USF (4-5; 2-3 American) at Charlotte (3-6; 2-3 American)
Saturday, Nov. 16 • 3:30 P.M. (ET) • Jerry Richardson Stadium (15,314) • Charlotte, N.C.
SURFACE: AstroTurf's RootZone 3D3 Blend
TV: ESPN+: Justin Kutcher (P-by-P), Reggie Walker (analyst) & Smacker Miles (sideline)
AUDIO: 102.5 FM/102.5 HD2 The Strike & Bulls Unlimited (TuneIn)
SERIES: USF leads, 1-0
IN TAMPA: USF leads, 1-0, won 48-14 in 2023
IN CHARLOTTE: First Meeting
LAST TIME: USF won 48-14 in 2023 in Tampa
STREAK: USF, won one
USF GAME NOTES
In the big picture, the USF Bulls are fighting for a postseason opportunity. With three regular-season games remaining, the Bulls need two victories to assure bowl eligibility for a second-straight year.
In the small picture, it's about today and how the Bulls (4-5, 2-3 American Athletic Conference) can best prepare for Saturday's road game against the Charlotte 49ers (3-6, 2-3).
"We had a long team meeting Monday and we went through what needs to get fixed,'' head coach Alex Golesh said during his Tuesday news conference. "We went through where we are, who we were, where we have to go, how we have to get there … and we never once brought it (postseason) up. Look, I imagine the guys know (what's at stake) and they want to keep playing.
"But it has never been about that. We're not in a position where we're talking about, 'Man, here's the end-all prize.' I'm not naive, but I'm more focused on us continuing to lay a foundation, developing each guy individually and getting better each day. We're going to get to a point here at South Florida, where we're playing extremely meaningful games in November. But right now, for us, Charlotte is as meaningful as any game that we've played. I don't say that in a cliche way. Even if we were an undefeated team or an incredibly mature team, I would still worry about today and only today.''
Golesh acknowledged that approach is "really hard to do'' for young people — or even old people.
"We want to take things day by day,'' linebacker Mac Harris said. "Obviously, there's a little bug in the back of your head that talks about postseason possibilities and stuff like that. For the older guys who will get out of here soon, you want to give them another game to be able to solidify their collegiate careers.
"But we're just going day-by-day, trying to get the next one. The most important game is the next game.''
That thought was echoed by offensive tackle Derek Bowman, the only USF offensive lineman to start all nine games this season.
"Our coaches do a good job of teaching that anything in the future won't matter if we don't handle what's at hand in front of us right now,'' Bowman said. "The vibe I feel from our team is kind of like, 'Hey, we've got Charlotte this week. Let's go beat Charlotte, then we'll focus on the week after that.' Let's not worry about the bigger picture. Just focus on what we need to do right now.''
Charlotte, which will come in with a 16-day layoff after last playing on Halloween, has shown progress in its second season under head coach Biff Poggi. The 49ers opened AAC play with victories against Rice (21-20) and East Carolina (55-24), while giving Memphis a tussle, falling 33-28 in the final minute.
Golesh said the emphasis is improving USF's execution following a 28-7 home defeat against Navy, when the coach said the Bulls totaled 60 missed assignments between offense, defense and special teams.
"We had about as many missed opportunities as you can have,'' Golesh said. "With a team like Navy, who limits your drives anyway, you've got to capitalize on opportunities. You can't turn it over three times and have poor execution. I'm not discouraged by the effort by any means, but I am discouraged by the execution.
"I'm watching the film and I see our ability. So many times, we say, 'Talent, talent, talent' (as the biggest factor). Talent is truly being able to maximize your ability and playing really efficient, being the best version of you so you can execute, regardless of injuries, regardless of young guys, old guys, whatever. We're a little banged up. So is everybody else in the country. We've got to continue to fight like crazy and I'm encouraged by the way our guys are working to go finish the right way.''
If quarterback Bryce Archie starts his fifth consecutive game following the Sept. 28 injury to Byrum Brown, he must avoid mistakes. Against Navy, Archie was 26-of-43 with a career-best 282 yards, but he had two interceptions while being sacked four times.
USF's running game, which had been productive in the previous back-to-back contests, must rebound from a sub-par performance against Navy (25 carries, 60 yards, 2.4-yard average).
Sooner or later, the Bulls must also figure out a way to start games with more efficiency. USF has been scoreless during the first quarter in the five games since Sept. 21. The opponent has scored first in each of the last seven games.
"My job is to have us ready," Golesh said. "We need the young guys to grow up and we need the old guys to continue to play better. We need a mature approach, and we have to be completely locked in from the beginning. It's also coaching, I've got to put it on me and come up with (solutions).
"I don't get super frustrated. I think I have done this long enough, where I'm more like, 'I've got to figure out how to fix this or I know how to fix it.' My favorite part of coaching is helping young dudes grow in football or in life. Just helping them grow and helping this team grow. So, I'm more encouraged than frustrated.''
–#GoBulls–
