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20 years of USF football: Five biggest program wins (w/video)

 
Published July 22, 2016

Five biggest wins

1. USF 21, West Virginia 13 (Sept. 28, 2007)

Times files

Jarriett Buie and Dontavia Bogan celebrate after the win over West Virginia.

Times files

Jarriett Buie and Dontavia Bogan celebrate after the win over West Virginia.

Arguably the program's signature triumph. To this day, the 67,012 that shoehorned themselves into Raymond James Stadium for this Friday night showdown remains the second-largest home crowd in USF history. Fifth-ranked West Virginia was averaging 47 points when it encountered Jim Leavitt's 4-3 unit, which forced six turnovers and knocked QB Pat White out of the game. Less than three weeks later, the Bulls catapulted to No. 2 in the BCS standings.

2. USF 17, FSU 7 (Sept. 26, 2009)

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USF defensive end Craig Marshall sacks Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder in the fourth quarter.

Times files

USF defensive end Craig Marshall sacks Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder in the fourth quarter.

Though FSU was in the last, lukewarm stages of the Bobby Bowden era, the importance of this win — USF's first against one of the state's big three — can't be overstated. A week after the Bulls lost QB Matt Grothe to a knee injury, freshman (and Tallahassee native) B.J. Daniels amassed 341 yards before a Doak Campbell Stadium crowd of 83,524. Yet for all of Daniels' dual-threat dynamics, it was his defense (four forced fumbles, one goal-line stand) that helped USF kick down the state's Division I-A door.

3. USF 23, Notre Dame 20 (Sept. 3, 2011)

South Bend Tribune

Kayvon Webster picks up a fumble and returns it for a touchdown against Notre Dame in the first half.

South Bend Tribune

Kayvon Webster picks up a fumble and returns it for a touchdown against Notre Dame in the first half.

A pall hung over the Bulls on this weekend, as they learned the evening before the game that beloved former athletic director Lee Roy Selmon had suffered a major stroke. Honoring Selmon the best way they could, the Bulls weathered two storm delays and forced five Irish turnovers (three in the red zone) to slosh out of Notre Dame Stadium with one of the school's biggest triumphs. The following day, Selmon passed away at age 56.

4. USF 64, UCF 12 (Oct. 13, 2007)

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Aaron Harris celebrates his sack of UCF quarterback Michael Greco in the third quarter.

Times files

Aaron Harris celebrates his sack of UCF quarterback Michael Greco in the third quarter.

The Bulls' annihilation of their in-state rival — before a Raymond James Stadium crowd of 65,948 — catapulted them to No. 2 in the BCS standings the following day. Knights RB Kevin Smith entered as the nation's leading rusher, but didn't exit that way (55 yards). Meantime, the Bulls passed for a then-school-record 365 yards while QB Matt Grothe also ran for 100 and accounted for four TDs. "I can't believe anybody would beat us like that," UCF QB Kyle Israel said.

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5. USF 31, Clemson 26 (Dec. 31, 2010)

Times files

Mo Plancher goes over the top for a third-quarter touchdown.

Times files

Mo Plancher goes over the top for a third-quarter touchdown.

Unquestionably USF's biggest bowl win. Behind freshman LB DeDe Lattimore (nine tackles, 2 1/2 for loss), the Bulls shut down monstrous Clemson RB Jamie Harper (20 carries, 34 yards) and knocked QB Kyle Parker out of the game with broken ribs. Only an 11th-hour Tigers surge made this Meineke Car Care Bowl seem closer than it was.