Golesh named to Paul Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List;
Harris named to The Sporting News Midseason All-America Team

TAMPA, FLA., OCT. 15, 2025 – The No. 19-ranked South Florida football program enters the weekend at 5-1 (2-0 American) and saw its early season success recognized with head coach Alex Golesh and graduate linebacker Mac Harris named to midseason award lists.

Golesh, who became the first Bulls coach to lead the program to bowl victories in their first two seasons, was named to the Paul Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List. Golesh led the Bulls to upset victories over No. 25 Boise State and at No. 13 Florida to start the season and back into the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in seven seasons. USF is ranked No. 1 in the nation in turnovers gained (16), No. 12 in scoring offense (40.7 ppg) and No. 18 in total offense (468.3 ypg) as the Bulls look to secure just the fourth 3-0 conference start in program history and bowl eligibility for the third straight season on Saturday.

Harris, who led the Bulls in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks last year, has continued his strong play in 2025 and was named to The Sporting News Midseason All-America Team. He was one of three non-Power 4 conference players named to the first team. Harris ranks second in the nation with three forced fumbles on the year and returned an interception 93 yards for a touchdown. He stands second on the team with 46 tackles and leads the team with four sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries.  

UP NEXT
USF returns to Raymond James Stadium for a Homecoming clash vs. FAU on Saturday. That game is set for a 7:30 p.m. kick on ESPNU.  
 
Tickets:
Single-game tickets for the 2025 USF football season can be purchased by calling 1-800-GoBulls or visiting this LINK.
 
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ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 28th season in 2024 with its second-straight bowl victory in the Hawai'i Bowl. Head coach Alex Golesh posted a program-best six-game turnaround and a Boca Raton Bowl victory in his first season in 2023. USF completed construction on a new $22 million Indoor Performance Facility in 2023 and a $340-million on-campus stadium and football operations center broke ground in the fall of 2024 and is slated for completion by 2027. The Bulls have posted 17 winning seasons, earned 16 All-America selections (including two consensus selections, the last coming in 2021), as well as 33 first-team all-conference honorees. USF has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft and the Bulls have made 12 bowl game appearances (going 8-4), posting a program-record six straight appearances from 2005-2010 and making four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18. USF posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016, while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 campaigns and reached as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press rankings during the 2007 season.