USF's offense opened the second half with a 76-yard touchdown drive, nearly matching their total offense from the opening half and cutting Pittsburgh's lead to 17-14 with 9:27 left in the third quarter.

After totaling three first downs in the first half, the Bulls had five on the touchdown drive, and Matt Grothe matched his passing yards from the entire first half. After converting two short third downs, the big play came on a 38-yard pass to A.J. Love down the right sideline.

USF ran a play similar to Florida's "jump pass" play from Tim Tebow last year, as Grothe started to run, then pulled up and lobbed a pass to tight end Cedric Hill. The pass went incomplete, but Pittsburgh was flagged for defensive holding, and Grothe scored on a 1-yard keeper two plays later.