MOVING ON
Bulls Take Down Michigan, Advance to Semi Final
Tuesday January 1, 2030 | 8:00 PM | State Farm Stadium | Glendale, Arizona
VRBO FIESTA BOWL
Glendale, Arizona - South Florida's College Football Playoff dream is still alive.
Behind a dominant defensive performance orchestrated by coordinator Tony White and another efficient outing from quarterback Locklan Hewlett, the Bulls rolled past Michigan 38-14 in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday night at State Farm Stadium, punching their ticket to the national semifinal.
The final score reflected what much of the evening looked like on the field. USF controlled the line of scrimmage, dominated possession, and repeatedly frustrated Michigan quarterback Dion Marshall with a relentless mix of pressure packages, disguised coverages, and rotating personnel groups that kept the Wolverines searching for answers.
Michigan entered the game hoping Marshall could outscore one of the nation's most explosive teams. Instead, White's defense turned the Fiesta Bowl into a clinic.
Marshall finished just 9-of-27 passing for 142 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while being sacked twice and pressured throughout the night. The Wolverines managed only 199 yards of offense and 10 first downs, converting just three of their ten third-down opportunities.
"The thing that stands out about Tony White's defenses is that you never get the same picture twice," one opposing coach said earlier this season. Michigan learned that lesson the hard way.
USF consistently showed pressure before dropping defenders into coverage, brought blitzes from unexpected angles, and rotated defensive backs and linebackers throughout the game. Marshall rarely looked comfortable, often holding the football as the Bulls shifted post-snap into entirely different looks than what Michigan saw before the snap.
The defining defensive moment came in the fourth quarter when senior cornerback Gavin Jenkins stepped in front of a Marshall pass for an interception, effectively ending any hopes of a Michigan comeback.
While the defense set the tone, Hewlett and the offense methodically wore down the Wolverines.
The Bulls struck first midway through the opening quarter when Steven Snead broke loose for a 22-yard touchdown run. Less than three minutes later Hewlett found Gerald Camarda from seven yards out, giving USF an early 14-0 advantage.
Michigan never truly recovered.
After Hewlett powered into the end zone on a two-yard quarterback keeper early in the second quarter, USF appeared ready to run away with the game. To their credit, the Wolverines responded with their best stretch of the night. Marshall connected with Jamar Browder on a 52-yard touchdown strike before finding Britton Singletary for a one-yard score with just over a minute remaining in the half.
Suddenly, a game that looked like a blowout was a game at 21-14.
Any momentum Michigan carried into halftime disappeared almost immediately after the break.
USF opened the third quarter with another sustained drive, capped by Hewlett's one-yard touchdown pass to Snead. The score restored the two-possession lead and reestablished control for the Bulls.
From there, White's defense slammed the door.
Michigan failed to score in the second half while USF continued to pile up yards and first downs. The Bulls finished with 436 offensive yards and converted an astounding 12 of 16 third-down opportunities. Their ability to sustain drives kept Michigan's defense on the field for much of the night and prevented the Wolverines from ever finding a rhythm offensively.
Connor Suggs delivered another workhorse performance, carrying the ball 28 times for 151 yards and a touchdown while adding five receptions for 44 yards. Snead contributed 61 rushing yards and two total touchdowns as USF piled up 213 rushing yards against one of the nation's traditionally physical defenses.
Hewlett completed 27 of 37 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score. His command of the offense was evident throughout the night as he repeatedly converted key third downs and kept drives alive.
Lyle Dragos led the receiving corps with nine catches for 57 yards, while Camarda hauled in four receptions including his first-quarter touchdown.
The Bulls eventually put the game away in the fourth quarter. Dom Bragg connected on a 46-yard field goal before Suggs powered in from two yards out with 4:25 remaining, stretching the lead to the final 38-14 margin.
Defensively, Nick Jones led the team with six tackles, while Jamerson Harris and Ralph Livings each recorded sacks. Jenkins' interception highlighted a unit that completely dictated the game despite recording only two official sacks.
The sacks did not fully tell the story. Marshall was hurried, forced off his spot, and repeatedly baited into difficult throws by White's constantly changing looks.
