USF Bulls Announce 2024 Matchups, Where to Watch

© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The USF Bulls have unveiled its football game times and television designations for the first three weeks of the 2024 season, along with several key prime-time matchups.

The announcement was made by the American Athletic Conference, shedding light on the Bulls' upcoming season. The AAC will continue to announce game times and TV designations throughout the season, following a 12-day selection process.

Bulls Season Opener, Early Matchups

USF will start the 2024 season at home against Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m. EST on Aug. 31 at Raymond James Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN+. This game will be the first meeting between the two programs, and Bethune-Cookman is coached by former USF assistant Raymond Woodie.

On Sept. 14, USF will travel to Southern Mississippi for a 7 p.m. EST game on ESPN+. The Bulls last played in Hattiesburg in 2003 and have a 1-3 all-time series record against the Golden Eagles. Their most recent encounter in 2004 ended in a 27-20 loss for USF.

Prime-Time Showdown with Alabama

A highlight of the announcement was USF’s rematch against Alabama, scheduled for Sept. 7 in Tuscaloosa. This game will kick off at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN. The Bulls previously faced Alabama in Tampa in 2023, losing 17-3 in a game that was closely contested until the fourth quarter and attracted 4.8 million viewers on ABC. This year, Alabama, under new coach Kalen DeBoer, will host the Bulls, marking their second-ever meeting in Tuscaloosa. Alabama leads the all-time series 2-0, with their inaugural encounter in 2003 ending in a 40-17 defeat for USF.

Weekday Prime-Time Games

USF's two weekday prime-time games were also announced. The Bulls will face Memphis at 7 p.m. EST on Oct. 11 at Raymond James Stadium on ESPN. Later in the season, USF will play Florida Atlantic University at 7:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 1 on ESPN2. Memphis leads the all-time series 8-4, including a 59-50 win last year. USF leads FAU 3-2 historically, but the Owls dominated their last meeting in 2023 with a 56-14 victory.

A Strong Foundation for 2024

Entering their second season under coach Alex Golesh, the Bulls aim to build on a successful 2023 campaign that saw them achieve a program-best six-game turnaround and a 45-0 victory over Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl. USF returns 19 starters, including nine on offense, eight on defense and two specialists. Key offensive players include quarterback Byrum Brown, wide receiver Sean Atkins and running back Nay’Quan Wright. On defense, standout linebacker Jhalyn Shuler and all-conference defensive lineman Rashad Cheney lead the charge.

The 2024 season marks the second year of AAC’s expanded 14-team format, featuring Army as a football-playing member. The AAC Championship Game will take place at 8 p.m. EST on Dec. 6 and will be broadcast on ABC. The conference champion has historically advanced to major bowl games, including the College Football Playoff or New Year's Six bowls.