South Florida’s dark horse College Football Playoff campaign had virtually crumbled by the end of the first quarter of its season opener out west as San Jose State jumped out to a 16–0 lead. The Bulls were everyone’s preseason pick to threaten the playoff from outside the Power 5, but it was always understood that they would have to win with style on their way to an unbeaten regular season in order to get the committee’s attention. And USF has won, but style has hardly been a part of the equation: After rallying past San Jose State, the Bulls beat FCS Stony Brook by just 14 points, then endured a first-half slopfest on Friday night before creating some separation against Big Ten minnow Illinois.
Bowl Projections: Meet San Diego State, the Group of Five's New Hotness
