2018 South Florida Bulls football team

Last updated

2018 South Florida Bulls football
South Florida Bulls wordmark.png
Gasparilla Bowl, L 20–38 vs. Marshall
Conference American Athletic Conference
Record7–6 (3–5 AAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Veer and shoot
Defensive coordinatorBrian Jean-Mary (2nd season)
Base defense 3–3–5
Home stadium Raymond James Stadium
Seasons
  2017
2019  
2018 American Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 11 UCF x$  8 0   12 1  
Temple  7 1   8 5  
No. 24 Cincinnati  6 2   11 2  
South Florida  3 5   7 6  
East Carolina  1 7   3 9  
UConn  0 8   1 11  
West Division
Memphis xy  5 3   8 6  
Houston x  5 3   8 5  
Tulane x  5 3   7 6  
SMU  4 4   5 7  
Navy  2 6   3 10  
Tulsa  2 6   3 9  
Championship: UCF 56, Memphis 41
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida (USF) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, and were led by second-year head coach Charlie Strong. The Bulls competed as members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 7–6, 3–5 in AAC play to finish in fourth place in the East Division. They were invited to the Gasparilla Bowl where they lost to Marshall.

Contents

The 2018 Bulls became the first team in college football history to start a season 7–0 and lose their final six games. [1]

Preseason

The Bulls replaced 11 starters from a 10-2 season in 2017. One of the biggest storylines of the offseason was the addition of graduate transfer Blake Barnett who was named the starting quarterback following stints at Alabama and Arizona State.

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

AwardPlayerPositionYear
John Mackey Award [2] Mitchell Wilcox TEJR
Outland Trophy [3] Marcus NormanTJR
Wuerffel Trophy [4] Jaymon ThomasDBSR

AAC media poll

The AAC media poll was released on July 24, 2018, with the Bulls predicted to finish in second place in the AAC East Division. [5]

Media poll (East)
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1UCF175 (25)
2USF140 (5)
3Temple132
4Cincinnati91
5UConn51
6East Carolina41

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 16:00 p.m.No. 12 (FCS) Elon * ESPN3 W 34–1431,217
September 812:00 p.m. Georgia Tech *
  • Raymond James Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
ABC/ESPN2 W 49–3834,182
September 153:30 p.m.vs. Illinois * BTN W 25–1921,725
September 228:00 p.m. East Carolina
  • Raymond James Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
ESPNews W 20–1334,562
October 63:30 p.m.at Massachusetts * ELVN W 58–427,988
October 127:00 p.m.at Tulsa No. 23ESPNW 25–2416,142
October 207:00 p.m. UConn No. 21
  • Raymond James Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
CBSSN W 38–3042,127
October 273:30 p.m.at Houston No. 21ABC/ESPN2L 36–5731,631
November 33:30 p.m. Tulane
  • Raymond James Stadium
  • Tampa, FL
CBSSNL 15–4131,388
November 107:00 p.m.at No. 25 Cincinnati ESPNU L 23–3529,310
November 1712:00 a.m.at Temple ESPNewsL 17–2721,029
November 234:00 p.m.No. 8 UCF
ESPN L 10–3857,626
December 208:00 p.m. Marshall *
ESPNL 20–3814,135
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time
Schedule Source: [6]

Game summaries

Elon

1234Total
No. 12 (FCS) Phoenix007714
Bulls7177334

Georgia Tech

1234Total
Yellow Jackets17014738
Bulls14772149

At Illinois

1234Total
Bulls7001825
Fighting Illini1063019

East Carolina

1234Total
Pirates733013
Bulls670720

At Massachusetts

1234Total
Bulls1010281058
Minutemen77141442

At Tulsa

1234Total
No. 23 Bulls3071525
Golden Hurricane7314024

UConn

1234Total
Huskies7071630
No. 21 Bulls07171438

At Houston

1234Total
No. 21 Bulls02115036
Cougars1414151457

Tulane

1234Total
Green Wave7207741
Bulls306615

At Cincinnati

1234Total
Bulls977023
No. 25 Bearcats7721035

At Temple

1234Total
Bulls7100017
Owls00101727

UCF

1234Total
No. 8 Knights71071438
Bulls037010

Marshall (Gasparilla Bowl)

1234Total
Thundering Herd2173738
Bulls7310020

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP RVRVRVRV232121RV
Coaches RVRVRVRVRVRV232020RVRV
CFP Not releasedNot released

