It took USF barely five minutes to get their first touchdown of 2008, as quarterback Matt Grothe found receiver Jessie Hester for an 18-yard touchdown to give the Bulls a 7-0 lead on Tennessee-Martin on Saturday night.

It was Grothe's first pass of the season, after four consecutive runs to open the game The starting running backs were Ben Williams and Jamar Taylor, with Taylor getting a 2-yard gain on the first play. As we've said, that doesn't mean too much: Mike Ford was in on the next play and carried the ball on the next three plays, getting a key first down on third-and-2.

Here's a wrinkle: On the touchdown play, Ford was lined up as a receiver, wide right in a four-receiver formation.

-- Aside from Taylor, not too many surprises in the starting lineups -- A.J. Love earned his first career start, lining up with Marcus Edwards and Cedric Hill with the offensive line as expected. On defense, Sampson Genus got the nod at nose tackle, though USF was in a nickel defense on the fourth play.

-- Six Bulls made their USF debuts on the opening kickoff: Jerrell Young, Quenton Washington, Tyson Butler, Charlton Sinclair and walk-ons LaDre Watkins. Watkins is the first true freshman to play this season. Trent Pupello made his Bulls debut on the extra point following the touchdown.