USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - USF's announcement of its plans to start a series with Nevada put the finishing touches on what will be a juicy schedule for Bulls football in 2012.

The Bulls revealed Tuesday that they'll be playing a home-and-home series with the Wolf Pack, starting with a Sept. 8 2012 test in Nevada.

"We're happy that a quality program like Nevada had an opening and we look forward to facing them next season and in 2015 (in Tampa)," USF Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug Woolard said.

USF fans now have another excuse to make a trip to Reno, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World," that features plenty to do before and after kickoff. The product on the field should be pretty solid, too, with the Bulls taking on an opponent that's made seven consecutive bowl appearances.

"Going on the road and playing in a tough environment early in the season will give us an opportunity to see where we are and could help us as we move deeper into the schedule," USF head coach Skip Holtz said.

The Bulls' 2012 season gets going Sept. 1 at home where they'll take on Tennessee-Chattanooga, an FCS program that's coming off two straight winning seasons.

USF continues its home-and-home series with Ball State on Sept. 22 in Muncie, Ind. The Cardinals were ranked as recently as 2008 and lost to the Bulls, 37-7, this past season at Raymond James Stadium.

A can't-miss contest takes place one week after Ball State at Raymond James Stadium, where the Bulls fire back up their rivalry with Florida State. This could be a very tough ticket to get considering the Seminoles are predicted to start the season in the top 10 and will be looking for a bit of revenge after USF marched into Tallahassee and upset FSU, 17-7, in the series' last game on Sept. 26, 2009. If you remember correctly, that game was quarterback B.J. Daniels' coming out party after then-starter Matt Grothe was forced to miss the season with an injury.

The Bulls get another crack at Miami in Coral Gables on Nov. 24 after the Hurricanes edged USF, 6-3, this past season in Tampa. The last time USF played at Miami it came away with a 23-20 overtime victory on Nov. 27, 2010. Backup quarterback Bobby Eveld earned a place in USF fans' hearts after orchestrating an impressive comeback in the second half when Daniels was out with an injury.

The Big East schedule has yet to be released, but the Bulls know they'll have Syracuse, Rutgers, UConn and Pittsburgh at home. This gives fans from up north a great chance to see their teams suit up in Florida while USF faithful can plan on booking trips to Cincinnati, Louisville and West Virginia in the last season before the Big East officially welcomes some new programs into the conference.

Despite the Bulls coming off a 5-7 season, there is plenty for USF fans to feel good about heading into 2012. The team returns a majority of starters on both sides of the ball a season after making huge jumps in many statistical categories, especially on offense.

The Bulls' 2012 schedule isn't set in stone yet, but fans have plenty to look forward to already. Start marking your calendars now because, as with every new year, football will be back upon us before we know it.