USF Football: Way-too-early 2021 game-by-game predictions

USF football was flat-out abysmal in 2020. But playing in a weakening American Athletic Conference, can 2021 serve as a step in the right direction?

USF football was once elite, so to hopefully no surprise they play in an elite Group of Five league, the American Athletic Conference (AAC). But now that the Bulls are no longer decent at football, the last thing they need is to be stuck in a lineup with Cincinnati, Central Florida and Houston.

But at least the non-conference slate can ease the tension, right? Wrong. South Florida has all four of their outside opponents before heading into its eight-game conference stretch, and it’s not a welcoming start.

The four foes are: the North Carolina State Wolfpack on the road, the Florida Gators at home, the Florida A&M Rattlers also at home and the BYU Cougars on the road. In that exact order, all four games back-to-back.

Even the coaching in South Florida has been mediocre. Head coach Jeff Scott is coming back for his second season and his second season of head coaching at the collegiate level overall. And if his second year is anything like his first, his chances of getting a third shot are slim.

But there is only so much to say about the capabilities of USF in 2021. They have the talent to compete in the AAC, and almost all head coaches have undesirable beginnings, especially when taking on an already-bad program. So can South Florida actually shock the college football world next season, assuming that they perform to the best of their abilities?

Let’s find out.