CFP

The final bids are still a month away, but the No. 24-ranked Bulls attained a major milestone in the program's history. But they'll have to win out to keep the 12th seed in the postseason bracket.

USF was up 14-3 before its offense stepped on the field. Then QB Byrum Brown accounted for 348 total yards and three touchdowns as the Bulls kept their chances alive for a CFP bid.

The Bulls dropped to 6-2 with the loss, in which they gave up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.

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.

Of course, the first real CFP rankings aren't out for a few weeks, but an AP "mock" bracket gives the Bulls the automatic bid for a non-power conference team.

Before coming to work at the University of South Florida, Dr. Laura Mattia was a personal financial planner, with her own firm in New York State."What I…