South Florida (3-1; 0-0 American) vs Charlotte (1-3; 0-1 American)
Friday, October 3 • 7 PM • Raymond James Stadium (65,000) • Tampa, Fla.
SURFACE: Natural, Bermuda Turf Grass
TV: ESPN2: Courtney Lyle  (P-by-P), Rene Ingoglia (Analyst) & Marilyn Payne (Sideline)
RADIO: Q105 FM/Bulls Unlimited Digital Radio
SERIES: USF leads 2-0
IN TAMPA: USF leads 1-0
IN CHARLOTTE: USF leads 1-0
LAST TIME: USF 59, CLT 24, in Charlotte, 11/16/2025
VS AMERICAN: 38-58, won 4 of last 6
AMERICAN OPENERS: 6-6, lost last at Tulane (45-10)
WEEKNIGHT GAMES: 23-34, won last vs. Boise State
FRIDAY GAMES: 12-19, W last at FAU (44-21) in 2024.
SOUTH FLORIDA GAME NOTES

After a successful four-game run, then a productive off-week, the USF Bulls (3-1) are preparing for their "second season'' Friday night when the Charlotte 49ers (1-3, 0-1) visit Raymond James Stadium for USF's American Conference opener.

The Bulls, who defeated nationally ranked Boise State and Florida, are coming off a resounding 63-14, feel-good victory against South Carolina State. But now begins the full sprint toward an American title and the competition looks especially fierce.

"Our conference has done a great job investing in its programs, hiring some really good coaches and raising the overall level of football in the league,'' head coach Alex Golesh said. "The message was that mediocrity would not be tolerated and all of the programs have really stepped up. You want your league to be considered as one of the best in the country."

The American, which went 6-2 in bowl games last year, has gone 30-16 (.652) in non-conference action, has 10 teams at .500 or better through Week 5, and has wins over the SEC (2), ACC, Big 12 (2) and Big Ten.

"I obviously see the scores every week, so you're excited about some of the things this league has done," Golesh said. "I haven't watched everybody. There's not enough time and I'm so locked in on us. I think there's some veteran quarterbacks in this league that have done a really good job. And there are some really good coaches in this league. I mean, we're playing one of them.''

Charlotte coach Tim Albin was affiliated with Ohio University, mostly as the offensive coordinator, for 20 seasons while serving as head coach from 2021-24. Golesh was a graduate assistant at Northern Illinois (2006-07) in the Mid-American Conference when he first met Albin, who is seeking to rebuild a 49ers' program that has hit some hard times.

The Bulls are 2-0 against the 49ers in American play with an average victory margin of 34.5 points. Last season, USF prevailed 59-24 on the road while rushing for a program-record 425 yards.

"Charlotte has a lot of guys who are new to the program and a brand-new staff,'' Golesh said. "Coach Albin built a great culture at Ohio. When you watch the (Charlotte) film, you see a bunch of guys playing really, really hard on both sides of the ball that are trying to truly find an identity.

"There are so many new faces from what we saw the last two years. But you can see there's a culture being built of toughness and grit. They don't shoot themselves in the foot in all three phases. Defensively, they have a sound system that's going to make you earn everything you get.''

Golesh said he and the USF players are especially excited about playing under the lights on Friday, when an ESPN2 telecast will bring Bulls football to the nation — and especially to the peer players and coaches around the country who are settling into their hotel rooms while preparing for Saturday games. 

"Not that it changes what you do or how you do it, but certainly our guys are aware that a lot of people are watching,'' Golesh said. "I think Ray-Jay Friday night under the lights will be incredible. We have the opportunity to show our identity to the whole country. I don't know if you need extra motivation, but that certainly doesn't hurt.''

The nation will see a USF defense that has forced seven turnovers in four games after finishing in the top 15 for that category in both of Golesh's seasons. Meanwhile, quarterback Byrum Brown, who turned 21 on Monday, is off to an impressive start by completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 983 yards and six touchdowns. Wide receiver Chas Nimrod, a Tennessee transfer, has been the big-play man with a 26.2-yard average and he's seeking to tie the program record with his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game. 

"Every time we step out on the football field, it's an opportunity to show who we are individually and as a team,'' Golesh said. "You have to continually hammer it home. There are certain parts of our game where I would tell you, 'That doesn't look the way it should.' But from a standpoint of physicality, intensity and mental and physical toughness, we're way closer than we've ever been.

"The identity (USF wants) is everybody in the country to talk about our program and say, 'Man, those dudes, they were mentally and physically tough, they're detailed and they are so elite in the situational football part of the game. I'm proud of the complimentary football that we continue to play and the resiliency that we have shown. I think we're closer (to the ideal standard) than we've ever been.''

Last season, the Bulls began 0-2 in American play with losses against Tulane and Memphis (in a game moved to Orlando by a hurricane). Linebacker Jhalyn Shuler said the Bulls are intent on a better conference beginning.

"The first game just sets the tone for the rest of the games,'' Shuler said. "You get a good win and handle your business, that puts you in a good (mindset) and lets you roll on to the next one.''

–#GoBulls–