This Time, It's USF Who Gets the Last-Second TD

When last we saw the South Florida Bulls in action, they came up on the short end of a classic.

UCF completed their undefeated regular season with a breath-taking 49-42 thrill-a-minute clash that saw three TDs scored in the game's final 2:21.

Unfortunately for USF, only one of them was theirs, a go-ahead at the time, 1:41 from the final gun.

 

Charlie Strong's crew had to feel fate owed them one, then, when they pulled a 38-34 triumph outta the fire with 16 ticks remaining.

And to think it was 10-10 at the half before the game went into Big XII mode:

USF has now posted two bowl wins in a row over Power Five opponents, besting South Carolina in a nail-biter at this venue last year. Overall, the Bulls are 22-4 over the past two seasons.

Bulls senior slinger Quinton Flowers closed his college career in style, tossing four TDs and scampering for another. He'll be hard to replace, but that's what defines a top-tier program.

That's also where the American Athletic Conference is trying to be.

There's no question the AAC's top teams can hang with Power 5 mid-packers.

UCF, of course, gets its shot at Auburn in the Peach Bowl on New Year's Day.

Comparable caliber of play, though, is only one element in achieving inner-circle status. Another is money. Lotsa dosh. That's why the UCF-USF game was so important. If those two schools can consistently pack stadiums like that, there might be a chance.

More likely, though, is the Big XII simply swiping the Golden Knights and Bulls.