South Florida (2-1; 0-0 American) vs South Carolina State (2-1; 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, September 20 • Noon • Raymond James Stadium (65,000) • Tampa, Fla.
SURFACE: Natural, Bermuda Turf Grass
TV: ESPN+: Chucki Kempf  (P-by-P), Darius Walker (Analyst) & Maria Trivelpiece (Reporter)
RADIO: Q105 FM
SERIES: USF leads 1-0
IN TAMPA: USF leads 1-0
IN ORANGEBURG: N/A
LAST TIME: USF 55, SCSU 16, in Tampa, 9/14/2019
VS MEAC: 7-0, last two wins vs. Florida A&M (2021) & vs. Howard (2022)
VS FCS: 28-1 (since joining FBS in 2001)
VS RANKED: 13-40
LAST VS. RANKED: W, 18-16 at #13 Florida, 9/6/25
USF GAME NOTES

After challenging some of the nation's most formidable college football teams through the season's first three weeks — a gauntlet of No. 25 Boise State, No. 13 Florida and No. 5 Miami — the USF Bulls (2-1) will take on the South Carolina State Bulldogs (2-1) from the Football Championship Subdivision on Saturday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium.

Has USF's approach changed?

Not a bit.

"We've got to turn the page over to South Carolina State and there's no time to take a break,'' said head coach Alex Golesh, whose Bulls were defeated 49-12 at Miami last weekend. "Before the year, everybody kept talking about our first three games, but this fourth game right here … this is a really good football team. They won their league last year (9-3 and champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). There's nothing our guys need to do other than watch the film to wake up really, really quickly.

"It's a really well-coached team. I know it's everybody's job to stand up here and tell you how good of a team you're playing, but I'm telling you it's a really sound, well-coached, athletic football team that is going to win a ton of games. It's a big challenge to regroup and bounce back. We've got to be locked-in with a focused player-led group that demands our standard be kept at a high, high level.''

According to the USF players, that won't be a problem.

"We wanted to win that game (against Miami) and we expected to win that game,'' defensive back Jarvis Lee, who had an interception in the game, said. "You've got to turn the page. We can't dwell on something that is already in the past. We won't take any team lightly, so we'll be ready to play.''

"We want to get that taste (of losing) out of our mouth,'' tight end Wyatt Sullivan said. "We're taking every day one step at a time and just hoping that leads to a win — and a big win at that. But they (South Carolina State) have some good players over there. They gave South Carolina a good first half. You can't underestimate any team, so we're taking them very seriously.''

Golesh said he believes that his team is mature enough to prepare for each game the same way, regardless of the opponent.

He said that approach is why good teams stay good — and why bad teams stay bad.

"I think it's really important to point out why you won (against Boise State and Florida) and it's also really important to point out why you lost (against Miami),'' Golesh said. "We're at a point in our program where you can just be real and be honest. These guys can handle it because there's a bunch of guys who have played a ton of football. They expect us coaches to tell them what the heck it is, then they'll do whatever we tell them to do.

"I don't think you coach any different (against South Carolina State). If you're process-driven, you go right back to your process. And there shouldn't be ups and downs in how you coach. It has to be consistent, and the standard has got to be the standard in everything you do.''

Golesh said that's one way he can gauge the progress of USF's program. Two years ago, the Bulls were not a mature team and found themselves living a roller-coaster existence.

"When we went out to practice (Tuesday), I wanted it to be all about fundamental sand technique and I wanted our coaches to coach fundamentals and technique,'' Golesh said. "That's what I was guarded against, like I'm here ready to rock if there was a going to be a dip or drop-off. But I thought the practice was really, really intentional.

"Just revert back to fundamentals, technique and detail, coach that at a higher level than it has ever been coached, because that's what you saw go away on Saturday (at Miami). Elite teams handle their business every week. There may be a loss in there, but it's consistent in terms of the level of play, the intent, the effort, the technique and the fundamentals. They're exactly the same every week. You've got to point to that, and that's what we're building to.''

In the process, Golesh said he has realized that this version of USF football could be the "most-connected and closest'' team that he has coached. It includes 33 seniors and many productive veterans, such as quarterback Byrum Brown, plus linebackers Mac Harris and Jhalyn Shuler, the obvious week-to-week headliners. But Golesh is encouraged by an emerging corps of youngsters and newcomers, such as cornerback James Chenault, safety Fred Gaskin, linebacker Zavier Hamilton, running back Alvon Isaac and freshman wide receiver Christian Neptune.

"There's a bunch of young guys who are stepping up,'' Golesh said. "There's a bunch of young guys who are playing on special teams. And that has been the pattern, guys playing well on special teams, then getting into the rotation on offense or defense, then getting a more defined role.

"There are two classes of young guys who are now starting to get ready. And you hope, as the season goes, that their roles continue to grow and increase. Then you'll have a chance to continue to build. That's how you build from within with young guys getting older. Then you keep recruiting and keep growing. That's how you build a program.''

–#GoBulls–