LIVE Updates: Miami leads USF in the 4th quarter, highlights: college football week 3

Jason Jones

•
LIVE Updates: Miami leads USF in the 4th quarter, highlights: college football week 3 image

© Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Mario Cristobal and his Miami Hurricanes came into this game billed as the "Game of the Week" and proved his team was ready for the challenge. A game that presented a number of challenges, proved to be another day at the office for this Hurricanes team. USF was coming off of two consecutive impressive if not statement wins. Throughout the game it became apparent that the celebrated Bulls defense was going to be playing catchup most of the game. 

 

Miami QB Carson Beck looked every bit the future NFL Draft prospect. The majority of his throws were on target with good ball placement. QB Byrum Brown for USF likely would've had a productive day running the offense, but Miami's defensive front was constantly affecting plays. Miami finished the day with only 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. Which should be viewed as a testament to how well USF adapted to the Miami pressure. 

 

Despite a long rain delay, Miami remained undeterred. Carson Beck finished with 340 yards on 23 of 28 passing, three touchdowns and two interceptions. While Byrum Brown for South Florida finished with a very respectable 274 yards on 20 of 36 passing with one touchdown and one interception. Miami ensured that Brown would not beat him with his feet. On 13 rushes, Brown only netted 2 yards on the ground.  

 

USF will now begin their in conference schedule. At present, the three teams USF just finished playing to start the season (Boise State, Florida and Miami) could prove to have been their toughest opponents of the season. While a win vs #5 Miami would have been a huge win for the Bulls, they are well on their way to a promising season. 

 

Miami is a different, but still promising story. Penn State and Oregon won easily with LSU engaged in a relatively close game with Florida. Miami should at worst hold their current ranking. With Florida and Florida State next on the schedule, Miami over the next couple weeks can put themselves in a good situation for the latter half of the schedule and hopeful College Football Playoff bid. 

Team Stats

 USF  Miami
1st Downs1527
3rd down efficiency7-197-11
4th down efficiency0-21-1
Total Yards332576
Passing292371
Comp/Att24/4125/30
Yards per pass7.112.4
Interceptions thrown12
Rushing40205
Rushing Attempts2738
Yards per rush1.55.4
Penalties2-159-69
Turnovers22
Fumbles lost10
Interceptions thrown12
Possession23:5936:01

7:44pm Moore throws to Joshua Porter who is short of the line to gain. Clock runs out. The Miami Hurricanes defeat the South Florida Bulls by a score of 49-12. 

7:42pm - Both teams have backups in. Moore connects with Wyatt Sullivan for a Bulls first down. 

7:41pm - Jerrod Pringle Jr takes the handoff up the middle for a Hurricanes touchdown. Miami leads 49-12. 

7:38pm - Backup QB Emory Williams runs for 10 yards. 1st and Goal from the South Florida 5 yard line. 

7:35pm - Joshua Moore catches a pass up the seam and he comes close to a first down. A flag was thrown for roughing the passer. 1st down from the South Florida 36. 

7:33pm - Echols takes a dump off pass on 4th down. He attempted to spin out of the first tackle which bought time for Miami to get him down before converting the 4th down attempt. 

7:31pm - On second down, Booker Pickett beats the right tackle almost immediately for a sack. USF loses 10 yards on the play. 

7:30pm - Nimrod takes a screen pass, gets the first down and runs for an additional 14 yards. 

7:28pm - Brown throws deep to Nimrod, but Zechariah Poyser poked the ball loose. 

7:23pm - After three penalties committed by both teams, Carson throws to Shemar Brown running across the formation. Miami leads 42-12. 

 

7:20pm - Fletcher takes the handoff, gets spun and drivers backwards falling into the endzone. Officials ruled him down on the half yard line. 

7:17pm - Beck connects to Johnson for a 49 yard gain. 

7:14pm - USF chooses to go for 2 to cut the lead to -21, but the pass is broken up. 35-12 Miami. 

7:12pm - Neptune takes a shallow screen, cuts inside, then bounces outside and walks into the endzone for South Florida's first touchdown of the day. 

7:10pm - Sam Franklin bounced off multiple defenders on his way to a positive run and a much needed first down. 1st &10 on the Miami 9. 

7:07pm - Singleton ran a slant and grabbed the ball out of the air in front of two converging Hurricane defenders. 1st down. 

7:02pm - Fletcher takes the handoff and drives his way through the line for his second rushing touchdown on the day. Miami leads 35-6. 

 

7:00pm - On the very next play, Beck throws deep to the left sideline to Marion. 1st down from the USF 30-yard line. 

6:59pm - Beck finds Toney for a 24-yard gain in the middle of the field. 

6:57pm - 4th & 2 from the Miami 9 gets stuffed at the line of scrimmage. 

