TAMPA — After years of false starts and false hopes that resulted in mediocrity for Miami, it’s time to take the No. 8 Hurricanes seriously.

Their 50-15 win over USF at Raymond James Stadium seemed to confirm that these ‘Canes are the ACC favorites and College Football Playoff contenders, not just to make the 12-team field, but to have a shot at a spot.

Miami started 4-0 for the second straight season and the fifth time in the last 20 years. USF (2-2) lost its second game against a major conference opponent after losing to No. 4 Alabama earlier this month.

The Bulls kept it exciting for 50 minutes. Miami didn’t let that happen on Saturday night in front of an announced crowd of 58,616.

Instead, the ‘Canes scored 50 points for the third straight game; it’s the first time they’ve done so.

The first half was strange, even by college football standards. USF was called for four penalties in a three-play span to set up Miami’s first touchdown.

Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward threw an interception that hit receiver Jacolby George, popped up and was intercepted by Brent Austin. On USF’s ensuing drive, Byrum Brown caught a touchdown pass when receiver Sean Atkins took a reverse pitch and hit his wide-open quarterback. Miami blocked the extra point. USF then appeared to get its surprise onside kick, but a player was offside.

And that was just the first quarter.

USF’s Nico Gramatica, son of former Bucs kicker Martin Gramatica, hit a field goal of 58 yards and one of 51 yards, but the Bulls missed a kick of 31 yards in the final seconds of the first half.

Miami took a seven-point lead into the locker room, and USF appeared to have a spark with a 23-yard catch by Atkins on the first play from scrimmage. The Bulls fell behind schedule with a false start that stalled the drive. Miami responded with an 80-yard drive that Damien Martinez capped with his second touchdown rush.

The ‘Canes scored another touchdown from Martinez in the final minute of the third quarter, making victory all but certain.

Ward finished with 404 passing yards and three touchdowns at the half. USF’s rushing offense — which ranked eighth in the nation in yards passing per game — averaged just 1.7 yards per carry through the first 52 minutes.

Miami hosts Virginia Tech next week in the ACC opener, while the Bulls travel to Tulane for their first AAC game.

This story is being updated.

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