Alex Golesh

Coach Alex Golesh says the planned 150,000-square-foot facility, part of the $407 million on-campus stadium project, will be the “nicest football complex in the entire country.”

About 1,500 students and fans — many with handmade signs — showed up to cheer on the Bulls during ESPN's visit to the Tampa campus ahead of the nationally televised victory over UTSA.

Bulls students and fans are invited to watch and participate in the telecasts outside the Marshall Student Center prior to the nationally televised football against UTSA.

South Florida (6-1, 3-0) is the only Group of Five team in the poll. Tough conference games remain, but the Bulls essentially can earn an automatic bid in the College Football Playoff by winning out.

No. 24 South Florida came back to tie the game at 21 with 2 seconds before halftime, then scored three quick TDs after the break, two off turnovers by the previously undefeated Mean Green.

The Bulls will soon find out if the blowout loss drops them out of the rankings after the bigger and more talented Hurricanes overwhelmed them from the start.

Abdur-Rahim's words, "This ain't the same ol' South Florida, my brother," have become a rallying cry for the Bulls, who are ranked No. 18 going into Saturday's matchup against No. 5 Miami.

With the 2-0 start against ranked teams, the Bulls are emerging as the class of the Group of Five conferences, with spots in the AP and coaches polls. Coach Alex Golesh will point out the season is very young.

Nico Gramatica hit a 20-yard field goal as time expired Saturday to lift the Bulls to an 18-16 upset over the No, 13 Gators, USF's second straight win over a ranked opponent.

The Bulls get an early chance to show an ESPN audience their fastbreak offense and quarterback Byrum Brown, back from an injury, on Thursday from Raymond James Stadium.

USF students, staff and alumni attended alongside elected officials to hear about the new facility and witness the symbolic “turning of soil” signaling the start of construction.

The Bulls' 7-6 record put them over .500 in Alex Golesh's first year as coach − one of the best turnarounds in the nation. The shutout against the undermanned Orange was USF's first since 2009.