Some weren’t sure what South Florida was capable of going into head coach Alex Golesh’s first season leading the team. But the Bulls put together a promising campaign, one that indicates they could be an AAC Championship contender in the near future.
USF went 6-6 in the 2023 regular season and was 4-4 in conference play. But the Bulls were competitive against an Alabama team that made the College Football Playoff and nearly beat AAC powerhouse Memphis before losing 59-50.
USF ended the year with a 45-0 blowout victory over Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Now many of USF’s best players from that squad are back, leading some to believe the Bulls could make a run at a conference title.
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USF Football’s AAC Title Odds
USF’s odds to win the AAC are +675, via BetMGM. That’s fourth among all AAC teams behind only Memphis (+210), Tulane (+375), and UTSA (+475).
USF Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
USF’s win total Over/Under is 7.5, with Under 7.5 at -140 and Over 7.5 at +115.
USF Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/31 vs. Bethune-Cookman
9/7 @ Alabama
9/14 @ Southern Miss
9/21 vs. Miami
9/28 @ Tulane
10/11 vs. Memphis
10/19 vs. UAB
11/1 @ FAU
11/9 vs. Navy
11/16 @ Charlotte
11/23 vs. Tulsa
11/29 @ Rice
Bold indicates AAC contests
Key USF Football Returners
2023 All-AAC 2nd Team
WR Sean Atkins
Honorable Mention
DL Rashad Cheney
OL Zane Herring
LB Jhalyn Shuler
USF Football Looks To Be Strong On Offense Once Again
USF was fourth in the AAC both in terms of scoring offense (31.9 points per game) and total offense (451.6 yards per game) last season. And the Bulls might be even better on that side of the ball in 2024.
It all starts at the quarterback position. Byrum Brown threw for 3,292 yards and 26 touchdowns on a 64.6% completion rate – all metrics he was in the top five in the AAC for – to go with 11 interceptions while also leading the team with 809 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. As a sophomore this year, Brown is expected to make another step forward.
The returning talent doesn’t end there, though. After making the All-AAC second team in 2023, wide receiver Sean Atkins is back. He was in the top five in the conference with 92 receptions for 1,054 yards and seven touchdowns last year. He also returned 18 punts for 70 yards.
USF will also return running back Nay’Quan Wright, who was second on the team with 797 yards and eight touchdowns rushing in 2023. And all-conference honorable mention offensive lineman Zane Herring is back for a group that helped USF rank second in the AAC with 182.8 rushing yards per game. USF, however, is aiming to improve in pass protection as the team allowed the most sacks (43) in the league.
USF is also aiming to improve defensively. The Bulls allowed the 10th-most yards (432.6) and points (32.2) per game in the AAC a year ago. But they do have some stars on that side of the ball.
Linebacker Jhalyn Shuler made the all-conference honorable mention list after leading the team with 97 tackles to go with 8.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and two sacks. Defensive lineman Rashad Cheney returns as well having led the team with 8.5 TFLs and recorded 42 tackles in 2023. Safety Logan Berryhill is also back after tallying a team-high three interceptions last season.
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2024 USF Football Season Prediction
I predict USF will go Over 7.5 wins but won’t win the AAC Championship.
Among teams that aren’t Memphis, USF might be my favorite pick to win the AAC. I think Brown is going to be fantastic this season, and I think there’s talent on both sides of the ball for this team.
That’s why I believe nine wins or more is a reasonable aspiration for USF. The only obvious losses I see for the Bulls are at Alabama and at home against Miami – although I don’t count out USF in that second game either.
Matchups with Memphis at home and at Tulane won’t be easy, but I could see USF splitting those contests. I could also see a letdown game for USF happening at some point, maybe on the road against Charlotte or Rice.
But beyond that, I think USF will be favored against Bethune-Cookman, Southern Miss, UAB, FAU, Navy, and Tulsa. That would be six wins right there.
I could see USF going 7-1 in AAC play and making an appearance in the conference championship game in 2024.
