USF picked to finish 13th (of 14 teams) in AAC preseason media poll
Any resuscitation of USF’s beleaguered football program by new coach Alex Golesh won’t be performed overnight.
At least, that’s the sentiment of those who cover the American Athletic Conference.
The Bulls were picked to finish 13th in the refurbished 14-team league in the AAC’s preseason media poll released Tuesday morning. The results mark the fourth consecutive year in which USF has been projected to finish ninth or worse in the poll.
Tampa Bay Times college football reporter Matt Baker picked the Bulls to place 12th on his ballot.
In an AAC media poll, Tulane received 20 of a possible 34 first-place votes as the preseason pick to win the league while UTSA, the 2022 Conference USA champion, got 9 first-place votes. Here’s the predicted order of finish: pic.twitter.com/frrQdM5Myn
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 25, 2023
USF, winner of four total games the previous three seasons, has undergone arguably the biggest offseason roster overhaul in the program’s 26-year existence. In addition to losing a 1,200-yard rusher (Brian Battie), three starting offensive linemen, four of last season’s top five receivers and the top tackler (Dwayne Boyles), the Bulls have added 49 new players since Golesh’s arrival in December.
“I think we’ve got a lot of questions,” Golesh told reporters Tuesday at the league’s media day in Arlington, Texas.
“We’ve got 13 scholarship guys that we brought in after spring that we’ve got to see how they fit. The way the model’s changed, you get summer with these guys so you have an idea, but until you put pads on ... you really don’t know.”
Reigning conference champion Tulane was picked to repeat, receiving 20 of a possible 34 first-place votes. Charlotte, one of six league newcomers, was the only team picked to finish below USF. The 49ers finished 3-9 last season.
Florida Atlantic, another newcomer, was picked to finish fifth. The Owls finished 5-7 last year, resulting in the dismissal of third-year coach (and former USF coach) Willie Taggart. Former Houston coach Tom Herman, who led the Cougars to the 2015 AAC title, replaces Taggart.
At least, that’s the sentiment of those who cover the American Athletic Conference.
The Bulls were picked to finish 13th in the refurbished 14-team league in the AAC’s preseason media poll released Tuesday morning. The results mark the fourth consecutive year in which USF has been projected to finish ninth or worse in the poll.
Tampa Bay Times college football reporter Matt Baker picked the Bulls to place 12th on his ballot.
In an AAC media poll, Tulane received 20 of a possible 34 first-place votes as the preseason pick to win the league while UTSA, the 2022 Conference USA champion, got 9 first-place votes. Here’s the predicted order of finish: pic.twitter.com/frrQdM5Myn
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) July 25, 2023
USF, winner of four total games the previous three seasons, has undergone arguably the biggest offseason roster overhaul in the program’s 26-year existence. In addition to losing a 1,200-yard rusher (Brian Battie), three starting offensive linemen, four of last season’s top five receivers and the top tackler (Dwayne Boyles), the Bulls have added 49 new players since Golesh’s arrival in December.
“I think we’ve got a lot of questions,” Golesh told reporters Tuesday at the league’s media day in Arlington, Texas.
“We’ve got 13 scholarship guys that we brought in after spring that we’ve got to see how they fit. The way the model’s changed, you get summer with these guys so you have an idea, but until you put pads on ... you really don’t know.”
Reigning conference champion Tulane was picked to repeat, receiving 20 of a possible 34 first-place votes. Charlotte, one of six league newcomers, was the only team picked to finish below USF. The 49ers finished 3-9 last season.
Florida Atlantic, another newcomer, was picked to finish fifth. The Owls finished 5-7 last year, resulting in the dismissal of third-year coach (and former USF coach) Willie Taggart. Former Houston coach Tom Herman, who led the Cougars to the 2015 AAC title, replaces Taggart.
Players mentioned in this article
Matt Baker
Tom Tulaney
Brian Battie
Dwayne Boyles
Willie Taggart Jr.
Recent Stories
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann — a 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The former University of Wisconsin football ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any time laying out his expectations to “do ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference for the Longhorns, if you haven’t heard. ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing a memorandum of understanding that paves ...
Latest Player Notes
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...