The 2025 StaffDNA Cure Bowl concluded on Wednesday night with Old Dominion emerging victorious over South Florida in a physical 24 10 matchup at Camping World Stadium. Both teams entered the contest with identical 9 3 records but faced significant hurdles as their respective starting quarterbacks were unavailable due to the transfer portal and opt outs. South Florida was also playing under interim head coach Kevin Patrick after the recent departure of Alex Golesh to Auburn. Despite these disruptions, the game remained a tight defensive struggle through the first half before the Monarchs took control in the final two quarters to secure their first bowl win under head coach Ricky Rahne.

The impact of the game was defined by the dominant performance of the Old Dominion defense and the poise of redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Henicle. Henicle, making only his second career start, was named the game MVP after rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns. His performance was particularly vital because the Monarchs defense forced five total turnovers, including four interceptions against Bulls quarterback Gaston Moore. While South Florida managed to take a 10 7 lead into halftime, their offense went completely silent in the second half. The Bulls were held to just 52 rushing yards for the entire game, a shocking statistic for a unit that ranked in the top ten nationally for rushing during the regular season.

Reactions from the coaching staffs highlighted the grit required to win a game defined by attrition. Ricky Rahne praised Henicle for his competitiveness, noting that even when the young quarterback was briefly knocked out of the game by a hard hit, he returned to lead a late 51 yard touchdown run that iced the victory. On the other side, interim coach Kevin Patrick lamented the turnovers and missed opportunities, including two missed field goals that could have kept the Bulls within striking distance. For South Florida, the loss was a disappointing end to a season that included landmark victories over Florida and Boise State, while Old Dominion celebrated reaching the ten win mark for the first time since 2016.

The strategy for Old Dominion relied heavily on their veteran offensive line and a run heavy approach that wore down the South Florida front seven. With both teams missing explosive passing elements, the Monarchs leaned on a backfield duo of Henicle and Devin Roche, who also surpassed the 100 yard rushing mark. This ground attack allowed Old Dominion to dominate time of possession in the fourth quarter and limit the number of chances for a South Florida comeback. The defensive strategy of utilizing unique blitz packages also paid off, as they consistently pressured Moore and forced him into making errant throws into a ball hawking secondary.

Looking ahead, the future outlook for both programs appears promising despite the coaching and roster changes. Old Dominion enters the offseason with significant momentum and a proven young talent at quarterback in Henicle. For South Florida, the focus shifts to a permanent head coaching search and rebuilding an offense that will lose several key starters to the NFL and the transfer portal. This inaugural meeting between the two schools set a high bar for physical play, and both fan bases will be watching closely to see how these programs capitalize on their successful 2025 campaigns in the coming year.