. LISTEN – PODCAST BEFORE THE GAME

REGARD

USF (6-6; 4-4 Americans) against San Jose State (7-5; 3-4 MWC)

Tuesday, December 24 • 8:00 p.m. (ET) • Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex (16,909) • Honolulu, HI

SURFACE: Artificial turf

TV: ESPN: Tiffany Greene (P-by-P) & Jay Walker (Analyst) & Marilyn Payne (Reporter)
& ESPN Deportes: Rigo Plascencia (P-by-P) & Alex Pombo (Analyst)
ESPN+ ESPN Spanish language

AUDIO: USF Broadcast: 102.5 FM/102.5 HD2 The Strike & Bulls Unlimited (TuneIn) – Jim Louk, BJ Daniels & Caylee Cottrell
ESPN National Radio: Kevin Winter & Trevor Matich

SERIES: USF leads 1-0

IN TAMPA: N/A

IN SAN JOSE: USF went 42-22 in 2017

LAST TIME: USF won their first ever meeting 42-22 in 2017 at San Jose State

BOWL RECORD: 7-4

LAST BOWL: Won the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl against Syracuse 45-0

USF GAME NOTES

For the USF Bulls, the Hawai’i Bowl has always been a classic mix of business and pleasure.

The joys were obvious. After a 12-hour, 4,700-mile journey to one of the world’s most famous destinations, the Bulls toured Pearl Harbor, attended an authentic Hawaiian luau and witnessed world-class waves in the Pacific Ocean. With Diamond Head as the backdrop, it was fun to just stare out the balcony windows and take in the beautiful surroundings.

Bulls head coach Alex Golesh described it as “the trip of a lifetime.”

But there was also the very real task of preparing for Tuesday night’s contest, when the Bulls (6-6) take on the San Jose State Spartans (7-5) in an ESPN Christmas Eve broadcast that offers compelling possibilities Mountain West Conference. It’s another chance to build the emerging USF brand. With a win – and an entertaining show – the Bulls can storm into the offseason with great momentum.

If USF beats San Jose State, it will finish 7-6 with a bowl win, the same scenario as last season’s debut with Golesh.

Progress?

“On paper you would say, ‘Man, we’re right where we were a year ago,'” Golesh said. “Obviously we need to win more football games. “But if you look at the culture in our locker room – how we’ve built a culture, built a team, built trust and built a brotherhood – I think we’re so much further along than we were before a year.

“Is it in the files? Obviously not. And I’m as disappointed as anyone with how it turned out (a 35-28 loss at Rice in the regular-season finale). But we are getting better. We are getting bigger and stronger. I’m really encouraged, but no matter how far we are from the championship, it’s just as difficult over the last two years. The final step is huge “When you walk into the arena every Saturday, you know you’re going to win the game.”

Winning the Hawai’i Bowl is the next step.

Here are the keys to USF’s victory at San Jose State:

Gallery: (12/21/2024) Hawai’i Bowl Preparations

The right mentality

Golesh was clear from the start when he said there are two types of bowl teams:

* The team that likes to be there.

* The team that is there to win a football game.

Who wouldn’t be distracted by Hawaii? Who wouldn’t be tempted to take their foot off the gas a little? Who doesn’t want to cut a corner or two and enjoy the surroundings?

Golesh wants his players to have fun with family and friends, but he also demands their full attention when it comes to football.

The Bulls finished 7-6. Or they can finish 6-7. There is a big difference. That should be motivation enough. And there should be a complete disdain for the efforts made at Rice and a strong desire to erase that feeling.

Highlight it: This game is mostly about mindset.

Slow down the passing game

San Jose State’s passing concepts are great. The Spartans rank fifth nationally in passing (325.2 yards per game) and quarterback Walker Eget ranks fifth in yards per completion (14.35).

Big caveat: Sixth-year receiver Nick Nash, who should clinch the Football Bowl Subdivision “Triple Crown” by leading the nation in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,382) and receiving touchdowns (16), has moved on from Deregistered from participating in the Hawaii Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Pretty big deal – definitely.

But Eget and the fleet of Spartan receivers still pose a formidable threat to USF, which ranks 127th nationally in passing yards allowed (278.7). The Bulls faced a number of impressive quarterbacks, including Alabama’s Jalen Milroe (199 yards passing), Miami’s Cam Ward (404), Tulane’s Darian Mensah (326), Memphis’ Seth Henigan (208), UAB’s Jalen Kitna (384). ) and Atlantic’s Florida Cam Fancher (306) and Rice’s EJ Warner (430).

You can add Eget to this list. USF’s ability to handle San Jose State’s passing game will say a lot about which team will prevail.

Avoid mistakes

Ball-crazy San Jose State has forced 27 turnovers, ranking third in the nation. The Spartans have 20 interceptions, which ranks first nationally.

It’s a simple formula that almost always results in wins (or losses).

In USF’s six losses this season, the turnover margin was minus-5.

In USF’s six wins this season, the turnover margin was plus-12.

Spin it loose

Whether it is Bryce Archie or Byrum Brown (perhaps seeing his first action since September 28) at quarterback, the Bulls would be wise to take a bold offensive approach and hold nothing back.

That’s usually the approach in a bowl game, where playbooks are emptied, opportunities are seized and entertaining high-scoring contests are the order of the day.

Let’s look at at least one crazy formation. Don’t ignore the game in progress – Kelley Carpenter, No, Quan Wright And Ta’Ron Keith deserve their touches – but Sean Atkins Should get his chance for another touchdown pass, right? What a farewell greeting that would be.

No offense Andrew Stokesthe first-team All-American Athletic Conference player, but we wouldn’t mind if he took the evening off, even if his family from Australia was at the game.

Bulls-Spartans should be a fun game. So USF has to hold up its end of the bargain.

Spin it loose.

–#GoBulls–