> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # USF Opens With a Big Opportunity Against No. 25 Boise State at Raymond James Stadium - URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/usf-opens-with-a-big-opportunity/ - Published: 2025-08-27T16:05:31.000Z - Updated: 2025-08-27T16:05:31.000Z - Description: If the Bulls want to take The Leap in '25, it starts Thursday. - Author: Collin Sherwin - Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44 TAMPA, Fla. — The South Florida Bulls will open the 2025 football season Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium against No. 25 Boise State on ESPN. The game marks the start of head coach Alex Golesh’s third season at USF. He led the Bulls to 7-6 records in each of his first two years and now looks to make the jump to compete for an American ~~Athletic~~ Conference title. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup) “We have talked so much about our identity and now going into a veteran football team. It’s time that we put this identity that we have preached and worked and lived for two and a half years, it’s time we put it on display for the entire country to see,” Golesh said at Monday’s press conference. USF has not won eight or more games in a season since 2017 under Charlie Strong. The Bulls have reached that mark only four times since 2010. The schedule starts with a challenge. USF’s first three opponents are ranked in the preseason AP Top 25: Boise State, No. 15 Florida and No. 10 Miami. Boise State comes off a 12-win season, a Mountain West title and a College Football Playoff appearance. Head coach Spencer Danielson, who took over late in 2023, has gone 15-3 while instilling a culture of toughness that has carried the Broncos to consecutive conference championships. The Broncos must replace running back Ashton Jeanty, who ran for 2,601 yards last season — the second most in FBS history — and finished second in Heisman voting. Boise State does return key pieces. Quarterback Maddux Madsen started all 14 games last season, throwing for 3,018 yards and 23 touchdowns (both tops in the Mountain West). Four of five starters are back on the offensive line, which allowed just 14 sacks in 2024. Boise returns tight end Matt Lauter who had 47 catches, 619 yards, and seven touchdowns a year ago. Replacing the production from Jeanty is going to be a group effort. Redshirt freshman Sire Gaines (156 yards, 7.8 YPC) is back after suffering a season-ending injury a year ago. Joining him in the backfield is Fresno State transfer Malik Sherrod (196 yards, four touchdowns). Sophomore Dylan Riley also returns (135 yards, 6.1 YPC, one kick off return TD). It will be a stiff test for a USF defense that gave up 32 points per game last season. Eight starters return, including senior linebacker Mac Harris, who led the team with 54 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and four sacks. “I want it to be obvious as you’re watching the film with no sound that we’re out there communicating, flying around, swarming, being violent at the ball, even away from the ball, attacking blocks violently,” Harris said when asked about what he’s looking to see from the Bulls defense Thursday night. After surrendering 40-plus points to Alabama, Miami and Tulane early last season, USF’s defense allowed just 26.2 points per game over the final seven regular-season contests. The Bulls were opportunistic, averaging two takeaways per game, eighth-best in the nation. Linebacker Jhalyn Schuler, who forced five turnovers, and interception leader Tavin Ward both return. Boise State’s defense led the nation with 55 sacks in 2024 and allowed 21.3 points per game. Six starters are back, including edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan and linebacker Marco Noarainni, both first-team All-Mountain West selections. USF will have its starting quarterback back in Byrum Brown, who returns after breaking his leg Sept. 28 against Tulane. Brown threw for 3,292 yards, ran for 809 and accounted for 37 touchdowns in 2023, but struggled before his injury last year, with his completion percentage dropping to 59.1 from 64.6 and his passing yards per game going from 253.2 to 139.3. “I’m really excited. Me and this group, we’ve put in a lot of hard work and we’re ready to put that work onto the field and play against some other people instead of our teammates,” Brown said. The Bulls also need to replace production at running back after losing Nay’Quan Wright, Kelley Joiner and Ta’Ron Keith to graduation. The trio combined for 1,728 total rushing yards last season. Transfers Cartevious Norton and Sam Franklin are expected to lead the backfield. “The biggest keys to winning is no different than it is every single week. It’s the ability to run the football and stop the run,” Golesh said. USF was 6-1 last year in games where it outrushed opponents. Finishing games will also be crucial. Against higher level competition the Bulls struggled to finish. They were outscored 63-3 in the fourth quarter against Alabama, Miami, Memphis and Tulane. “The markers of a good program is consistency and the ability to go finish at the end,” Golesh said. He added that players must play “with emotion, but not emotionally.” Boise State was plus-48 in fourth-quarter scoring in 2024, going 3-1 in one-possession games. USF went 1-1\. Speaking of fourth quarter numbers, the Broncos converted on just over 58% of their third downs offensively in the final frame of games in 2024. The Bulls will wear their black uniforms, which debuted last season. They went 1-1 in the look. Bulls football is back. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup)