USF head coach Brian Hartline has ended the mystery of who will run his offense in Tampa in his first year with the program. The new regime needed a proven leader to guide a rebuilt roster, and they found their answer in a player with SEC ties. 

Junior transfer Michael Van Buren Jr. has been named USF’s starting quarterback for the 2026 season. He edged out Luke Kromenhoek after a tight battle that ran through spring, summer, and fall camp. 

This makes Van Buren the first starting quarterback of the Hartline era for the Bulls. Pete Thamel reported the news on August 24. Van Buren brings 2,896 career passing yards and 19 touchdowns into his first year at USF. That is a huge edge Van Buren had over Kromenhoek’s smaller starting sample. 

The path Van Buren took to get here features 12 starts. Eight of those 12 came at Mississippi State in 2024. Then followed by four at LSU last year. That SEC background provided him with early exposure to high-pressure games against tough opponents. 

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Last year at LSU, Van Buren went 94-of-151 passing for 1,010 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also added 129 rushing yards and a score on the ground. This proven work is a big reason the coaching staff trusts him to handle the opening weeks of the 2026 season.

Hartline noted that Van Buren is “really smooth with his motion” and does a good job creating plays outside the pocket. But the head coach also warned, saying the passer must avoid putting the ball in danger. 

However, Kromenhoek deserves credit for making this a genuine race. Hartline praised both players for “pushing each other” and noted they each took “incredible steps” during camp. The fact that this competition stayed open deep into August makes the final QB choice even more special. 

Winning the starting job is just the first challenge, as the main work now begins for the new starter. 

A new start in Tampa under a new staff

Van Buren joined USF in January 2026 through the transfer portal. His journey started at Mississippi State and then moved to LSU. He hit the portal this year looking for a path to becoming a full-time starter after limited chances at LSU. 

Van Buren originally comes from Bowie, Maryland, where he played for St. Frances Academy. He was a four-star recruit who first committed to Oregon before signing with Mississippi State. During the camp battle, Van Buren kept a team-first mindset, stating, “Whatever the coaches want me to do, I feel like I can do it.”

The program hired Hartline on December 3, 2025, after a long run on the Ohio State coaching staff. During his time with the Buckeyes, he worked as a recruiter, wide receivers coach, passing-game coordinator, and offensive coordinator. 

Hartline was particularly instrumental in cementing Ohio State’s status as a WR-U, as the program saw multiple wide receivers getting selected in the first-round of the NFL draft. In the 2026 draft, Carnell Tate was picked 4th overall by the Titans.

His brother Mike Hartline is the USF quarterbacks coach. Picking the starter stands as the first major roster move of his time as a head coach.

The USF program has leaned on the transfer portal to rebuild following Alex Golesh’s departure for Auburn. That includes a total of 41 portal additions, with 21 transfers coming on offense, 18 on defense and two on special teams.

Because of this roster turnover, Hartline could not afford to start a long-term project. He needed a quarterback ready to handle pressure. The first test arrives on Saturday, September 5, when USF hosts FIU. This game marks the home opener and kicks off the team’s final season at the stadium before the team moves to a new on-campus venue.