TAMPA, Fla. – USF’s first two road games of 2003 were played in historic venues. They opened at Legion Field in Birmingham to face Alabama in what was the Crimson Tide’s last game in the “Old Gray Lady.” A tight first half that Labor Day weekend dissolved into a 40-17 loss in front of 76,780.
Following a win against Nicholls State at Raymond James Stadium, the Bulls opened conference play at Michie Stadium in West Point. Jim Leavitt’s team was in its first season as a Conference USA member and Army, coached by Todd Berry, was in its next-to-last season in a forgettable seven-year run with CUSA.
A very loud pregame thunderstorm gave way to a nice late-September afternoon on the Banks of the Hudson, where the Bulls prevailed, 28-0. The defense limited the Black Knights to 179 yards and forced six turnovers. Kevin Verpaele, brother of former USF player and current assistant, Danny Verpaele, returned an interception 29 yards for a score and Santiago Gramatica drilled a pair of field goals.
READ: History In The Sand: USF Launches Inaugural Beach Volleyball Season
A pair of Gramaticas, brothers Nico and Gaston, Santiago’s nephews, are members of the 2026 Bulls that will play in Michie Stadium, which was completed in 1924. The venue will have a new look compared to 23 years ago, or even a couple of years ago. Renovations to the stadium’s east side by Lusk Reservoir will be complete in time for the new season.
Unfortunately, the September 12 matchup will be too early to take in the foliage. Those among the green and gold faithful making the trip, though, are in for a treat.
Here is the rest of the Bulls’ 2026 slate, the dates of which were released by the American Conference on Thursday.
Saturday, September 5 vs FIU
Former FAMU coach Willie Simmons took over the Panthers last season and led them to a 7-6 mark, the program’s first winning mark since 2018.
Saturday, September 12 at Army
Make your travel plans.
Saturday, September 19 vs Delaware State
Former NFL standout DeSean Jackson led the Hornets to an 8-4 mark last season, his first as a head coach. He was an assistant at a Southern California high school in 2024.
Saturday, September 26 at Bowling Green
Another former NFL star will be on the opposite sideline when the Bulls face Eddie George’s Falcons, who went 4-8 last season in the coach’s first year at Bowling Green after coaching at Tennessee State. George was the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State.
Saturday, October 3 vs Temple
This matchup serves as the conference opener. The Bulls are 4-6 against the Owls with all four wins at home.
Thursday, October 17 vs Kent State
Homecoming will mark the Bulls’ first meeting with the Golden Flashes, who lost at Texas Tech, Florida State and Oklahoma last season by a combined 172-22. Mark Carney’s team, though, went 4-4 in MAC play.
Saturday, October 31 vs UAB
The Black Out game at RJS will be against the Blazers, who the Bulls defeated each of the last two years, including 48-18 in Birmingham last season.
Friday, November 6 at ECU
Surprisingly, the Bulls did not meet the Pirates in either of the past three seasons. They are 9-4 against ECU, including 5-1 on the road.
Thursday, November 12 vs Memphis
This Salute to Service date is versus a Tigers team that will have a new coach (Charles Huff) and, hopefully for Bulls fans, a different result as Memphis has won the last five matchups. In fact, it will be 10 years since USF last defeated its conference foe.
Saturday, November 21 at FAU
The Bulls lead the series, 5-2, and rolled at RJS last season, 48-13. It will be the fourth time USF will have played in Boca, including a bowl win over Syracuse and a regular season matchup with ECU that was moved in 2022 due to potential impact from Hurricane Ian. The 2007 game against FAU was played at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The Owls played in either Fort Lauderdale or Miami until an on-campus stadium was ready in 2011.
Friday/Saturday, November 27/28 vs Tulane
The Green Wave, who have won four of five matchups in the series, visit the Bulls for only the second time with the first in 2018. USF has lost the last four meetings and allowed 45 points in each of the last three, including a 45-10 setback in New Orleans in 2024.
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