6:54pm - Avalon Isaac takes the handoff spinning and driving, but 2 yards shy of the line to gain. 

6:52pm - Brown keeps it on 3rd & 1, bumps into his own lineman but gets enough for the first down. 

6:49pm - On 2nd & 5 Brown fakes a delayed handoff, then dumps the ball off to a streaking Wyatt Sullivan up the seam for a 31-yard gain. 

6:46pm - With pressure coming from both edges, Brown throws to Singleton who high points, then bobbles, then secures the catch and runs an extra two yards to convert the first down. Damari Brown committed a facemask penalty. 15 yards added to the play. 

6:45pm - Miami commits a false start and chooses to punt. Punt downed inside the 10 yard line. 

6:44pm - USF holds Miami to 9 yards on the set of downs, Miami opts for to keep the offense on the field. 

6:40pm - On the adjusted 3rd and 8, Brown tucks the ball and runs. Braces himself for impact just as Jakobe Thomas popped the ball loose and Chase Smith recovered the fumble for Miami. 

6:38pm - Officials called 12 men on the field, USF gets to replay 3rd down. 

6:37pm - The USF punt was blown dead as the ball flew through the air to review the previous play. 

6:29pm - On a 3rd & 14, Brown hurries the offense and snaps the ball before Miami is able to substitute. The pass falls short, but no flags were thrown. South Florida head coach Alex Golesh was displeased as Miami had 12 men on the field at the moment the ball was snapped. 

6:27pm - USF attempts a halfback pass from Nykahi Davenport, but Miami's defense gets to him before he's able to throw it. The play nets a four yard loss. 

6:23pm - Beck passes across the middle and the ball is tipped by Miami receiver Malaki Toney, but the Bulls won the tip drill. Interception by Shenault for USF. 

6:21pm - Playaction with a quick strike to Marion for a Canes first down. 

6:18pm - Daniels returned to the bench under his own power. Currently being attended to. 

6:16pm - Beck passes to CJ Daniels at the left sideline for a first down conversion. Daniels made no attempt to get up. Lying on his back, almost clutching his chest. 

6:12pm - Brown's 3rd down pass was deflected at the line. USF will punt. 

6:10pm - First play of the second half was a dump off pass Neptune behind the line. Reuben Bain Jr of Miami tackles Neptune for a 7 yard loss. 

5:56pm - HALFTIME MIAMI LEADS USF 28-6.

5:54pm - Miami runs down the clock content to head into halftime up 28-6. 

5:52pm - After having the ball less than 10 yards from Miami territory, USF is unable to gain any yards. USF punts to the Miami 8 yard line. 

5:50pm - Carson Beck looks to throw across the middle and is picked off by the Bulls' Jarvis Lee. 

5:48pm - Beck throws to the right sideline, CJ Daniels makes an adjustment on the ball and makes a contested catch in bounds. Flag on the play for defensive pass interference. 

 

5:46pm - USF punts to Toney who took the punt from the 22 and carved his way to 44-yard line. Had he not collided with a blocker, he would've only had the punter to beat. 

5:44pm - Designed shovel pass on 3rd & 3 but the Miami defense swarmed to the ball. 

5:40pm - Beck fakes the dive handoff and bootlegs left, walking into the right corner of endzone for a touchdown. Miami leads 28-6. Carson Beck's first rushing touchdown as a Hurricane. 

 

5:38pm - Beck keeps the read option and runs for a first down one yard past the marker. 

5:37pm - Fletcher takes the handoff out of a jumbo set and gains the first down yardage. 

5:36pm - 3rd down pass to Toney is short of the line to gain. Miami will leave the offense on the field. 

5:33pm - Brown audibles out of his original play. Miami sends blitzers. Brown intercepted Miami's Bryce Fitzgerald. Miami ball on the USF 26. First interception thrown by Brown in 253 attempts. 

 

5:30pm - Miami's drive stalls. Beck attempted to rush for the first, but was stopped short. Punt downed at the 19. 

5:24pm - On a 3rd & 8 play for USF, Bain Jr gets a late release and keeps working. Almost sacks Brown, then Bain's teammates come into finish the sack. 4th & 14, USF will punt. 

5:18pm - On the very next snap, Fletcher takes the handoff running off the left guard and eluding four defenders on his way to a 38-yard touchdown run. Miami leads 21-6. 

5:17pm - Beck checks down to Fletcher for a 20-yard gain. 

5:15pm - Carson Beck picks up where he left off completing another 15+ yard pass play (Marion). 

5:14pm - After gaining only 2 yards, Nico Gramatica hits a chip shot FG. 

5:10pm - 1st & 10 Brown throws a 50 yard pass that is pulled in by Nimrod. 1st & 10 from the 13. 

5:09pm - Brown runs right and extends the ball at the marker. First down Bulls. 

