USF’s schedule over with, it is time for the Bulls to start their quest for their first AAC championship.
USF will enter Yulman Stadium as 6.5-point underdogs, but if the Bulls make some mid-season adjustments, they will calm the Green Wave in New Orleans.
