USF to open conference play Oct. 1 vs. ECU in Tampa;
Six home dates include rematch with BYU, SMU and War on I-4 clash;
Homecoming set for Oct. 15 vs. Tulane
TAMPA, FEB. 17, 2022 – A USF Football team that ranks among the top 10 nationally in returning production as it enters its third season under head coach Jeff Scott received its 2022 marching orders Thursday as the American Athletic Conference announced the football schedules for all conference members.
The Bulls’ 2022 schedule will feature as many as two Friday, primetime contests – with the date of the War on I-4 clash with UCF still to be finalized. Five of the Bulls’ six home games have been set for a Saturday kickoff, with the possibility of the traditional War on I-4 Friday kick moving to a Saturday in Raymond James Stadium as well. The final date of the 14th meeting between USF and UCF (either Fri., Nov. 25 or Sat., Nov. 26) will be announced in early October.
USF Homecoming has been set for Sat., Oct. 15 vs. Tulane. The Green Wave won in their last trip to Raymond James Stadium, 41-15, in 2018 and posted a 45-14 victory in New Orleans last year to lead the series, 2-1.
The annual Salute to Service game has been slated for Sat., Nov. 12 vs. SMU. The series with SMU is tied, 3-3, with the Mustangs winning, 41-17, in Dallas last year. SMU went 8-4 (4-4 AAC) last season and will be in its first year under head coach Rhett Lashlee.
Kick times and specific television designations for all games will be announced at a later date.
Three of the Bulls’ 2022 opponents finished in the top 20 of the final 2021 AP Poll, nine earned a bowl bid and four posted nine or more wins in 2021. USF will play six home games – two each in September, October and November – and six road games, including trips to Florida (SEC), Louisville (ACC), Cincinnati (2021 AAC Champion) and Houston (2021 AAC Championship Game).
The Bulls open the 2022 season in Raymond James Stadium on Sat., Sept. 3 vs. BYU. The teams split the first two meetings in the series with USF winning, 27-23, in Tampa in 2019 and BYU claiming a 35-27 victory in Provo, Utah last year.
On the following Saturday (Sept. 10), USF will welcome the return of two standout Bulls as Howard University head coach Larry Scott (an offensive tackle on the Bulls’ first three teams, 1997-99) and wide receivers coach Lindsey Lamar (WR/KR, 2009-12, 2010 Big East Special Teams Player of the Year) lead the Bison into Raymond James Stadium.
USF will play a two-game road swing to close the non-conference season, starting on Sat., Sept. 17 at Florida. The Gators claimed a 42-20 victory in Tampa last year. The 2022 game will mark USF’s second trip to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, after falling 38-14 in 2010.
The road swing continues with USF’s first visit to Louisville since 2012 (a 27-25 loss). The Bulls will take on the Cardinals on Sat., Sept. 24 in Cardinals Stadium. Louisville leads the series between the former Big East and AAC rivals, 6-5.
The Bulls will open American Athletic Conference play inRaymond James Stadium when they take on ECU on Sat., Oct. 1. The Pirates went 7-5 (5-3 AAC) last year and posted a 29-14 victory over USF in Greenville, N.C. The Bulls lead the series, 9-3, and are 10-8 in conference openers while going 4-2 in home AAC openers.
USF will head to two-time defending conference champion and 2021 College Football Playoff participant Cincinnati on Sat., Oct. 8. The Bearcats went 13-1 (8-0 AAC) last year, winning the AAC Championship game over Houston before falling to Alabama in the CFP semifinals. The Bearcats lead the series with USF, 12-7, and have won the last four meetings.
Following the Homecoming clash with Tulane (Oct. 15) in Raymond James Stadium, USF will get its one bye week of the season before embarking on a two-game road swing. The road trip begins at Houston on Sat., Oct. 29. The Cougars went 12-2 (8-0 AAC) last year and fell to Cincinnati in the AAC Championship game. The Cougars lead the series 6-2 and have won the last six meetings after claiming a 54-42 shootout last year. The Bulls’ last win came in 2002.
USF then travels to Philadelphia to take on Temple on Sat., Nov. 5. Temple leads the series 5-3, but the Bulls posted a 34-14 victory in Tampa last year.
USF will return to Raymond James Stadium for the Salute to Service game vs. SMU (Nov. 12) before their final road game on the season, a Friday night, primetime clash at Tulsa on Nov. 18. The Golden Hurricane downed the Bulls in a 32-31 thriller last year in Tampa to cut USF’s series lead to 3-2. Tulsa went 7-6 (5-3 AAC) last season.
As usual, the Bulls will close out the regular season by taking on UCF in the 14th playing of the War on I-4. The Knights have won the last five meetings, including close victories the last two years. UCF went 9-4 (5-3 AAC) last year and leads the War on I-4 series 7-6 after last season’s 17-13 victory in Orlando.
USF returns 10 starters on offense and nine on defense as well as its starting kicker and punter. According to ESPN’s Bill Connelly, USF ranks fifth nationally returning 88 percent of its production from 2021.
Under new offensive coordinator Travis Trickett, the Bulls’ offense returns its leading passer (Timmy McClain – 1,888 yards & 5 TD), top four rushers (led by Jaren Mangham – 671 yards & 15 TD), top three receivers (led by Xavier Weaver – 41 catches, 715 yards, 2 TD) and the entire starting offensive line.
The defense under new coordinator Bob Shoop returns its top six tacklers, led by all-conference linebacker Antonio Grier who led the team in tackles (92), tackles for loss (8), quarterback hurries (4) and tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (2) and interceptions (2). He is joined by veteran linebacker Dwayne Boyles, who was second on the team with 68 tackles, led the team with two fumble recoveries and tied the team lead with two interceptions.
USF special teams return 2021 Consensus All-American kick returner Brian Battie, who led the nation with three kickoff returns for touchdowns, as well as starting kicker Spencer Shrader (11-of-13 on field goals) and starting punter Andrew Stokes.
Season tickets for the 2022 season may be renewed at USFBullsTix.com or by calling/texting 1-800-GoBulls.
New season tickets go on sale on March 1.
2022 USF FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT (2021 Record (Conf)/Bowl/Final AP)
Sat., Sept. 3 BYU 10-3, Independence L, No. 19
Sat., Sept. 10 HOWARD 3-8 (1-4)
Sat., Sept. 17 at Florida 6-7 (2-6), Gasparilla, L, NR
Sat., Sept. 24 at Louisville 6-7 (4-4), First Responder, L, NR
Sat., Oct. 1 ECU* 7-5 (5-3), Military, Canceled, NR
Sat., Oct. 8 at Cincinnati* 13-1 (8-0), CFP Semi, L, No. 4
Sat., Oct. 15 Tulane* (Homecoming) 2-10 (1-7), NA/NR
BYE WEEK
Sat., Oct. 29 at Houston* 12-2 (8-0), Birmingham, No. 17
Sat., Nov. 5 at Temple * 3-9 (1-7), NA/NR
Sat., Nov. 12 SMU* 8-4 (4-4), Fenway, Canceled, NR
Fri., Nov.18 at Tulsa* 7-6 (5-3), Myrtle Beach, W, NR
Nov. 25 or 26 UCF* (War on I-4) 9-4 (5-3), Gasparilla, W, NR
* American Athletic Conference game
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and celebrated its 25th season (22nd at the FBS level) in 2021 while breaking ground on a $22 million Indoor Performance Facility. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 16 All-America selections, including 2021 consensus All-American Brian Battie, and 31 first-team all-conference selections. USF has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft and has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games), posting a program-record six straight appearances from 2005-2010 and most recently making four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18. The Bulls posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
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