The USF football program has announced several interesting changes to their future schedules. One of the big criticisms for USF this past season was that their 10 win season proved little due to the quality of their opponents. Taken a step further, nearby UCF was arguably denied a chance to play for the so-called playoff because of their strength of schedule. It seems the administration at USF has taken this issue to heart as they have upgraded the quality of opponents substantially.
Last week, the university announced the addition of a three game series with former Conference USA, Big East, and American Conference rival, Louisville. The agreement sends the Bulls to Louisville on 9/24/22 and 9/19/26 with the Cardinals visiting Tampa on 9/21/24. The Louisville addition is a natural fit given the history between the two institutions throughout several conferences. However, the deal illustrates the challenges that a program that has been downgraded from automatic-bid conference to the so-called Group of Five has in scheduling quality opponents. In the days of the Big East, USF would expect to secure a home-and-home deal with a program like Louisville. Because of the money and power consolidation of the post-BCS alignment, the Bulls are forced to do a two-for-one to improve their schedule. Louisville leads the all-time series, 6-5.
USF was able to secure a home-and-home deal with BYU and just announced a home-and-home series with NC State. BYU will visit the Bulls on 10/12/19 and USF will head to Utah on 9/24/21. The two programs have never met on the football field, before. The Bulls head to NC State on 9/2/24 with the Wolfpack coming to Tampa on 9/14/24. NC State holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series with USF.
The newly released schedule ensures the Bulls will play at least one high quality opponent for each of the next five years and seven of the next nine years. In 2023, which features Western Kentucky and San Jose State, shows room for improvement and 2024 looks very solid, with games against Texas, North Carolina State, and Louisville.
| 2018 Schedule | ||
| Sept. 1 | ELON | TAMPA |
| Sept. 8 | GEORGIA TECH | TAMPA |
| Sept. 15 | at Illinois (Soldier Field, Chicago) | Chicago, Ill. |
| Oct. 6 | at UMass | Amherst, Mass. |
| AMERICAN CONF. HOME | UCF, UConn, ECU, Tulane | TAMPA |
| AMERICAN CONF. AWAY | Cincinnati, Houston, Temple, Tulsa | |
| AMERICAN CONF. NO PLAY | Memphis, Navy, SMU | |
| 2019 Schedule | ||
| Aug. 31 | WISCONSIN | TAMPA |
| Sept. 7 | at Georgia Tech | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Sept. 14 | at Central Michigan | Mount Pleasant, Mich. |
| Oct. 12 | BYU | TAMPA |
| 2020 Schedule | ||
| Sept. 5 | at Texas | Austin, Texas |
| TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 19 | NEVADA | TAMPA |
| Sept. 26 | at FAU | Boca Raton, Fla. |
| 2021 Schedule | ||
| Sept. 11 | CENTRAL MICHIGAN | TAMPA |
| Sept. 24 | at BYU | Provo, Utah |
| Sept. 2 | at North Carolina State | Raleigh, N.C. |
| 2022 Schedule | ||
| Sept. 3 | TEXAS | TAMPA |
| Sept. 17 | FAU | TAMPA |
| Sept. 24 | at Louisville | Louisville, Ky. |
| Oct. 22 | UMASS | TAMPA |
| 2023 Schedule | ||
| Sept. 2 | at Western Kentucky | Bowling Green, Ky. |
| Sept. 9 | SAN JOSE STATE | TAMPA |
| 2024 Schedule | ||
| Aug. 31 | WESTERN KENTUCKY | TAMPA |
| Sept. 7 | at Texas | Austin, Texas |
| Sept. 14 | NORTH CAROLINA STATE | TAMPA |
| Sept. 21 | LOUISVILLE | TAMPA |
| 2025 Schedule | ||
| Aug. 30 | at Northern Illinois | DeKalb, Ill. |
| 2026 Schedule | ||
| Sept. 19 | at Louisville | Louisville, Ky. |