Related Research Articles

The South Florida Bulls football team represents the University of South Florida. The Bulls began playing in 1997 and compete in the American Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The team plays its home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The 2017 South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida (USF) in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, and were led by first-year head coach Charlie Strong. The Bulls competed as members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 10–2, 6–2 in AAC play to finish in second place in the East Division. They were invited to the Birmingham Bowl where they defeated Texas Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Northern Illinois Huskies football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Rod Carey in his sixth and final season as head coach, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 8–6 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, winning the MAC's West Division title. Northern Illinois advanced to the MAC Championship Game, where they defeated East Division champion Buffalo to win the program's fifth MAC championship. The Huskies were invited to the Boca Raton Bowl, where they lost to UAB. The team played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Temple Owls football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Temple Owls football team represents Temple University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls were led by second-year head coach Geoff Collins during the regular season and play their home games at Lincoln Financial Field. They are members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 8–5, 7–1 in AAC play to finish in 2nd place in the East Division. They were invited to play in the Independence Bowl, where they lost to Duke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Marshall Thundering Herd football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Thundering Herd played their home games at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (C-USA). They were led by ninth-year head coach Doc Holliday. They finished the season 9–4, 6–2 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for second place in the East Division. They were invited to the Gasparilla Bowl where they defeated South Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Western Michigan Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University (WMU) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Tim Lester and played their home games at Waldo Stadium as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 7–6, 5–3 in MAC play to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they lost to BYU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Buffalo Bulls football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulls were led by fourth-year head coach Lance Leipold and played their home games at the University at Buffalo Stadium as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 10–4, 7–1 in MAC play to be champions of the East Division. They represented the East Division in the MAC Championship Game where they lost to West Division champion Northern Illinois. They were invited to the Dollar General Bowl where they lost to Troy. Their 10 wins are the most in program history with the previous best being eight wins set in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Miami RedHawks football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Miami RedHawks football team represented Miami University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Chuck Martin and played their home games at Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 6–6, 6–2 in MAC play to finish in a tie for second place in the East division. Despite being bowl eligible, they were not invited to a bowl game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Chris Creighton and played their home games at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 7–6, 5–3 in MAC play to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Camellia Bowl where they lost to Georgia Southern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Troy Trojans football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Troy Trojans football team represented Troy University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Trojans played their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama, and competed in the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Neal Brown. They finished the season 10–3, 7–1 in Sun Belt play to finish in a tie for the East Division championship with Appalachian State. Due to their head-to-head loss to Appalachian State, they did not represent the East Division in the Sun Belt Championship Game. They were invited to the Dollar General Bowl where they defeated Buffalo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Houston Cougars football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars played their home games at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas, and competed in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Major Applewhite. They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in AAC play to finish in a three-way tie for the West Division championship. After tiebreakers, they did not represent the West Division in the AAC Championship Game. They were invited to the Armed Forces Bowl where they lost to Army by a score of 14–70, in the process tying records for the most points given up (70) and the largest margin-of-loss (56) in NCAA bowl game history.

The 2018 Memphis Tigers football team represented the University of Memphis in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee and competed in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by third-year head coach Mike Norvell. They finished the season 8–6, 5–3 in AAC to finish in a three-way tie for the West Division championship. After tie-breakers, they represented the West Division in the AAC Championship Game where they lost to East Division champion UCF. They were invited to the Birmingham Bowl where they lost to Wake Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Hurricane played their home games at the Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and competed in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Philip Montgomery. They finished the season 3–9, 2–6 in American Athletic play to finish in a tie for fifth placein the West Division.

The 2018 Gasparilla Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 20, 2018, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST. It was the 11th edition of the game originally known as the St. Petersburg Bowl and renamed before its 2017 playing as the Gasparilla Bowl, and one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. Sponsored by lawn mower manufacturing company Bad Boy Mowers, the game was officially known as the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 American Athletic Conference football season</span> Sports season

The 2019 American Athletic Conference football season is the 28th NCAA Division I FBS Football season of the American Athletic Conference. The season is the seventh since the former Big East Conference dissolved and became the American Athletic Conference and the sixth season of the College Football Playoff in place. The American is considered a member of the Group of Five (G5) together with Conference USA (C–USA), the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Mountain West Conference and the Sun Belt Conference. The entire schedule was released on February 7, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team</span> American college football season

The 2019 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Yellow Jackets were led by head coach Geoff Collins, in his first season. They played their home games at Bobby Dodd Stadium and competed as a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). They finished the season 3–9, 2–6 in ACC play to finish in last place in the Coastal Division.

The 2019 Memphis Tigers football team represented the University of Memphis in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, and competed in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Mike Norvell through the team's win in the American Championship Game, after which he left to fill the head coaching vacancy at Florida State. It was the first outright/unshared conference championship in 50 seasons. The only teams to beat Memphis this season were both teams based in Pennsylvania. Offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield was initially named head coach of the team for their bowl game, the Cotton Bowl; the interim tag was removed and he was named the new head coach of the Tigers.

The 2019 South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida (USF) during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulls were led by third-year head coach Charlie Strong and played their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. They competed as members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 2–6 in AAC play to finish in fourth place in the East Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 American Athletic Conference football season</span> Sports season

The 2021 American Athletic Conference football season was the 30th NCAA Division I FBS Football season of the American Athletic Conference. The season was the ninth since the former Big East Conference dissolved and became the American Athletic Conference and the eighth season of the College Football Playoff in place. The American was considered a member of the Group of Five (G5) together with Conference USA (C–USA), the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Mountain West Conference and the Sun Belt Conference. The entire schedule was released on February 18, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 American Athletic Conference football season</span> Sports season

The 2022 American Athletic Conference football season is the 31st NCAA Division I FBS Football season of the American Athletic Conference. The season is the tenth since the former Big East Conference dissolved and became the American Athletic Conference and the ninth season of the College Football Playoff in place. The American is considered a member of the Group of Five (G5) together with Conference USA, the MAC, Mountain West Conference and the Sun Belt Conference. In September 2021, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF accepted invitations to join the Big 12 Conference. The three schools had been contractually required to remain with The American through 2024, but the conference and its departing members reached a buyout agreement that allowed those schools to leave in 2023. The entire schedule was released on February 17, 2022.

References

  1. "Gasparilla Bowl loss caps off USF's horrendous finish to 2018". Yahoo Sports. December 20, 2018.
  2. "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  3. "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  4. "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  5. "UCF Tabbed as Favorite in 2018 Preseason Media Poll". TheAmerican.org. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  6. "2018 South Florida Bulls Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved April 12, 2018.