Bulls ranked for the first time since 2018 following back-to-back wins over ranked foes

TAMPA, FLA., Sept. 7, 2025 – For the first time since 2018, South Florida football is ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. The Bulls checked in at No. 18 following a historic start to the season that has seen South Florida knock off ranked opponents in back-to-back games for the first time in program history and become just the fourth team since the start of the AP Poll in 1936 to win its first two games of a season against ranked opponents while being unranked itself.

South Florida also checked in at No. 23 in the Coaches Poll.

The Bulls opened the season with a dominant 34-7 victory over No. 25 Boise State in Raymond James Stadium before securing an 18-16 upset of No. 13 Florida in The Swamp on Saturday night. The victory over Florida marked the first in program history against the Gators and stands as the second-highest ranked opponent the Bulls have defeated in a road game behind only a 2006 triumph at No. 7 West Virginia

With the victories, South Florida has now defeated 13 ranked opponents in its history, including beating two ranked foes in the same season for just the third time in program history and the first time since 2009.

The climb back into the national rankings continues a tradition of success for USF and marks the Bulls' 49^th week in the poll. USF was last ranked in Week 9 of the 2018 season, checking in at No. 20. The No. 18 ranking marks USF's highest ever entry into the AP Poll. The program's highest-ever ranking was No. 2, achieved on Oct. 15, 2007.

Saturday, South Florida also etched its name into history by becoming the first program in the state of Florida to win on the home field of all six other FBS programs in the state. The Bulls are also now just the ninth program in college football history to earn road wins at Florida, Florida State and Miami.

Up Next:
USF will continue the nation's toughest non-conference schedule when the Bulls head south next Saturday to take on No. 5-ranked Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. on The CW Network.
 
Tickets:
Season tickets for the 2025 USF football season tickets are on sale and may be purchased by calling 1-800-GoBulls or visiting this LINK.
 
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.