The Miami defensive line should be dominant against South Florida. Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus called the Miami DL at least top three, if not the best, nationally. In their preview of South Florida at Miami, Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman highlighted the Hurricanes DL as a key.
The Miami DL is third nationally with a 91.6 overall grade, second with a 91.6 run defense grade and seventh with an 89.7 pass rush grade. South Florida grades in the top 40 in pass blocking, but its 77.7 run blocking grade is the 10th worst nationally per Chadwick.
Chadwick and Wasserman were impressed by Miami's 63.9 pass rush victory rate against Notre Dame and their ability to limit Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love to 11 carries for 46 yards. PFF ranked Love as the top returning RB nationally entering the 2025 season.
Miami DL Rueben Bain will be a key player to watch versus South Florida. Bain is the only edge rusher nationally with a 90 plus run and pass rush grade. Bain has 9.0 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1.0 forced fumble, one interception and one pass defended this season.
Miami getting pressure and finishing the play by bringing down South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown is critical, according to Wasserman. South Florida passes on 53.66 percent of their plays. Brown is the key to South Florida being successful offensively.
Brown leads South Florida with 31 carries, 109 yards rushing and two touchdowns. South Florida is 41st nationally, averaging 259.0 passing yards per game. Brown has completed 65.0 percent of his pass attempts for 473 yards, one TD and no interceptions.
South Florida is 50th nationally, averaging 6.47 yards per play, 100th, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and 40th, averaging 8.5 yards per pass attempt. Miami should be able to dare South Florida to run with the goal of making the Bulls one-dimensional offensively.
"I said 'Byrum, if you go past the middle of the field, I'm going to be so mad at you.'"
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 10, 2025
Alex Golesh said he needed Byrum Brown to get to the middle of the field to set up the game winner against Florida. pic.twitter.com/bnPYF3Ou4I
South Florida is 57th nationally, allowing 5.0 tackles for loss and 104th, with opponents averaging 2.5 sacks per game. Miami is 29th nationally, averaging 7.5 TFLs per game and 58th, averaging 2.0 sacks per game. Miami has one quarterback hit in each of the two games.
Pressuring Brown while not allowing him to get out of the pocket and run is critical to Miami being successful defensively. Miami has continued allowing too many big plays against Notre Dame and Bethune-Cookman.
Notre Dame had four completions of 15 or more yards and four runs of 10 or more. Bethune-Cookman had one completion for more than 15 yards but four runs of 10 or more. Miami needs to contain Brown and a USF offense that is 18th nationally with four plays of 40 or more yards in 2025.