Lead: On Sept. 6, 2025 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (The Swamp), South Florida stunned No. 13 Florida 18–16 after a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty and ejection for Florida defensive lineman Brendan Bett with 2:04 remaining shifted field position and set up USF’s game-winning drive and Nico Gramatica’s 20-yard kick as time expired.
Key Takeaways
- South Florida beat No. 13 Florida 18–16 on Sept. 6, 2025, at The Swamp.
- Florida DL Brendan Bett was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty and ejected for spitting with 2:04 left.
- The penalty moved USF to its own 39; Byrum Brown completed a pass to Alvon Isaac for 29 yards to Florida’s 32, setting up the final drive.
- USF QB Byrum Brown finished 23-for-36 for 263 yards and added 66 rushing yards; Florida QB DJ Lagway was 22-for-33 for 222 yards.
- This is USF’s first win over Florida in four meetings and its first road victory over a ranked opponent since 2011.
- The result raises South Florida’s profile and increases scrutiny on Florida’s discipline and coaching.
Verified Facts
South Florida (2–0) opened the 2025 season with a 34–7 win over then-No. 25 Boise State and followed with the upset in Gainesville, making the Bulls the only team in the FBS at that time with two ranked wins this season.
The decisive sequence began after Florida committed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty assessed against defensive lineman Brendan Bett for spitting on an opposing lineman. Bett was ejected from the game with 2:04 remaining. The penalty placed USF at its own 39-yard line.
On the following play, quarterback Byrum Brown found Alvon Isaac for a 29-yard gain to the Florida 32. USF then ran the ball to chew clock and moved into field-goal range; kicker Nico Gramatica converted a 20-yard attempt as time expired to secure the 18–16 final score.
Statistically, USF outgained Florida 391–355. Florida converted only 4 of 12 third-down opportunities. DJ Lagway completed 22 of 33 passes for 222 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Brown’s 263 air yards and 66 rushing yards made him the game’s most productive player.
Context & Impact
For South Florida and coach Alex Golesh, the win extends early-season momentum and strengthens Golesh’s growing reputation—he went 7–6 in each of his first two seasons at USF and is increasingly linked to higher-profile openings if the Bulls continue to win.
For Florida and coach Billy Napier, the loss intensifies pressure. Napier’s record at Florida stands at 20–20 after this defeat; questions about discipline and in-game decision-making have re-emerged following late miscues that swung a tight contest.
The upset also has possible College Football Playoff implications: USF’s willingness to schedule and beat ranked teams on the road will draw attention from the selection committee if the Bulls sustain this level of play through a rugged early schedule that includes a trip to No. 5 Miami next week.
Beyond standings and coaching chatter, the incident highlights player conduct under high stakes and how a single penalty can directly decide a game between closely matched teams.
“I haven’t had that conversation with him yet… we’ll take a good look at it, but it’s unacceptable. When a guy does something like that, he’s compromising the team,”
Billy Napier, Florida head coach
Unconfirmed
- Whether Bett’s action was intentional or the result of a provocation remains under investigation.
- Formal team or NCAA discipline beyond the in-game ejection had not been announced immediately after the game.
- Any direct connection between this incident and separate recent professional ejections (e.g., the Jalen Carter matter) is speculative and unproven.
Bottom Line
South Florida’s 18–16 upset at Florida hinged on a moment of indiscipline and a sharp late drive by Byrum Brown and the Bulls’ offense. The result boosts USF’s national profile and compounds scrutiny on Florida’s coaching and player discipline. Expect follow-up reporting on any additional sanctions and on how both programs respond in the coming weeks.