University of South Florida head coach Brian Hartline outlined four keys for South Florida Bulls football before its first meeting with Delaware State Hornets football at Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls entered the game 2-0, while Delaware State entered 2-1. South Florida was seeking its first 3-0 start since 2018 and its ninth consecutive home victory at Raymond James Stadium.
The game was scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The first 10,000 fans were scheduled to receive Thundersticks, and the game was set to air on ESPN+. South Florida and Delaware State are members of the American Conference and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, respectively.
University of South Florida and Delaware State feature former NFL receivers as head coaches
The matchup featured two head coaches who played wide receiver in the NFL. Hartline played seven NFL seasons and recorded 344 receptions for 4,766 yards and 14 touchdowns. Delaware State head coach DeSean Jackson played 15 NFL seasons and recorded 641 receptions for 11,263 yards and 58 touchdowns, along with three Pro Bowl selections.
Hartline said he respected Jackson’s coaching job after Delaware State went 8-4 in 2025 following a 2-21 mark over the previous two seasons. Hartline also acknowledged Jackson’s longer NFL career. “I guess I’ll give him the nod because he basically doubled my career,” Hartline said. “I would say DeSean is definitely earning that. Fifteen years in the NFL is a long darn time.”
The four keys for South Florida Bulls football
Start fast. South Florida opened its 28-24 American Conference victory at Army with a 75-yard touchdown drive. Luke Kromenhoek entered for one play in that game and gained 3 yards on third-and-2 after being hit in the backfield. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck said the offense remains in a development process.
“This is a process,” Beck said. “Our best football is going to be toward the end of the season. So, we have to grow the quarterbacks, grow the offense into the system. We got to keep growing it.”
Forget last week. South Florida’s victory at Army ended with Michael Van Buren Jr. throwing a 38-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Porter on fourth-and-6 with 19 seconds remaining. The Bulls’ next assignment was Delaware State. Defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge said South Florida needed to focus on its own standard rather than its opponent.
“If we make it about them (opponent), we’re not going to play really well,” Aldridge said. “It’s more about us. It doesn’t matter how good the opponent is we play, what offense they run, what level they play at. Our standard is the standard. We’re looking at the man in the mirror, not them.”
Beck said South Florida’s goals extended beyond the Army victory. “No disrespect, but we didn’t come here to (just) beat Army,” Beck said. “We came here to compete for conference championships. It doesn’t really matter who’s next. Our goal is to continue to get better and play our best football at the end of the season.”
Play with efficiency. South Florida had zero turnovers and seven penalties through two games. Hartline said discipline and skill development had been priorities since winter conditioning and spring ball. He also said the team had enough talent on the roster and needed to continue developing its discipline and skill.
South Florida is 35-1 all time against Football Championship Subdivision opponents, with 12 consecutive victories, since becoming a Football Bowl Subdivision program in 2000. The Bulls are 8-0 all time against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents and defeated South Carolina State 63-14 last season. Delaware State has one victory against an FBS program, a 52-26 win over Akron on Oct. 17, 1987.
“A big part of what we talked about through winter conditioning and spring ball was our ability to be a very disciplined team,” Hartline said. “We felt there was a lot of skill development that we had to acquire. We felt we had checked the box of enough talent on the roster.” Aldridge said South Florida’s practice habits had helped the team limit penalties.
“We have refs at practice every day and I think that helps,” Aldridge said. “You’re constantly telling them, ‘You did this wrong,’ or ‘You didn’t line up correctly.’ I’m not shocked that it has gone this way (fewer penalties) so far. Knock on wood, but it comes from the top.”
Play complementary football. South Florida’s offense and defense had helped each other through the first two games. Aldridge said the defense could play complementary football by keeping the ball in front of it, forcing stops and returning possession to the offense. Beck pointed to the defense’s work on Army’s final drive.
“Our defense got a three-and-out (on Army’s final drive, including Zavier Hamilton’s third-down sack that forced a punt),” Beck said. “And that set us up. So everybody had a hand in it.”
Game information
South Florida Bulls football was scheduled to face Delaware State Hornets football at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The game was scheduled to air on ESPN+, with T.J. Rives handling play-by-play and Henry Burris serving as analyst. The first 10,000 fans were scheduled to receive Thundersticks.
The radio broadcast was scheduled through Q105FM/Bulls Unlimited digital. Jim Lighthall was listed for play-by-play, with Sam Barrington as analyst and Joey Johnston as sideline reporter.
FSB Take
South Florida entered its first meeting with Delaware State at 2-0 and was seeking its first 3-0 start since 2018. Hartline’s four keys were to start fast, forget last week, play with efficiency and play complementary football. The Bulls’ early results included a 75-yard opening-drive touchdown at Army, zero turnovers and seven penalties through two games.
The Army finish also provided a recent example of complementary football, with Zavier Hamilton’s third-down sack helping force a punt before Michael Van Buren Jr. and Joshua Porter connected on the late touchdown pass. South Florida was scheduled to continue its season against Delaware State at Raymond James Stadium.
Source: Original report