— In Gainesville, unranked South Florida beat No. 13 Florida 18-16 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on a last‑second 20‑yard field goal by Nico Gramatica, handing the Gators their first tough home loss under coach Billy Napier and leaving Florida 1‑1 for the season.
Key Takeaways
- USF won 18‑16 at the Swamp on a game‑ending field goal by Nico Gramatica.
- Florida committed 11 penalties for 103 yards, including two that aided USF’s final drive.
- UF QB DJ Lagway was 23 of 33 for 222 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT; USF QB Byrum Brown had 263 passing and 66 rushing yards.
- Brendan Bett was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for spitting, costing UF 15 yards on a key sequence.
- The loss increases pressure on Billy Napier, now 20‑20 at Florida, ahead of a brutal upcoming stretch.
Verified Facts
At Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, a reported sellout of 89,909 watched USF convert an 87‑yard, eight‑play drive late in the fourth quarter. The possession began at USF’s 11 and was aided by a second‑down pass interference on Dijon Johnson and a 15‑yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Florida transfer defensive tackle Brendan Bett after an on‑field incident with USF lineman Cole Skinner.
On that sequence, Byrum Brown completed multiple plays, including a 29‑yard screen to Alvon Isaac and a 12‑yard pass to Joshua Port that positioned Gramatica for the game winner. Gramatica, the son of former Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica, drilled the decisive short field goal as time expired.
Florida had dominated in Week 1 with a 55‑0 win over Long Island University but regressed sharply against USF. The Gators were flagged 11 times for 103 yards Saturday, undermining several drives and penalties played a direct role in the Bulls’ late scoring opportunity.
Stat lines: UF QB DJ Lagway finished 23 of 33 for 222 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. USF QB Byrum Brown threw for 263 yards and rushed 17 times for 66 yards, including a 66‑yard touchdown pass to Keshaun Singleton that gave USF a 13‑9 lead in the second half.
Context & Impact
The loss puts Napier and the Gators on thin ice early in the season. Napier, who is 20‑20 at Florida, acknowledged the team will face heavy criticism and said the performance was unacceptable. The defeat also disrupts momentum after a convincing opener and raises questions about discipline, situational playcalling and defensive consistency.
Florida now faces one of the program’s toughest five‑week stretches: a trip to No. 3 LSU, a game at No. 5 Miami on Sept. 20, a Sept. 27 bye, then a home game vs. No. 6 Texas on Oct. 4 and a road trip to Texas A&M. The Gators will need clear improvements to remain competitive.
- Upcoming marquee opponents: No. 3 LSU, No. 5 Miami, No. 6 Texas, Texas A&M.
- Primary concerns: penalties, red zone efficiency, and defensive stops on third down.
There is no excuse for that result, and we have to be better in all phases, especially situationally,
Billy Napier
Unconfirmed
- No public report yet on any formal suspension or penalty beyond the in‑game flags for Brendan Bett; team or conference review status is pending.
Bottom Line
Saturday’s loss is a serious early‑season setback for Florida. Penalties and missed opportunities cost the Gators at the Swamp, and the team must correct multiple issues quickly before facing a brutal schedule. USF earned a signature road upset that boosts its 2025 profile to 2‑0.