TAMPA, Fla. – That’s a really good question. When it was released Sunday afternoon, the AP poll revealed the Bulls were back in the top 25 at No. 24, one spot behind Memphis.
Frankly, the ranking does not matter in that the Bulls (4-1/1-0) and Tigers (6-0/2-0) meet in Memphis two weeks from Saturday. That game will matter.
The winner may not only be in the driver’s seat with a clear road to the American Conference championship game, but the outcome could have substantial playoff implications. The highest-ranked Group of Five team is guaranteed a seat at the 12-team playoff table. Currently, that would be Memphis at No. 23.
Given the Bulls soundly defeated (34-7) last year’s G5 playoff representative, Boise State, at home, followed by beating No. 13 Florida as time expired in the Swamp, one could be excused for thinking USF should lead the way among the non-power conference fraternity.
The Bulls’ lone loss, which initially knocked them out of the top 25, was a 49-12 drubbing at current AP No. 2 Miami. They have since blown out FCS member South Carolina State (63-14) and rolled past Charlotte last Friday evening (54-26) in what at times was a slop fest of the highest order with eight turnovers (four apiece) and 18 penalties.
Memphis, no doubt, has been impressive. The Tigers have outscored five of their opponents – Chattanooga, Georgia State, Troy, FAU, Tulsa — by an average of an eye-opening 29 points and are 22nd nationally in allowing only 16.2 points per game. The lone close win was 32-31 at Arkansas on September 20. Troy is the only opponent that currently has a winning record.
Of course, business must be tended to prior to the clash in Memphis. The Bulls depart the state for the first time this season when they play at undefeated North Texas (5-0/1-0) on Friday night. The Mean Green are averaging 45 points per game to rank eighth nationally. The Bulls return home to play FAU (2-3/1-1) in next week’s homecoming affair.
Memphis has the week off before traveling to UAB (2-3/0-2) next Saturday.
READ: ‘A Fixture Of College Football’: Florida Governor DeSantis Awards Medal Of Freedom To Lee Corso
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