Looking to continue upward climb, USF takes on Syracuse

TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida’s steps towards a return to college football relevancy takes another step Thursday night as the program returns to the postseason.

After winning just four games in total between the 2020 and 2022 seasons, first-year coach Alex Golesh has guided the Bulls to a 6-6 mark this year and an appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl.

USF will face off against Syracuse (also 6-6) Thursday at 8 p.m. from Boca Raton. The Orange comes in as a slight favorite, according to odds.

Winning the Boca Bowl and finishing 7-6 will be a positive season end for Golesh and the Bulls. But there are much bigger things on the mind of the USF program.

“It’s been five years since we played a bowl game, which is crazy in a lot of ways,” Golesh said. “To get here in Year 1 and continue to lay a foundation for what we’re building in Tampa is absolutely huge for us.”

That building includes a 2024 recruiting class announced Wednesday that ranked #1 in the American Athletic Conference and #49 nationally.

And South Florida brass recently unveiled the first renderings of what will be its long-sought on-campus stadium with groundbreaking scheduled next year and a first game target of 2027.

As for tonight’s game, expect points.

The Bulls topped 40 points three times and scored more than 30 points in six games.

Quarterback Byrum Brown passed for more than 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. He added another 700-plus yards rushing and 11 more scores on the ground.

Running back Nay’Quan Wright led USF with 757 yards rushing and seven scores while former walk-on Sean Atkins has developed into a big-time receiving threat.

With 86 catches and 961 yards this season, Atkins has set USF single-season receiving records for catches and yards. Now, the 5-foot-9 receiving dynamo is set to become USF’s first single-season 1,000-yard receiver (with 39 yards tonight).

But the Bulls’ defense (or lack of) is another story.

When USF plays any defense, the Bulls have been tough to beat. They were 6-1 this season when holding opponents to 30 points or less; the one loss there was a 17-3 defeat to Southeastern Conference champion and College Football Playoff qualifier Alabama.

When the Bulls allowed more than 30 points, they were 0-5.

Syracuse had a magic number as well this season, geared toward the offensive side. When the Orange scored 22 or fewer points, they were 0-6. Score more than 22, they were 6-0.

USF has gone 8-2 against Syracuse all-time as this game is a reunion of past Big East rivals.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.