USF QB Van Buren's Status Unclear Before UAB
The University of South Florida has not confirmed whether starting quarterback Michael Van Buren will play Friday night against UAB after an undisclosed injury.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football
USF quarterback Michael Van Buren left last week's game in the second quarter with an injury that has not been disclosed. As of midday Friday, the team had issued no official word on his availability, and the AAC availability report still showed "report pending."
Why it matters
Van Buren's status determines whether USF goes into its conference game with its starter or its backup, Luke Kromenhoek, who led the Bulls to 30 unanswered points after replacing him last week. For South Florida fans in the Tampa area, the uncertainty keeps the team's offensive plans unsettled ahead of kickoff.
Kromenhoek led USF to 30 unanswered points after replacing Van Buren in last week's game. The AAC availability report showed "report pending" as of 2 p.m. ET Friday, and the injury itself has not been disclosed.
The players
Michael Van Buren
Michael Van Buren is the starting quarterback for the University of South Florida Bulls, whose playing status for the UAB game remains unconfirmed.
Luke Kromenhoek
Luke Kromenhoek is USF's backup quarterback, who led the Bulls to 30 unanswered points after replacing Van Buren last week.
Hartline
Hartline is the head coach of the University of South Florida football program, who declined to discuss Van Buren's injury in the middle of the week.
The details
Van Buren left last week's game in the second quarter with an injury the team has not described. Head coach Hartline declined to reveal what happened to Van Buren when asked mid-week, and a USF social media post Thursday featured Van Buren without clarifying his status.
Timeline
Last week: Van Buren exits the second quarter with an injury; Kromenhoek takes over.
Mid-week: Hartline discusses the quarterback situation with The Oracle without disclosing the injury.
Thursday: USF posts a social media photo featuring Van Buren.
Friday, 2 p.m. ET: The AAC availability report still reads "report pending."
Friday night: USF plays UAB.
Season Trajectory
This development puts USF's quarterback depth under scrutiny as conference play tightens. Whether the Bulls can sustain offensive output with Kromenhoek at the controls will shape how they approach the rest of the AAC schedule.
The Friday night outcome will determine whether USF's offense runs through Van Buren or Kromenhoek, which changes how the Bulls' passing game performs in the AAC. Fantasy and betting lines tied to USF's passing production will need to be re-evaluated once the availability report is finalized.
The takeaway
Check the official AAC availability report before kickoff to confirm whether Van Buren will start, since the team has not yet made an announcement. Treat late injury news as fluid until the game begins.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Football coverage across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
