Hawaii Bowl Matchup: South Florida vs. San Jose State
The Hawaii Bowl will feature a contest between South Florida, who boasts a record of 6-6, and San Jose State, which has achieved a record of 7-5. The game is scheduled to take place on December 24 at 8 p.m. EST, with the odds favoring San Jose State by 2.5 points according to BetMGM College Football.
Key aspects of this matchup include South Florida’s defense, which has struggled significantly, conceding an average of 278.7 passing yards per game, placing them 128th in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). In contrast, San Jose State ranks impressively high, averaging 325.3 passing yards, sitting fifth in the nation in this category.
Offensively, South Florida ranks 29th in rushing offense with an average of 191.3 yards per game. They are set to compete against San Jose State’s rushing defense, which is ranked 79th, allowing 156.3 rushing yards per game.
In their most recent game, San Jose State secured a narrow victory over Stanford, winning 34-31. Quarterback Walker Eget displayed an impressive performance with 385 passing yards achieved on 33 completions out of 49 attempts (67.3%). He tossed four touchdowns but also had one interception. The ground game featured Lamar Radcliffe, who gained 43 yards on seven carries. Receiver Nick Nash was a standout in the passing game, catching eight passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
On the other hand, South Florida was edged out by Rice, with a final score of 35-28. Quarterback Bryce Archie threw for 227 yards, completing 19 of his 35 attempts (54.3%), with one touchdown and one interception. He also contributed in the running game with 21 yards on 10 carries. A significant contribution came from Nay’Quan Wright, who scored a touchdown with 35 rushing yards, accumulating six carries. Sean Atkins was the leading receiver, collecting 110 yards from seven receptions along with one touchdown.
Key players to watch for San Jose State include Eget, who has passed for 2,224 yards thus far, averaging 185.3 yards per game, and completing 57.4% of his throws with 11 touchdown passes. Running back Floyd Chalk IV has been productive with 661 rushing yards on 139 attempts, scoring nine touchdowns, and contributing in the passing game with five receptions. Notably, receiver Nick Nash ranks second in college football with 1,382 receiving yards over 104 catches, netting 16 touchdowns.
For South Florida, quarterback Archie has amassed 1,679 passing yards with a completion percentage of 58% and nine touchdown passes. His running contributions include 137 yards and two touchdowns. Kelley Joiner Jr. is notable for his rushing prowess, accumulating 766 rushing yards on 110 carries and scoring 11 rushing touchdowns. Sean Atkins adds to the offense with 695 receiving yards from 69 catches and two touchdowns.
Statistically, San Jose State has managed to outscore their opponents by an average of 1.1 points per game, whereas South Florida has a slightly better margin at 2.4 points per game. Regarding turnovers, San Jose State has a turnover margin of minus one, having generated 27 forced turnovers against 28 committed, ranking them 67th in college football. In terms of scoring, South Florida ranks 43rd with an average of 31.4 points per game, while defensively, they are 98th, allowing 29 points on average to their opponents.