5:07pm - Byrum Brown scrambles and runs forward for 4 yards. 

5:03pm - Game set to resume shortly. 

4:35pm - The resume time has been pushed back another 30 minutes. Targeted for 7:07pm est. 

4:23pm - 10 Minute Warning. Hurricanes and Bulls should resume in ten minutes barring another weather setback. 

3:31pm - USF Bulls vs Miami Hurricanes is currently in a rain delay. 

3:30pm - Officials pulled teams off the field due to an immediate weather concern. 

3:28pm - Carson Beck attempts to scramble right but doesn't get past the first defender. Miami forced to punt for the first time today. 

3:23pm - After two unsuccessful run plays, Nico Gramatica hits a 42-yard FG to get on the board. Miami leads 14-3. 

3:20pm - 3rd &7 Brown is immediately flushed left out of the pocket, throws a pass to Chas Nimrod for 52 yards and USF's first big chunk play of the game. 

3:16pm - Carson Beck throws a 39 yard pass to Joshua Moore (2nd td in the game) who high points the ball and secures the catch in the endzone. Miami leads 14-0. 

 

3:13pm - Miami executes a small double reverse to Keelan Marion for a 15 yard gain. 

3:12pm - Beck throws a 20 yard pass to the right sideline that is almost intercepted. 

3:10pm - Fletcher finally breaks a run through the USF defense for a big first down. 

3:07pm - Miami continues to work the short middle of the field, getting another first down. 

3:05pm - Fletcher catches a check down pass from Beck that gets blown up after a short gain by Bulls LB Mac Harris. 

3:03pm - Brown drops back and fires a pass deep down the left sideline that falls incomplete. A little contact down field, but a no call. USF forced to punt. 

3:02pm - Brown runs a read option tossing to Norton, but Miami stopped the back for a minimal gain. 

3:00pm - Brown throws a sidearm delivery to Christian Neptune behind the first down line and Neptune falls forward for the first down. 

2:58pm - Byrum Brown and the Bulls begin the drive on the 25 with playaction QB run. 

2:54pm - Beck worked through his first and second read and finds Joshua Moore coming across the formation (L-R) for an easy Miami touchdown. Miami leads USF 7-0. 

 

2:53pm - USF gets DL penetration, but Fletcher is still able to fall forward for a small gain. 

2:51pm - Beck with another first down pass with limited pressure this time to Tony Johnson. 

2:48pm - USF does a good job of pushing the pocket, but Beck delivers a nice pass over in between defenders to freshman WR Malaki Toney for a first down. 

2:46pm - Beck gives a delayed handoff to Fletcher who is patient with his blocks and easily converts the first down. 

2:43pm - Carson Beck begins the opening drive with a 15 yard completion to CJ Daniels. 

ALL TIMES LOCAL

Can the South Florida Bulls continue their giant killing start or will the clock run out on Cinderella? Some College Football pundits have called this game “the biggest game in USF football history”. While that might seem a tad overblown, but after easily handling #25 Boise State and carving out a win over #13 Florida, a win over the 5th ranked Miami Hurricanes would create significant movement in the AP top 25.

Miami represents the last game on USF’s schedule that had any preseason threat to be a top 15 team. Without any significant teams in the range of a Miami or Florida, all USF would have to do is take care of business throughout the remaining games of the schedule and they would find themselves in an advantageous College Football Playoff scenario. As for the task at hand, Dalton Wasserman of PFF has suggested if USF wins this game, #1 in the country should not be off the table for the Bulls.

The Miami Hurricanes might not be the casual fan rooting favorite in this game but Miami in #5 in the country for a reason. In their game vs Notre Dame, 8th in the country following that loss, the Hurricane offensive line imposed their will on the Fighting Irish. Whether or not the Bulls can get pressure on Carson Beck might be the difference in this game.

Miami has a good but not great rushing offense behind a very capable offensive line. However, South Florida enters this game with their defense, and specifically their run defense being a relative strength. Despite an incredible win vs Florida, USF failed to apply much pressure to that Florida offense. If Carson Beck is able to operate with a relatively clean pocket, it could be a long afternoon for the Bulls.

The key matchup to track in this game might prove to be South Florida’s offensive line vs Miami’s defensive line. Against Notre Dame, Miami had an unrealistic almost 70% win rate against a perceived top 10 offensive line. Miami could have an opportunity to make USF one dimensional on offense. The Bulls ground production could be an issue. If Miami can keep Byrum Brown from taking this game over and limiting their rushing attack, Miami could be in a good position in the waning moments of this game.  

Jason Jones

Jason Jones is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has covered all major sports for the past two decades. Jason began his career in sports radio broadcasting, working for WKNR in Cleveland and KKML in Denver as a show host, producer and director of production. He previously worked as an NFL Draft analyst and reporter for Yahoo Sports Radio.