CHOPPED
FSU too much for Bulls as Cinderella season ends
Friday January 5, 2029 | 7:30 PM | State Farm Stadium | Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona - The scoreboard told one story. The night itself told another.
USF’s season came to a painful end Friday night at State Farm Stadium, falling 37–13 to Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl. The Bulls moved the ball, won the down-to-down battle for long stretches, and finished with nearly double the Seminoles’ total yardage, but five interceptions and three defensive touchdowns proved too much to overcome on college football’s biggest postseason stage.
USF struck first and briefly seized momentum early in the opening quarter when Steven Snead powered in from nine yards out to cap a physical opening drive. From there, however, the game turned sharply on a handful of defining plays.
Florida State answered with efficiency and opportunism. Kevin Sperry’s short touchdown run tied the game in the second quarter before the Seminoles flipped the contest entirely in the final seconds of the half. Cornerback Zae Thomas jumped a route and returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown with just 17 seconds remaining, and Joe Marciano added a 41-yard field goal as time expired to send Florida State into halftime with a 17–7 lead.
USF continued to push after the break, outgaining Florida State across the third quarter and controlling time of possession, but points remained elusive. Marciano’s second field goal extended the Seminole lead, and the fourth quarter delivered the final blows. A Ty Law touchdown run, another Marciano field goal, and a 91-yard interception return by James Rashed pushed the margin out of reach before the Bulls found the end zone one final time.
Locklan Hewlett never stopped competing. The junior quarterback finished 28-of-38 for 306 yards and a touchdown, consistently putting USF in position to score despite relentless pressure and constant short fields. Jeremiah Stoneburner hauled in a 28-yard touchdown late, and Jordyn Bridgewater, despite missing most of the second and third quarters, led all receivers with nine catches for 149 yards.
The stat sheet underscored the frustration of the night. USF finished with 440 total yards to Florida State’s 232, converted over half of its third downs, and won the battle for first downs. But Florida State turned five interceptions into 21 points, including two defensive touchdowns, and never allowed the Bulls to recover.
Afterward, the locker room was quiet, equal parts disappointment and exhaustion from a season that stretched further than anyone expected.
Coach DJ Porter didn’t shy away from that reality.
“Right now, it’s hard to see it,” Porter said. “It hurts. It’s supposed to hurt. But I’m proud of this team, proud of this season, proud of the way these guys fought every single week. One day we’ll look back and understand what we built and what this meant. Tonight, though… it just sucks.”
Florida State was led defensively by Rashed, who totaled 12 tackles and a pick-six, while Thomas added three interceptions of his own. Marciano was perfect on the night, drilling all three field goals and all four extra points.
For USF, the loss does not erase what came before it. A season defined by belief, growth, and resilience ended short of the ultimate goal, but not without leaving its mark.
The Bulls walked off the Rose Bowl field knowing the margin for error is razor thin at the highest level. They also walked off knowing they belong.
