USF football has never faced three ranked teams in one season.

2025 might be the year that breaks that streak.

USF football released the schedule for its upcoming season in February after two consecutive bowl victories under coach Alex Golesh. 

The Bulls could be facing their most difficult non-conference schedule in history, but injury questions and a lighter conference schedule could define Golesh’s third season at the helm. 

Here’s some thoughts on Bulls football’s upcoming slate. 

  Hurricanes, Gators and Broncos, oh my

The Bulls non-conference opponents are brutal. 

USF hasn’t won against a ranked school since 2016. Preseason polls have yet to be released, but USF’s first three opponents – Boise State, Florida and Miami are all predicted to be included in the Top 25. 

Florida went 6-1 last season when freshman phenomenon DJ Lagway started – and he’s supposed to be one of the Southeastern Conference’s top single-callers in 2025. 

Miami beat USF 50-15 in Tampa last season. It was the second ranked team USF faced last season along with Alabama. 

The Hurricanes did lose Heisman finalist Cam Ward to the NFL draft, but added Georgia transfer Carson Beck, who threw 58 touchdowns in two years as a starter. 

Related: USF football’s 2025 schedule features familiar foes, ranked powerhouses

A silver lining is nobody knows what an Ashton Jeanty-less Boise State squad looks like after he carried the Broncos to a College Football Playoff appearance and Mountain West championship.  

Jeanty put together arguably the most dominant season by a running back this century, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. He’s expected to be a top 10 NFL draft pick come April. 

Past injuries can decide games and surprise Bulls upset

Quarterback Byrum Brown’s recovery is still in question as South Florida hasn’t seen him play since his injury in the Bulls loss to Tulane – other than two snaps in the Hawaii Bowl. 

The mix of what could be the most ranked matchups the Bulls have ever faced and familiar conference opponents will determine if they can rise beyond their recent 6-6 regular season record and mid-level bowl win.

The Bulls will likely drop early matchups against ranked opponents Boise State and Florida, but an upset at Miami is on the table.

The Hurricanes dominated USF last year, but with Georgia transfer Carson Beck coming off a season-ending UCL injury in the SEC championship, Miami’s offense has a question mark.

From weeks four to 10, Beck averaged two interceptions per game, causing fans on social media to write him off and NFL scouts to drop him from a first-round pick to a day-three pick.

An early ranked win can boost the Bulls confidence going into conference play.

USF’s in-conference schedule should be a walk in the park

Despite the allure of focusing on the Bulls’ tough non-conference schedule, step one for head coach Alex Golesh and the Bulls is dominating the AAC. 

Strength of schedule is important, no doubt – but the Bulls have gone 7-6 in their past two seasons playing similarly tough non-conference teams. 

The Bulls have also never won more than four of their eight conference games in Golesh’s tenure.

Next season, the Bulls will only play two teams that finished higher than them in the AAC: Navy and Memphis.

So the path to finally contending in the AAC should be simple in Golesh’s third year. 

If only things could be simple, of course.

The Bulls have gained a knack for dropping games against weak in-conference teams, such as their Nov. 30 loss to 3-8 Rice. 

If USF can turn that around, competing in its conference and beyond could be a reality for the green and gold. 

Look at Boise State’s 2024-25 campaign, in which they lost to the only ranked team they played, yet won the Mountain West championship and secured their spot in the College Football Playoff.