Keys to the Game: Hawai’i Bowl

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USF (6-6; 4-4 American) against San Jose State (7-5; 3-4 MWC)

Tuesday, December 24 • 8:00 PM (ET) • Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex (16,909) • Honolulu, HI

SURFACE: Artificial grass

TV: ESPN: Tiffany Greene (P-by-P) & Jay Walker (Analyst) & Marilyn Payne (Reporter)
& ESPN Deportes: Rigo Plascencia (P-by-P) & Alex Pombo (Analyst)

ESPN+ ESPN Spanish language

SOUND: USF Broadcast: 102.5 FM/102.5 HD2 The Strike & Bulls Unlimited (TuneIn) – Jim Louk, BJ Daniels & Caylee Cottrell

ESPN National Radio: Kevin Winter & Trevor Matich

SERIES: USF leads 1-0

IN TAMPA: REACH

IN SAN JOSE: USF won, 42-22, in 2017

LAST TIME: USF won the first ever meeting, 42-22 in 2017 at San Jose State

BOWL RECORD: 7-4

LAST BOWL: Won the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl over Syracuse, 45-0

USF GAME NOTES

For the USF Bulls, the Hawai’i Bowl was always a classic mix of business and pleasure.

The pleasures have been obvious. After a 12-hour, 4,700-mile journey to one of the world’s most famous destinations, the Bulls have toured Pearl Harbor, been to an authentic Hawaiian luau, and witnessed world-class waves in the Pacific Ocean. With Diamond Head as a backdrop, it was fun just to stare out the balcony windows and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Bulls head coach Alex Golesh described it as “the trip of a lifetime”.

But it’s also been quite the task to prepare to compete Tuesday night when the Bulls (6-6) challenge the Mountain West Conference’s San Jose State Spartans (7-5) in a Christmas Eve ESPN broadcast that offers compelling possibilities . It’s another chance to build USF’s new brand. With a win – and an entertaining show – the Bulls can storm into the offseason with great momentum.

If USF defeats San Jose State, it will finish 7-6 with a bowl win, the same scenario as last season’s debut with Golesh.

Progress?

“On paper, you’d say, ‘Man, we’re right where we were a year ago,'” Golesh said. “Obviously, we’ve got to win more football games. But if you look at the culture in our locker room – when you look at how we’ve built culture, built a team, built trust and built a brotherhood – I think we’re so much further along than we were a year ago.

“Does it show on the record? Obviously it doesn’t. And I’m as disappointed as anybody with how it ended (35-28 loss to Rice in the regular-season finale). But we’re getting better. We”re getting bigger and stronger The young guys are getting older the last two years have been, the last step is big. It’s not even staff from it.”

Winning the Hawai’i Bowl is the next step.

Here are the keys to USF defeating San Jose State:

Gallery: (12-21-2024) Hawaii Bowl Preparations

The right mentality

Golesh had it nailed down from the start when he said there are two types of bowl teams:

* The team that is happy to be there.

* The team that is there to win a football match.

Who wouldn’t be distracted by Hawai’i? Who wouldn’t be tempted to take their foot off the gas a little? Who wouldn’t look to cut a corner or two and enjoy the surroundings?

Golesh wants his players to have fun with family and friends, but he has also demanded their full attention when it comes to football.

The Bulls can finish 7-6. Or they can finish 6-7. Big difference there. That should be motivation enough. And there should be complete disdain for the efforts of Rice and a huge desire to erase that feeling.

Mark it: This game is mostly about the mindset.

Slow down the passing game

San Jose State’s passing concepts are huge. The Spartans are fifth nationally in passing (325.2 yards per game) and quarterback Walker Eget is fifth in yards per carry. end (14.35).

Big caveat: Sixth-year receiver Nick Nash, who should win the Football Bowl Subdivision “Triple Crown” by leading the nation in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,382) and receiving touchdowns (16), has opted out of the Hawaii Bowl to prepare for The NFL draft.

Pretty big deal – for sure.

But Eget and the fleet of Spartan receivers still pose a formidable threat against USF, which ranks 127th nationally in passing yards allowed (278.7). The Bulls have faced a number of impressive quarterbacks, including Alabama’s Jalen Milroe (199 yards passing), Miami’s Cam Ward (404), Tulane’s Darian Mensah (326), Memphis’ Seth Henigan (208), UAB’s Jalen Kitna (384), Florida Atlantic’s Cam Fancher (306) and Rice’s EJ Warner (430).

You can add Own to that list. USF’s ability to control San Jose State’s passing game will have a lot to say about which team wins.

Avoid mistakes

Ball-hawking San Jose State has forced 27 turnovers, which ranks third nationally. The Spartans have 20 interceptions, which is tied for first nationally.

It’s a simple formula that almost always leads to wins (or losses).

In USF’s six losses this season, the turnover margin was minus-5.

In USF’s six wins this season, the turnover margin was plus-12.

Turn it loose

If it is Bryce Archie or Byroom Brown (possibly seeing his first action since Sept. 28) at quarterback, the Bulls would be wise to take a bold offensive approach and hold nothing back.

That’s usually the course of action in a bowl game, where playbooks are emptied, chances are taken and fun, high-scoring contests are common.

Let’s see at least one crazy formation. Don’t ignore the running game – Kelley Joiner, Nay’Quan Wright and Ta’Ron Keith deserve their touches – but Sean Atkins should get his shot at another touchdown pass, right? What a parting shot that would be.

No offense to Andrew Stokesthe first-team All-American Athletic Conference player, but we wouldn’t mind him taking time off, even with family from Australia attending the game.

Bulls-Spartans should be fun. So USF has to hold up its end of the bargain.

Turn it loose.

–#GoBulls–