And while the night will linger for a while, the foundation built over the course of the season will last much longer.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
USF – Steven Snead 9-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 1:09
Second Quarter
FSU – Kevin Sperry 4-yard run (Joe Marciano kick), 6:05
FSU – Zae Thomas interception return 97 yards (Joe Marciano kick), 0:17
FSU – Joe Marciano 41-yard field goal, 0:00
Third Quarter
FSU – Joe Marciano 25-yard field goal, 3:30
Fourth Quarter
FSU – Ty Law 23-yard run (Joe Marciano kick), 7:42
FSU – Joe Marciano 26-yard field goal, 6:19
FSU – James Rashed interception return 91 yards (Joe Marciano kick), 2:46
USF – Jeremiah Stoneburner 28-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (2-point conversion failed), 0:53
USF Stat Leaders
Passing
L. Hewlett – 28/38, 306 Yds, 1 TD, 5 INT, 73.7%, 8.0 YPA
Rushing
C. Suggs – 11 Car, 60 Yds, 5.4 Avg
S. Snead – 5 Car, 15 Yds, 3.0 Avg, 1 TD
G. Shembo – 3 Car, 12 Yds, 4.0 Avg
N. Daniel – 2 Car, 5 Yds, 2.5 Avg
T. McLaughlin – 1 Car, 4 Yds, 4.0 Avg
L. Hewlett – 1 Car, -7 Yds, -7.0 Avg
Receiving
J. Bridgewater – 9 Rec, 149 Yds, 16.6 Avg
J. Stoneburner – 5 Rec, 95 Yds, 19.0 Avg, 1 TD
D. Smith – 3 Rec, 30 Yds, 10.0 Avg
G. Camarda – 2 Rec, 16 Yds, 8.0 Avg
S. Snead – 4 Rec, 11 Yds, 2.7 Avg
H. Gregory – 1 Rec, 7 Yds
D. Sahara – 1 Rec, 6 Yds
L. Dragos – 1 Rec, 1 Yd
G. Shembo – 2 Rec, -9 Yds
Defense
E. Rance – 9 Tkl (5 Solo, 4 Ast), 1 TFL
D. Igbinoghene – 6 Tkl
C. Keys – 5 Tkl
G. Jenkins – 5 Tkl
K. Wynn – 4 Tkl, 4 TFL, 2.0 Sacks
J. Dalias – 3 Tkl
K. Brents – 3 Tkl
T. Bennett – 3 Tkl
Special Teams
D. Bragg – 1/1 XP
D. McSurdy – 1 Punt, 45 Yds, 45.0 Avg
L. Dragos – 1 KR, 18 Yds
E. York – 1 KR, 14 Yds, 2 PR, 13 Yds
Florida State Stat Leaders
Passing
K. Sperry – 14/16, 136 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT, 87.5%, 8.5 YPA
Rushing
T. Law – 13 Car, 62 Yds, 4.7 Avg, 1 TD
B. Gibson – 1 Car, 10 Yds, 10.0 Avg
K. Sperry – 6 Car, 4 Yds, 0.6 Avg, 1 TD
D. Riden – 2 Car, 3 Yds, 1.5 Avg
C. Hurley – 1 Car, 1 Yd, 1.0 Avg
Receiving
T. Law – 3 Rec, 30 Yds, 10.0 Avg
C. Loftin – 4 Rec, 29 Yds, 7.2 Avg
D. Pettis – 4 Rec, 28 Yds, 7.0 Avg
C. Frier – 1 Rec, 24 Yds, 24.0 Avg
J. Porter – 2 Rec, 21 Yds, 10.5 Avg
B. Gibson – 1 Rec, 4 Yds, 4.0 Avg
Defense
J. Rashed – 12 Tkl (3 Solo, 9 Ast), 1 INT, 91 INT Yds, 1 TD
Z. Umeozulu – 8 Tkl, 3 TFL, 1.0 Sack
Z. Thomas – 7 Tkl, 3 INT, 127 INT Yds, 1 TD
L. Luck – 6 Tkl
A. Carlyle – 6 Tkl
C. Bates – 6 Tkl
J. Scott – 5 Tkl, 2 TFL
Special Teams
J. Marciano – 3/3 FG (Long 42), 4/4 XP
J. Volek – 2 Punts, 90 Yds, 45.0 Avg
D. Pettis – 1 KR, 4 Yds
B. Gibson – 1 PR, 12 Yds, 12.0 Avg
| Category | Florida State | USF |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 37 | 13 |
| First Downs | 12 | 19 |
| Total Offense | 216 | 395 |
| Total Plays | 39 | 61 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Rush | Yards | TD | 23 | 80 | 2 | 23 | 89 | 1 |
| Yards Per Rush | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| Comp | Att | TD | 15 | 16 | 0 | 28 | 38 | 1 |
| Yards Per Pass | 8.5 | 8.1 |
| Passing Yards | 136 | 306 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 4 | 8 (50%) | 7 | 13 (53%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 3 | 4 (75%) |
| 2 Pt Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 | 1 (0%) |
| Red Zone TD | FG | % | 1 | 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 25% |
| Turnovers | 0 (+5) | 5 (-5) |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 5 |
| PR Yards | 12 | 13 |
| KR Yards | 4 | 32 |
| Total Yards | 232 | 440 |
| Punts (Avg) | 2 (45.0) | 1 (45.0) |
| Penalties | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
