It’s showtime for No. 19 USF, No. 13 Kansas

FRIDAY’S GAME
No. 13 Kansas vs. No. 19 USF
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: Raymond James
TV/Radio: ESPN2

At this time last season, a South Florida/Kansas football game didn’t seem like one that would gain much interest on a national level.

That, however, was before each team rose as high as No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings and had the best season of its respective program history.

On Friday, the No. 19 Bulls will host the No. 13 Jayhawks on ESPN2. The game will be pivotal for two teams with conference  — and potentially national — championship dreams on their minds.

“This game is going to be very important,” USF senior tight end Cedric Hill said. “We’re going to be focused and ready for whatever they throw at us.”

According to gousfbulls.com, more than 52,000 tickets have been sold for the game, one of the largest crowds in USF history. Several players said they are excited to see the stands at kickoff.

“I love that big-game environment,” Hill said. “It’s great to have a big crowd behind you, especially ours here at home.”

Junior quarterback Matt Grothe agreed.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “I like that environment, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Regardless of the crowd, the Bulls will be hosting a team that won its first BCS bowl game last season — a 24-21 win against Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

“They are a very good football team, and they do a lot of things well,” USF coach Jim Leavitt said. “They do similar things that we do on both sides of the ball.”

A key matchup Friday will be the one between the two quarterbacks: Grothe and junior Todd Reesing of Kansas.

“They feature an outstanding quarterback who throws the ball very well, yet also runs the ball very well in a designed-run game,” Kansas coach Mark Mangino said in a news release. “It will be a good challenge for us.”

USF coaches said a lot of positive things about Reesing.

“Their quarterback is outstanding,” Leavitt said. “I don’t see any weaknesses in his game. He can run. He can throw. He’s good.”

USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said Reesing brings a lot of skills to the field.

“He’s probably the most accurate passer we’ve played against since I’ve been here,” he said. “He doesn’t necessarily throw the deep ball all that often, but he can beat you with the short and intermediate routes. He has a quick release and is very accurate. It’s scary.”

The Bulls will have to try to contain a Jayhawks offense that is scoring an average of 35 points per game.

USF offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said the best way to stop Reesing is to keep him off the field.

“We need to keep their offense off the field and play some ball control football,” he said. “Next, we have to have some sustained drives. They have a high-powered offense and we need to keep their offense off the field. Then, the other big thing is to finish off scoring drives. One way or the other we have to make plays and put the ball in the end zone.”