How USF Football's Opponents Fared - Week 7

All 12 of USF's football opponents this season played over the weekend, while the Bulls sat at home and stewed over their 2-4 record. Here's our weekly rundown of how they all did. (As always, SB Nation blogs are linked with each team name.)

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CHATTANOOGA went to Furman and knocked off the Paladins 31-10. Jacob Huesman threw two touchdown passes and completed 18 of his 23 attempts, while also adding 59 yards rushing. The Mocs are now 3-3 on the season and 2-1 in the Southern Conference.

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NEVADA rallied past UNLV 42-37 to keep the Fremont Cannon painted navy blue for the eighth consecutive year. The Wolf Pack, now 6-1 on the season, trailed 31-14 at halftime. But behind Stefphon Jefferson's 185 yards rushing and three touchdowns, Nevada outscored the Rebels 28-6 in the second half. Devin Combs did his best Cody Fajardo impression, starting in place of Nevada's injured quarterback and throwing for 167 yards while running for 111.

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RUTGERS won another ugly one, 23-15 over SYRACUSE, as the two teams continued fighting over the fool's gold that is the New York college football market. Jamal Merrell, who blocked two kicks in the Scarlet Knights' win over the Orange last year, blocked another field goal in the third quarter that Duron Harmon scooped and scored from 75 yards out. Khaseem Greene went nuts with 14 tackles, three forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and an interception. Syracuse outgained Rutgers by almost 200 yards, but committed four turnovers to the Scarlet Knights' zero. Rutgers remains unbeaten at 6-0, while the Orange are now 2-4, and the heat on Doug Marrone gets a little bit hotter.

(Side note: This was the absolute worst color palette game in Big East history, between the bright sunlight, Rutgers in fire-engine red and chrome silver helmets, Syracuse in orange helmets and pants, and the pink towels and accessories. I physically could not watch more than about five minutes of this game without my eyes hurting. The Big East Network made it even worse because their equipment caused a yellowy tint on the TV picture.)

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BALL STATE needed overtime to defeat Western Michigan 30-24. Jahwan Edwards (138 yards, three touchdowns) and Keith Wenning (265 yards passing) accounted for nearly all of the Cardinals' offense, and Edwards' touchdown run in overtime ended the game. The Broncos tied the game on a 52-yard field goal with five seconds left, but missed another field goal in overtime to open the door for Ball State.

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FLORIDA STATE bounced back from their shocking loss to NC State by hammering Boston College 51-7. The 12th-ranked Seminoles (6-1) got a huge game from EJ Manuel, who threw for 439 yards and four touchdowns before calling it a day early in the fourth quarter. All in all, FSU outgained the Eagles 649-225 and were in control from the opening kickoff on.

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TEMPLE made it two Big East wins in a row for the first time ever, beating CONNECTICUT 17-14 in overtime. After spotting the Huskies a 14-0 first-quarter lead, the Owls battled back and tied the game with 42 seconds left on a pass from Chris Coyer to Jalen Fitzpatrick. Montel Harris had a big game in Matt Brown's absence, running for 142 yards on 30 carries. Chandler Whitmer threw for 293 yards, but Chad Christen missed four field goals, including a 29-yard chip shot in overtime. Temple is now 3-2, while Paul Pasqualoni's tenure at UConn is quickly running out with the Huskies now 3-4.

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LOUISVILLE used a big second half to get by PITTSBURGH 45-35. In a strange 11:00am kickoff at Heinz Field, the Panthers held a 21-17 halftime lead, an advantage that lasted all of one play into the second half. Teddy Bridgewater's 75-yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker opened the third quarter and was part of 21 unanswered Cardinals points that gave Louisville a 38-21 lead. Bridgewater threw for 304 yards, and Senorise Perry ran for 101 yards and four touchdowns on only 12 carries. Louisville kept pace with the other unbeaten Big East teams at 6-0, while Pittsburgh slipped to 2-4 and 0-3 in conference play.

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MIAMI dropped an 18-14 decision to North Carolina in front of another intimate gathering at Sun Life Stadium. The big news for the Hurricanes was the loss of Stephen Morris to a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter. He was only 12-for-26 for 155 yards, but he's already been ruled out of Saturday's game against Florida State, a big blow to Miami's upset hopes. Giovani Bernard ran for 177 yards for the Tar Heels, and a successful "swinging gate" two-point conversion early on forced Miami to go for it twice in field-goal range in the fourth quarter. Both attempts failed. The Hurricanes fell to 4-3 overall, 3-1 in ACC play, and 0-1 since killing off The 7th Floor.

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CINCINNATI whipped up on another FCS patsy, 49-17 over Fordham. After a shaky first half where the Bearcats only led 14-6, Cincinnati scored on all five second-half possessions and cruised to victory. Munchie Legaux was a pocket passer most of the night with just four rushing attempts, but he completed 15 of 24 passes for 262 yards and a pair of scores. Ralph David Abernathy IV and Brendon Kay each ran for touchdowns, and Travis Kelce hauled in a 78-yard touchdown pass. The Bearcats are up to 5-0 and finally finish their non-conference schedule this weekend at Toledo.