CFB Bowl Preview 2025: StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Old Dominion Monarchs vs USF Bulls
By Rory Daniels
Bowl season is in full swing, and we will be previewing every bowl game this year. This year’s StaffDNA Cure Bowl will be contested between the Old Dominion Monarchs and USF Bulls. Let’s take a look at the key matchups.
Where and When
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida.
Date: Wednesday 17th December 2025.
Time: 5pm ET, 10pm GMT.
Story So Far...
The sixth year under Ricky Rahne saw a culmination of the dedication he has shown as Head Coach of Old Dominion. It was his first with a winning record, as the Monarchs went 9-3 on the season and 6-2 in the Sun Belt, finishing second in the East Division behind James Madison. The highlight was a 45-26 road victory over Virginia Tech.
The Monarchs leaned heavily on the run game that featured QB Colton Joseph and was one of the most productive red zone offenses in the country. Their success resulted in the program’s third bowl appearance under Rahne. Both have been unsuccessful so far, their most recent being a blown 28-0 lead in a final-kick loss to Western Kentucky in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl. Rahne will look to avenge his previous losses in this one.
USF were equally as successful in 2025, but it ultimately came at a cost. The Auburn Tigers headhunted Head Coach Alex Golesh, and he, along with OC Joel Gordon and a host of other coaches, will not be present for the Bowl Game. Golesh’s Go-Fast offense was hugely successful, averaging 43 points per game, with the Bulls winning each of their six home games by a margin of 27 points or more.
They came out of the gates hot, toppling ranked Boise State in the season opener and then downing SEC heavyweight and in-state rival Florida. They, like Old Dominion, finished the year 9-3 and 6-2 in the AAC. The future should be bright for the Bulls as they managed to pull off somewhat of a coaching hire coup. Ohio State OC and master recruiter Brian Hartline took the job and will look to build on the momentum Golesh had achieved.
The Quarterbacks
Old Dominion had one of the best QBs in the nation in 2025. Colton Joseph is a rare talent who surpassed 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, earning him the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year award. So good, in fact, that he chose to enter the transfer portal and became one of the hottest names, already linked to Florida. That means he will swerve the Cure Bowl, and the Monarchs will be led by Quinn Henicle, a redshirt freshman who has seen limited action. Henicle is also a dual-threat QB, and this will be his first chance to show he has what it takes to become the starter in the future.
The similarities between these two teams continue in the quarterback rooms. Byrum Brown achieved a feat that only 12 other players have previously. He passed for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 yards as well. His 37 touchdown contributions were the main reason this Bulls offense thrived. With Golesh’s departure and plenty of uncertainty, Brown felt it best to pass on the bowl game, and he has already been linked with following Golesh to the Tigers. He will be present as a ‘coach’ and to cheer on his team from the sidelines. Stepping in will be Gaston Moore, who has seen limited action as the backup. Before his move to USF, he was backup at Tennessee (also under Golesh as OC), and the bowl game will be his first start despite being a redshirt senior.
Who to Watch
Old Dominion
Jerome Carter, Safety – Carter was the leader of a defense that regularly caused carnage. Operating predominantly as a box safety, he had 23 defensive stops per PFF, earned a run defense grade of 83.5 and also led the team in interceptions with four. SIS had him on their All-Sun Belt team, and he hopes to lead from the front as the Monarchs need a big defensive display here.
USF
Mac Harris, Linebacker – Harris earned plenty of accolades as the Bulls’ defensive leader, including being named as an SIS First-Team All-American. Harris led the team with 100 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Add to that three forced fumbles and two interceptions, and you see how much Harris impacts the game in every facet. He will look to make life hard for backup QB Quinn Henicle.
Prediction
USF are the more talented team if at full strength, but the upheaval of losing Golesh, the offensive staff, and their star playmaker, Byrum Brown, means Old Dominion have more than a chance in this one, even as 3.5-point underdogs. It’s difficult to predict with two backup QBs, but Rahne and the Monarchs offer more stability and therefore get my vote in this one.
Old Dominion 21-16 USF
Rory-Joe Daniels
COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.