AAC Football: Most Important Non-Conference Games in 2017
By Zach Bigalke
Technically, South Florida had the best overall record in the AAC last season. Only a loss to Temple kept the Bulls out of the conference championship, and their only other loss came against Florida State. USF took down Syracuse 45-20 on the road.
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They lost head coach Willie Taggart to the Oregon job in the offseason. Yet this year might be an even better year for the Bulls as they contend for AAC honors and a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl.
That is A) because they landed Charlie Strong to replace Taggart, and B) because they have just one game against a Power Five opponent this year. That game takes place in a Friday-night showdown at home against Illinois.
The two schools have never faced one another before in football, but the Illini have not had a winning season in five years. With Quinton Flowers coming back to lead the offense, USF should have the upper hand and could set up a potential unbeaten campaign in this contest.