Utah State Aggies (7-0) head east for their first true road test of the season Thursday night, visiting a South Florida Bulls team that has been piling up points at home. The Aggies are coming off an 84-81 overtime win over Montana State, powered by 23 points from MJ Collins Jr., while the Bulls return to Tampa after a Battle 4 Atlantis run that included three games against top-100 NET opponents. Both teams want to play fast, so this matchup should feel like a possession-by-possession stress test of pace, poise, and shot quality.
Can Utah State’s Efficiency Travel To Tampa?
Utah State arrives unbeaten, but this is the first time this new-look roster has had to manage a true road environment after starting 7-0 away from hostile crowds. The Aggies are averaging 88.9 points per game and have been one of the country’s most efficient shooting teams, hitting 53.1 percent from the field, a number that currently sits well above what South Florida typically allows.
Their control of the turnover battle has been a quiet backbone of the start, as they average 11.9 giveaways and have gone 5-0 in games where they finish with fewer turnovers than their opponent. Collins has been the focal point, hitting 3.4 threes per game and averaging 21.3 points while shooting 52.2% from beyond the arc, and Mason Falslev has complemented him with 13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 steals as a versatile two-way guard.
KenPom places the Aggies at 36, BPI at 31 and the NET ranking them 19th, making them the highest-rated opponent South Florida has faced so far. Utah State has also leaned on an influx of experienced talent from the portal, including scorers like Collins and Garry Clark, which has helped smooth the transition under Jerrod Calhoun.
Will South Florida’s Tempo Pressure The Aggies?
South Florida counters with one of the most explosive offenses in the AAC, leading the league at 91.4 points per game on 43.9% shooting and averaging 9.3 made threes, a volume that sits slightly above what Utah State typically concedes from deep. Guards Josh Omojafo and CJ Brown drive that attack, with Omojafo posting 15.3 points and 5.0 rebounds and Brown adding 14.1 points and 4.0 boards while shouldering significant creation responsibilities.
⚪️PACK THE YC ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/YVD1n2sWGE
— USF Men’s Basketball (@USFMBB) December 4, 2025
The Bulls’ overall profile has climbed quickly as a result of that production and a demanding schedule, jumping to 78th in the NET after opening the year at 189, while sitting at 91 in KenPom and 82 in BPI. At home, where they are 2-0, the Bulls’ tempo and aggressiveness tend to snowball, and their spacing should test Utah State’s closeouts and communication across multiple actions.
The Colorado State loss in Atlantis, 83–68, highlighted their volatility. Wes Enis paced the scoring 17, and Adriel Nyorha delivered a career-best 14 points and six assists before the Rams pulled away behind a blistering shooting display from the perimeter. South Florida finished that event 1-2 but boosted its resume value and now gets a chance to add a high-end win to its profile against a Utah State team that dominated last year’s meeting 88–67 in Logan.
Utah State vs. USF Prediction
Utah State has been the more consistent of these two teams, entering this one at 7-0. KenPom has the Aggies at 36th. It’s been an up-and-down ride for South Florida to begin the season, with the Bulls splitting their first eight games.
Utah State has faced a relatively easy schedule so far this season, but it does have a quality 80-77 win over a VCU team that’s ranked 42nd by KenPom. USF also played against the Rams, but the Bulls suffered a double-digit defeat.
The Aggies’ attack features the backcourt duo of Collins and Falslev. Collins (21.3 PPG) recently dropped 40 points on Davidson, while Falslev is averaging 13.7 points and 2.7 steals. It’s a balanced effort for the Bulls, but Brown and Omojafo will need to have big games to knock off Utah State.
USF is a top-40 offensive rebounding team, but its downfall could lie on the perimeter, where the Bulls struggle to knock down 3-pointers and defend them. They’ll want to get up and down the floor, while the Aggies are comfortable playing at a slower pace.
Utah State is the more efficient team on both ends, but we likely haven’t seen the best version of USF. I expect a close contest.
Prediction: Utah State 83, South Florida 80
How to Watch Utah State vs USF
- When: December 04, 2025
- Time: 7 pm ET
- Channel: ESPN+
- Where: Yuengling Center
