Hawaii, HI—-The Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve delivered a spectacle unlike any other, as South Florida edged out San Jose State in a thrilling 41-39 victory after an unprecedented five overtimes. This game now stands as the longest bowl game in FBS history, marking an unforgettable moment for college football fans.
Despite high expectations for USF quarterback Byrum Brown’s return from injury, his involvement in the game was minimal. Instead, Bryce Archie once again rose to the occasion, leading the Bulls with 24 completions on 34 attempts, amassing 235 yards with a single interception.
South Florida’s ground game contributed modestly with just 56 rushing yards but accounted for three critical touchdowns. Kelley Joiner, Nay’Quan Wright, and Ta’Ron Keith each found the end zone on the ground. Keith also delivered a standout play in the second quarter, returning a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, adding an electrifying moment to the contest.
Wide receiver Sean Atkins proved to be a key target, hauling in 11 catches for 104 yards. Meanwhile, kicker John Cannon was flawless, converting all seven of his kicks—three field goals and four extra points. His 41-yard field goal in the waning moments of regulation pushed the game into overtime, setting the stage for the historic conclusion.
Though outgained in total yardage (441 to 291) and committing more penalties (11 compared to San Jose State’s six), USF showcased resilience and clutch performance to secure the win. This victory brings their season record to 7-6, marking consecutive winning campaigns for the first time since 2017-2018.
San Jose State, despite their impressive yardage and disciplined play, couldn’t capitalize in key moments. The Spartans conclude their season at 7-6 under first-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo, who will look to build on this foundation moving forward.
