When USF faces the No. 25-ranked BYU Cougars in Saturday's season opener at Raymond James Stadium, it represents a massive opportunity for the Bulls' program.
If the Bulls prevail, it would be the first time for the program to defeat a ranked opponent in a season-opening game since 2011 (Notre Dame) and would mark the first win over a ranked opponent since 2016.
Considering the overall dynamics — the opening of a $22-million Indoor Performance Facility, moving forward with plans for the on-campus stadium and the need for credibility in the fluid era of college football conferences — a victory against BYU would mean more than a 1-0 start. It would provide confidence and a big boost for the program's national perception.
"Obviously, we want to win every game that we have and we always talk about the next game being the most important game because it's next,'' head coach Jeff Scott said Tuesday. "You look at the four teams that are moving into the Big 12 (BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF), we play all four of them this year. So, we're getting an opportunity to see how we match up with them.
"When you look at the landscape of college football and the chance for realignment, we want people to look at South Florida and say, 'Hey, those guys can compete and they deserve to move up.' There are a lot of factors that go into that, but the No. 1 factor is winning on the field. There's no doubt that if we play well and are fortunate enough to earn a victory Saturday, that would be a big moment.''
Scott said he prefers playing a quality opponent in the opener instead of scheduling a lesser team that might have the Bulls as a heavy favorite.
"It has made our offseason and fall camp really intense,'' Scott said. "Our guys have been really focused because they know how big of an opportunity we have Saturday.
"We're going to have several opportunities this year for those breakthrough moments, where our program can take the next step. But this is a really big one. If we can start with a victory, it's not really about our guys proving something to our fans and anybody else, it's really just about the confidence that you gain from having success against a very good team.''
USF running back Jaren Mangham and cornerback Daquan Evans said they are excited about facing the Cougars, who defeated the Bulls 35-27 last season in Provo, Utah, but lost to the Bulls, 27-23, in Tampa in 2019.
"As you can see with the indoor (facility) and the stadium being built, there's a lot going on at our campus and it seems like there's steady progress with this university," Mangham said. "I feel like we have to do our part, go out there and play our tails off and get the results that we want.''
"We know it's a big game,'' Evans said. "We know what we have to do. I'm the type of guy who's not going to get very emotional going into the game. I'm just going to come prepared to do what my coaches say and whatever my teammates need me to do. It's going to take all of us.''
Looking For Improvement
Scott said he expects a much-improved USF team this season, considering the returning experience, plus the influx of talent from the transfer portal and recruiting.
"I want to see what our best looks like, whatever that is,'' Scott said. "Each year, your best may be different. I want to see our best on offense, defense and special teams. I want us to be the best version of ourselves.
"I'd love to see Gerry Bohanon (quarterback), in his first game on the field with us, doing a great job of really driving the car, moving the offense and directing traffic. Defensively, I want to see us play well, execute our game plan and eliminate the big plays. I want to see us get pressure on the quarterback, something we haven't really done well in my first two seasons. This is the first time since I've been here that I've felt we had the depth necessary to go into a season and compete. I'm excited because I know we're going to be much better, and now it's time to see it on the field.''
Finishing Fast
Scott said he expects the Bulls to be much better at finishing games — which was an occasional problem in 2021.
The Bulls let an 11-point fourth-quarter lead slip away against Tulsa. They trailed 19-14 at East Carolina going into the fourth and couldn't budge from that point. In the season finale, the Bulls drove to UCF's 3-yard line and were in position to win, but couldn't punch it into the end zone.
"There were a number of games where we were right there through three quarters,'' Scott said. "And we didn't get it done. It wasn't just one side of the ball, one group or one mistake. It was a combination of things.
"For me, it's a mindset of how you finish. That has been a big focus for us throughout the offseason. We've got to be at our best in the fourth quarter and be able to close it out. When you're playing good teams like BYU, those games come down to who plays consistently. We've got to play well for four quarters.''
Wanted: Fan Support
Scott said he's enthused about the support he's sensing from USF fans and the student body. He expects a large crowd on Saturday and hopes for a significant home-field advantage.
"I love the fans and I love seeing them at our games enjoying themselves,'' Mangham said. "It's very important that the fans come out. I hope they pack Ray-Jay up to the lights. I can't wait. There are the first-game jitters and everything, but just seeing the Bulls fans in the stadium again, it just gives me butterflies.''
"We've love to see a packed house,'' Evans said. "It's the first game and the more packed it is, the better I play. We're doing this for the Tampa community and the USF community. If everybody comes out to pack the stadium, I feel like it would be good and we'd love that.''
-GoBulls–
