It's a busy fall for USF's athletic department — including a highly anticipated football season, a potential volleyball championship contender, highly competitive teams for men's and women's soccer, the debut of a new men's basketball coach and perhaps the most dazzling non-conference schedule ever assembled for women's basketball.

So, here's our look at 12 things — USF's Dandy Dozen — that are can't-miss events for Bulls fans right up until we turn the calendar to 2026:

 

Back In Black

USF football begins in a big way by welcoming the Boise State Broncos to Raymond James Stadium for the high-quality season-opener on Thursday, Aug. 28 with a special kickoff time of 5:30 p.m., for the ESPN telecast.

Coach Alex Golesh's Bulls are coming off back-to-back 7-6 seasons that included bowl victories, including last season's riveting five-overtime triumph against San Jose State at the Hawaii Bowl. Meanwhile, Boise State was a 12-2 College Football Playoff participant last season. The Broncos have 15 returning starters, including quarterback Maddux Madsen.

For USF, it's a "Back in Black'' theme with the Bulls wearing black-on-black uniforms.

Gators, Seminoles: Volleyball Visitors

Coach Jolene Shepardson's volleyball team, the defending American Conference regular-season champion that finished 19-10, will entertain the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles within a four-day span at the Corral. The Bulls are led by Maria Clara Andrade, last season's American Conference Player of the Year.

The Bulls face the Gators on Tuesday, Sept. 4, then tangle with the Seminoles on Friday, Sept. 5 in the opener of the weekend South Florida Invitational (which also includes the South Carolina Gamecocks).

Last season, the Bulls defeated No. 10-ranked Florida for the first time since 1990 in a five-set upset at Gainesville. It was the program's first victory against a ranked opponent since 1997. Last season, the Seminoles were 21-10 and reached the NCAA Tournament.

 

War On I-4: Men's Soccer-Style

It's always a big deal when USF gets together with the UCF Knights to renew the "War On I-4'' rivalry. Coach Bob Butehorn's men's soccer team, which was 6-6-4 last season, faces the Knights on Thursday, Sept. 4 at Corbett Stadium.

The Knights, playing out of the Sun Belt Conference in men's soccer, were 7-6-3 last season. USF leads the all-time series 27-9-4.

Bulls, Pirates Tangle In Women's Soccer

USF's women's soccer program begins its second season under Chris Brown, hoping to build on last year's 12-2-5 mark. The end was bitter: An American Conference Tournament semifinal heartbreaking loss against the East Carolina Pirates, who prevailed on penalty kicks.

The Bulls get a rematch with the Pirates on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at Corbett Stadium. USF has won 13 of its last 15 meetings against ECU, but the American Conference Tournament semifinal result still stings.

 
 

Party Like It's 1997

It's a throwback evening for USF football on Friday, Oct. 3 when the Charlotte 49ers visit the Bulls for the American Conference opener.

Remember the first season in 1997? The 80-3 victory against Kentucky Wesleyan? College football's return to Tampa Stadium? How new and fresh it all felt? Well, this is your night to rekindle those memories.

Homage will be paid to that 1997 team, including retro branding, music and activations. Fittingly, the five new members of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame will be introduced, including inaugural football head coach Jim Leavitt and linebacker Kawika Mitchell.

 

Happy Homecoming

USF football's homecoming game is Saturday, Oct. 18 against the Florida Atlantic Owls. In the infancy of USF-FAU matchups in the American Conference, it has been memorable. In 2023 at Tampa, the Owls prevailed 56-14 (with FAU coach Tom Herman calling for a late onside kick). In 2024 at Boca Raton, the Bulls got revenge with a 44-21 come-from-behind victory in the Handshake Game.

 

Hodgson's Debut

It's the debut of men's basketball coach Bryan Hodgson on Monday, Nov. 3 when the Bulls face the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Yuengling Center. Hodgson, who led Arkansas State to the best record in its program history (25-11) last season, has revamped the roster with a series of transfers and recruits, while retaining last season's electrifying freshman, CJ Brown.

USF men's basketball has won eight consecutive home regular-season openers and has an overall 9-4 mark against the Rattlers (last defeat against FAMU was in 1980, the first game ever played at the Sun Dome).

Conference Volleyball In Tampa

USF will host the American Conference Volleyball Tournament on Nov. 21-23 at the Corral. The American tournament, which was restored last season after a multiple-year hiatus, carries an automatic NCAA Tournament bid for the champion. The Bulls were last season's American regular-season champions, but were beaten in the tournament semifinals.

 

Football Finale

There will be all sorts of sidelights on Saturday, Nov. 29 when the Rice Owls visit the Bulls in the regular-season finale at Ray-Jay. It's Fan Appreciation Day (a popular event that features prizes galore for the spectators) and Senior Day (always a cavalcade of emotions for the outgoing Bulls and their families).

And who knows? If things break right, the Bulls could be playing for a spot in the American Championship Game (which could mean yet another Ray-Jay home game on the following weekend if the Bulls hold the league's top spot).

 

Geno's Huskies Vs. Jose's Bulls

Coach Geno Auriemma's defending national champion UConn Huskies will visit the Yuengling Center on Wednesday, Dec. 3 in a return game from last season (won by UConn 89-46 in Storrs, Conn.).

Coach Jose Fernandez's Bulls were 23-11 last season while winning the American Conference Tournament and capturing an NCAA Tournament bid. UConn and USF were regular rivals in the Big East Conference and during UConn's tenure in the American. Fernandez and Auriemma are longtime friends and respectful rivals. USF is looking for its first win against UConn, the most powerful brand in women's basketball. Could this be the year?

 

Non-Conference Showcase

One of top non-conference games for USF men's basketball occurs on Thursday, Dec. 4 when the Utah State Aggies visit the Yuengling Center. It's the return game from last season's trip to Logan, Utah, where the Aggies prevailed 88-67. The Aggies (26-8), playing out of the Mountain West Conference, have five NCAA Tournament appearances in the last seven seasons. The Aggies feature a top returner in Mason Falslev, a 6-foot-4 guard who had 27 points, nine rebounds and nine assists against USF last season.

 

Gamecocks Head To Tampa

When Coach Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks visit Coach Jose Fernandez's USF Bulls on Thursday, Dec. 18, it will complete a remarkable triumvirate of elite scheduling prowess for USF's program.

With UCLA, UConn and South Carolina on USF's schedule, the Bulls will face three of the teams that earned spots in last season's NCAA Women's Final Four at Tampa's Amalie Arena. Staley's Gamecocks are three-time national champions (2017, 2022, 2024), while finishing runner-up to UConn last season in Tampa.

–#GoBulls–