For a program that has steadily climbed into the national spotlight, the victory represented another landmark moment. Beating Michigan on a playoff stage leaves little doubt that South Florida belongs among college football's elite.
Now the Bulls are one win away from playing for a national championship.
And after the way Tony White's defense dismantled one of college football's most recognizable brands, nobody remaining in the bracket will be eager to see USF lining up across from them.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
USF – Steven Snead 22-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 6:04
USF – Gerald Camarda 7-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Dom Bragg kick), 3:12
Second Quarter
USF – Locklan Hewlett 2-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 4:21
MICH – Jamar Browder 52-yard pass from Dion Marshall (Shawn Conklin kick), 2:27
MICH – Britton Singletary 1-yard pass from Dion Marshall (Shawn Conklin kick), 1:05
Third Quarter
USF – Steven Snead 1-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Dom Bragg kick), 4:27
Fourth Quarter
USF – Dom Bragg 46-yard field goal, 8:53
USF – Connor Suggs 2-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 4:25
USF Stat Leaders
Passing
L. Hewlett – 27/37 223 Yds 2 TD
Rushing
C. Suggs – 28 Car 151 Yds 1 TD
S. Snead – 7 Car 61 Yds 1 TD
L. Hewlett – 1 Car 2 Yds 1 TD
G. Shembo – 1 Car -1 Yds
Receiving
L. Dragos – 9 Rec 57 Yds
C. Suggs – 5 Rec 44 Yds
D. Sahara – 3 Rec 36 Yds
L. Sweet – 3 Rec 33 Yds
G. Camarda – 4 Rec 21 Yds 1 TD
Defense
N. Jones – 6 Tkl
D. Nowell – 4 Tkl
T. Bennett – 3 Tkl
J. Hatch – 3 Tkl
K. Brents – 3 Tkl
J. Harris – 1 Tkl 1.0 Sck
R. Livings – 1 Tkl 1.0 Sck
G. Jenkins – 1 Tkl 1 INT
Special Teams
D. Bragg – 1/1 FG (Long 46), 5/5 XP
E. York – 1 KR 15 Yds, 3 PR 38 Yds
Michigan Stat Leaders
Passing
D. Marshall – 9/27 142 Yds 2 TD 1 INT
Rushing
B. Singletary – 10 Car 57 Yds
M. Isaacs – 3 Car 10 Yds
D. Marshall – 4 Car -10 Yds
Receiving
J. Browder – 2 Rec 66 Yds 1 TD
R. Galvin – 3 Rec 44 Yds
M. DeMorat – 3 Rec 31 Yds
B. Singletary – 1 Rec 1 Yd 1 TD
Defense
J. Scales – 15 Tkl
J. Adeniyi – 11 Tkl 1 TFL
J. Young – 11 Tkl
J. Oden – 9 Tkl 1 TFL
J. Sanders – 7 Tkl
T. Stanford – 7 Tkl
A. French – 3 Tkl 2 TFL
Special Teams
S. Conklin – 2/2 XP, 0/1 FG
C. Kallon – 4 PT 156 Yds
Q. Kashama – 2 KR 57 Yds
| Category | Michigan | USF |
|---|
| Score | 14 | 38 |
| First Downs | 10 | 29 |
| Total Offense | 199 | 436 |
| Total Plays | 44 | 74 |
| Yards Per Play | 4.5 | 5.9 |
| Rush | Yards | TD | 17 | 57 | 0 | 37 | 213 | 3 |
| Yards Per Rush | 3.4 | 5.8 |
| Comp | Att | TD | 9 | 27 | 2 | 28 | 37 | 2 |
| Yards Per Pass | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Passing Yards | 142 | 223 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 3 | 10 (30%) | 12 | 16 (75%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 1 | 2 (50%) | 2 | 3 (66%) |
| 2 Pt Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 | 0 (0%) |
| Red Zone TD | FG | % | 1 | 0 | 25% | 4 | 0 | 100% |
| Turnovers | 1 (0) | 1 (0) |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| PR Yards | 0 | 38 |
| KR Yards | 57 | 15 |
| Total Yards | 256 | 489 |
| Punts (Avg) | 39.0 | 0.0 |
| Penalties | 0 | 0 | 3 | 35 |
