South Florida Bulls vs 
Old Dominion MonarchsThe Cure Bowl: Two 9-3 Teams, Two Backup Quarterbacks
The South Florida Bulls (9-3) and Old Dominion Monarchs (9-3) meet for the first time in program history at Camping World Stadium in Orlando for the 2025 Cure Bowl. These are two programs that have had excellent seasons, but the story of this game isn't about what got them here. It's about who won't be playing. Both starting quarterbacks have opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft, leaving backup signal-callers to lead their teams in a bowl game that could be defined by who handles the pressure better.
South Florida had one of the most explosive offenses in the country this season. The Bulls rank 5th nationally in scoring at 41.6 points per game and 11th in rushing at 224.2 yards per game. They set a program record with 715 yards of total offense against Tulsa and scored 30 or more points in eight of their games. Byrum Brown was the engine behind it all, becoming just the 12th player in FBS history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. But Brown is gone now, opting out to focus on his NFL future.
Old Dominion's season was defined by a statement victory: a 45-26 beatdown of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, the program's first road win over a Power Four opponent. The Monarchs finished second in the Sun Belt East with a 6-2 conference record and outscored opponents by 161 points on the year. Colton Joseph was the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, accounting for 34 touchdowns (21 passing, 13 rushing) while totaling over 3,600 yards of offense. But like Brown, Joseph has opted out for the draft.
This leaves us with a fascinating matchup of backup quarterbacks making their first career starts in a bowl game. Gaston Moore will lead USF after six years as a backup (one at UCF, four at Tennessee, one at USF). Quinn Henicle will lead ODU as a redshirt freshman who showed flashes of brilliance in last year's finale against Arkansas State. The team that gets better quarterback play will win this game. It really is that simple.
South Florida: QB Byrum Brown (OPTED OUT) - 3,000+ passing yards, 1,000+ rushing yards, 12th player in FBS history to accomplish both in same season. Head coach Alex Golesh also gone (hired at Auburn).
Old Dominion: QB Colton Joseph (OPTED OUT) - Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, 34 total TDs (21 passing, 13 rushing), 2,624 passing yards, 1,007 rushing yards.
The Backup Quarterbacks Take Center Stage
South Florida Bulls (9-3)Old Dominion Monarchs (9-3)Gaston Moore's story is remarkable. After five years as a backup at UCF and Tennessee, he transferred to South Florida to play for Alex Golesh one more time using his COVID eligibility year. He spent the entire season as Byrum Brown's backup, completing just 14 of 20 passes in mop-up duty. Now, at 24 years old, he'll make his first and last college start in the Cure Bowl. Moore earned the nickname "Gas Pipe" from Josh Heupel at Tennessee, and his teammates love him. He's been preparing for this moment his entire career, even if he never expected it to come.
Quinn Henicle is the opposite story. The redshirt freshman has explosive potential that showed in last year's season finale against Arkansas State, where he threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 206 yards and two more scores, including a 92-yard touchdown run. But he's played sparingly this season (just 15 pass attempts) and now faces the biggest moment of his young career. ODU offensive coordinator Kevin Decker said Henicle has been 1-2 with Joseph in every practice, so he knows the offense. The question is whether he can execute it under the bright lights.
The coaching situation at USF adds another layer of uncertainty. Alex Golesh was hired away by Auburn, leaving Kevin Patrick as the interim head coach. Brian Hartline won't fully take over until Ohio State's playoff run is complete. The Bulls are essentially playing for a lame-duck staff with their backup quarterback. Old Dominion has coaching continuity with Ricky Rahne, which could be a significant advantage in a bowl game where preparation is everything.
Betting Analysis: Value on the Underdog?
The line opened at South Florida -3.5 and has moved to -2.5, suggesting sharp money has come in on Old Dominion. The movement makes sense when you consider the opt-outs and coaching situation. USF lost their record-setting quarterback AND their head coach. Old Dominion only lost their quarterback. The Monarchs have continuity and a defense that can control games.
Old Dominion's defense is the key to this game. The Monarchs rank 11th nationally in sack rate per dropback and have a Top 20 Havoc rate that disrupts opposing offenses. They're also Top 10 in limiting explosive plays of 20+ yards. Against a sixth-year backup quarterback making his first career start, that kind of pass rush could be overwhelming. Gaston Moore has never faced pressure like this. ODU's defense will test him from the opening snap.
The total of 52.5 seems high given the quarterback situation. Both offenses were elite with their starters, but expecting the same production from backups is optimistic. Moore has thrown 20 career passes. Henicle has thrown 21 this season. Neither has shown they can consistently move the ball against quality defenses. This game could turn into a defensive struggle where turnovers and field position decide the outcome.
Line movement: USF opened -3.5, now -2.5 (sharp money on ODU)
USF lost: Starting QB (Brown), Head Coach (Golesh), offensive coordinator
ODU lost: Starting QB (Joseph) only - coaching staff intact
ODU defense: 11th in sack rate, Top 20 Havoc, Top 10 limiting explosives
First meeting: No historical data between these programs
Keys To Victory
For South Florida to win: Establish the running game immediately and take pressure off Gaston Moore. The Bulls set a program record with 425 rushing yards against Charlotte this season, and they need that kind of performance again. Moore can't carry this team through the air, so he needs to manage the game, avoid turnovers, and let the running backs do the heavy lifting. If USF can control the clock and keep ODU's pass rush on the sideline, they can grind out a victory. The offensive line must protect Moore from that Top 20 Havoc defense.
For Old Dominion to win: Pressure Gaston Moore early and often. The Monarchs have the defensive front to wreak havoc on a first-time starter, and they need to attack from the opening whistle. Offensively, Quinn Henicle needs to use his legs and extend plays. His breakout game against Arkansas State showed he can be a dynamic dual-threat when given space to operate. ODU should lean into the read-option and get Henicle comfortable before asking him to make throws downfield. Win the turnover battle and this game is theirs.
Final Thoughts
This is one of the more intriguing bowl matchups of the early bowl season, not because of the talent on the field, but because of who isn't on the field. Both teams had elite quarterbacks who decided their NFL futures were more important than one more college game. That's the reality of modern college football. What's left is a battle between backup quarterbacks, and the team that gets better play from their signal-caller will win.
South Florida has the better overall roster and the more explosive offensive system, but they've lost their head coach and their quarterback. Old Dominion has coaching continuity, a dominant defense, and a young quarterback who flashed real potential in limited action. The Monarchs are getting points against a team in transition, and that feels like value.
The under is also worth considering. With two backup quarterbacks making their first starts (or near-first starts) in a high-pressure bowl environment, expecting 53 combined points feels aggressive. Both defenses are capable of making stops, and neither offense will have the quarterback play to sustain long drives consistently. This could turn into a 24-21 type of game where field position and turnovers decide everything.
Whatever happens, this is history in the making. The first ever meeting between South Florida and Old Dominion, with the programs' futures on display in Orlando. The next chapter for both teams starts with what happens in this Cure Bowl.
