Charlie Strong has lost eight straight./STEVEN MUNCIE
Sunday, 3 a.m.
Everything you need to know about USF football was right there at the goal line. All of the pain. All of the frustration. All of the misery.
There was 11 and a half minutes left in the game Saturday when the agony escalated. The Bulls had just completed a 54-yard pass from Jordan McCloud to Mitchell Wilcox. They had a first and goal from a yard away. Just that far, and they would take the lead.
But on first down, the Bulls were called for a false start.
On the next play, Jordan Cronkrite was stuffed for no gain.
On second and goal, McCloud gained five, giving the Bulls two shots from the one.
But on third down, Cronkrite fumbled at the goal line, and Tech recovered.
And there you have USF football in a nutshell. Penalties. Offensive linemen getting beaten. Turnovers. And failure.
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The Bulls lost to Georgia Tech 14-10, their eighth straight loss dating to last season. The once exciting Bulls have now fallen into the doldrums, scoring only 10 points in their first eight quarters.
USF had nine penalties for 95 yards. They averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. They had two turnovers.
And they lost.
Again.
FSU 45, Louisiana-Monroe 44: They came from behind. They survived overtime. They won a close game.
But for FSU, was it enough?
The Seminoles, one of the America's fastest-dropping programs, blew a large lead for the second straight week, and won only when ULM kicker Jacob Meeks missed an extra point in overtime. FSU led 17-0 and 14-7, but had to come from behind to overcome its own turnovers.
James Blackmon threw for 282 yards, and running back Cam Akers ran for 193. But the Seminoles had three turnovers and 108. yards of penalties. The Warhawks gained 493 yards on FSU, which blew an 18-point lead to Boise State in its opener.
FSU plays at Virginia on Saturday.
Florida 45, UT-Martin 0
No one ever said Felipe Franks was perfect. But Saturday night, in an easy win over Tennessee-Martin, he was close.
Franks hit 25 of 27 passes for 270 yards and two scores as the Gators ran away from the Skyhawks.
The Gators treated UT-Martin like a major program is supposed to treat a small fry. Florida ran up 543 yards of offense, scoring three points in the first quarter and 14 in each of the final three periods.
Florida plays at Kentucky on Saturday.
North Carolina 28, Miami 25: Bubba Baxa missed a 49-yard field with 13 seconds to go, and the University of Miami fell to 0-2 for the first time since 1978.
The Hurricanes trailed for most of the game, but they took a 25-20 with 4:38 to play on an 11-yard pass from Jarren Williams to Will Mallory. But the Hurricanes missed a two-point conversion, and the Miami defense then surrendered a 75-yard drive. On the drive, the Tar Heels picked up a fourth-and-17 play when Sam Howell found Rontavius Groves for 20 yards.
Miami plays Boston College Saturday.
UCF 48, FAU 14: Dillon Gabriel hit only seven of 19 passes, but he accounted for 245 yards as the Knights ran and hid. Gabriel threw touchdown passes of 76 yards and 57 yards.
Greg McRae had 93 yards rushing and Bentavious Thompson had 91 for UCF.
UCF plays Stanford Saturday.
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