USF

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.

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.

The change affects staff still working remotely and follows similar decisions by other Florida universities to bring employees back to campus.

The vote came two days after senators angrily objected to the House amendment that killed the funding for a Sen. Darryl E. Rouson Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research.

Professors, alumni and local leaders are among those scheduled to speak at another event on Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside in Bradenton.

Calling it "a bad deal which makes no sense," signatories include campus board members as well as donors and former leaders of the school.

John Horne talked about the value of training college students in hospitality and management as well as having those students get jobs locally after graduation.

An emergency meeting of faculty and administrators was held Thursday, but it did not assuage fears among some USF professors.

The U.S. Department of Education said USF is among the schools that allegedly awarded "impermissible race-based scholarships," while others are accused of racial discrimination.

Instead, it wants to utilize the course as space for a new construction project instead of replacing old dorms.

The Bulls, who finished the regular season at 6-6, will spend part of the holidays 4,200 miles away in Honolulu for the Dec. 24 matchup. ESPN will televise the game, the only bowl played on Christmas Eve.

Following Saturday's loss, the Bulls (6-6) now wait to see which bowl game they're invited to and who their opponent will be.