South Florida defeated UAB 30-10 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. The victory improved South Florida to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in American play while securing bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season. South Florida scored the final 30 points after UAB opened an early 10-0 lead.
Defensive end C.J. Hicks tied the South Florida program record with four sacks and forced two fumbles that became defensive touchdowns. South Florida recorded six sacks and 11 tackles for loss while holding UAB to 17 rushing yards, 10 first downs and 177 total yards. The victory also marked South Florida’s fourth consecutive game without an offensive turnover.
Hicks leads defensive surge
UAB scored on its opening possession and added a field goal on its next scoring opportunity, but South Florida shut out the Blazers over the rest of the game. Hicks recorded a third-down sack that forced a punt before later sacking UAB quarterback Ryder Burton and forcing a fumble at the UAB 17-yard line. Asani Redwood recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown, giving South Florida a 17-10 halftime lead.
Hicks added his third sack in the second half before recording the record-tying fourth early in the fourth quarter. The final sack forced another fumble, which Grayson Howard recovered and returned 13 yards for a touchdown. Howard finished with eight tackles and two sacks, while South Florida limited UAB to 66 yards in the second half.
The two fumble-return touchdowns accounted for 12 of South Florida’s points. The defense forced two turnovers, and the offense did not commit one for the fourth consecutive game. South Florida’s defense has scored 20 points over its last two games.
Kromenhoek provides an offensive spark
South Florida’s offense found its footing after Michael Van Buren exited and sophomore Luke Kromenhoek entered at quarterback. Kromenhoek led scoring drives on his first two possessions and provided a major boost with a 42-yard run that broke multiple tackles. He later added a 25-yard run to move South Florida into the red zone.
Kromenhoek finished with a career-best 92 rushing yards on 15 carries, including runs of 42 and 25 yards. Jason Collins then completed South Florida’s second-quarter comeback with a 6-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 10. The defensive touchdown that followed put South Florida ahead at halftime.
Gramatica accounts for 12 points
Nico Gramatica made all three of his field-goal attempts and added three extra points. He connected from 31, 30 and 33 yards for 12 points in the victory. His 33-yard field goal in the fourth quarter completed South Florida’s scoring.
South Florida also controlled the rushing matchup, gaining 191 yards compared with 17 for UAB. The Bulls averaged 4.4 yards per carry, while UAB averaged 0.5. South Florida’s rushing production, defensive pressure and clean ball security helped fuel the 30-0 scoring run after the early deficit.
South Florida’s next games
South Florida will play at ECU in Greenville, N.C., on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. The game will air on ESPN2. South Florida will then host Memphis at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m.
FSB Take
South Florida turned defensive pressure into a decisive advantage against UAB. Hicks’ four sacks and the two fumble-return touchdowns gave the Bulls 12 points directly from defensive takeaways, while the offense protected the ball for a fourth consecutive game. That combination has South Florida bowl eligible at 6-2 and provides a clear foundation for the upcoming games against ECU and Memphis.
Source: Original report