Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview: South Florida Back at Home to Face Florida A&M

09.17.21

FLORIDA A&M at SOUTH FLORIDA
Saturday, Sept. 18 • 7 p.m. • ESPN+
Raymond James Stadium (65,857/Natural Grass)
Tampa, Florida

 
Television
ESPN+
Drew Fellios and Leger Douzable

Radio
WHNZ-AM 1250 (South Florida flagship)

 

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fourth meeting between South Florida and Florida A&M since 2005 … The Bulls have won all three previous meetings, which have all been played in Tampa … The most recent encounter saw USF roll to a 51-3 win behind two touchdown passes and a rushing TD from QB Quinton Flowers.

FLORIDA A&M
1-1, 0-0 SWAC

Head Coach
Willie Simmons (Clemson ’02)
16-7, fourth season

Notes
Florida A&M leveled its record at 1-1 after the Rattlers scored a 34-7 win against Fort Valley State last Saturday … Florida A&M fell 7-6 to Jackson State in Miami in the season-opener … The Rattlers have allowed a combined 14 points through two games, ranking fourth in FCS in scoring defense at 7.0 points allowed per game … Florida A&M has forced seven turnovers in the first two games … .The defense is led by S Markquese Bell, who is on the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in FCS … Two quarterbacks have seen significant action as QB Rasean McKay, who started against Jackson State, has thrown for 254 yards and a touchdown, while QB Junior Muratovic, who started against Fort Valley State, has 174 yards and a TD through two games. 
 

SOUTH FLORIDA
0-2, 0-0 American
 
Head Coach
Jeff Scott (Clemson ’03)
1-10, second season

Notes
South Florida is looking for its first win of the season after the Bulls fell to 0-2 with a 42-20 setback to No. 13/9 Florida last Saturday … That result came after a 45-0 loss at NC State in the season-opener … The Bulls outscored Florida 17-7 in the second half last week, but could not overcome a 35-point first half from the Gators … QB Cade Fortin has completed 19 of 38 passes for 132 yards and has been intercepted twice … RB Darrian Felix is the leading rusher with 61 yards, while RB Jaren Mangham has both of South Florida’s rushing touchdowns … WR Xavier Weaver has four receptions for 141 yards … The defense has been led by LB Andrew Mims, who has 21 tackles … LB Antonio Grier has 15 stops and a sack … The Bulls have three defensive interceptions on the year … South Florida looks to snap a 10-game losing streak dating to last year.