By Andrew Miller
TAMPA, Fla. — It’s one thing to win. It’s another to shock an entire stadium.
Never in the history of college football has the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls beaten the University of Florida (UF) Gators. Last Saturday night, South Florida did just that — walking out of the Swamp with a victory over No. 13 Florida, 18-16. For Gator fans, it was a gut punch.
“We were not expecting to lose that game,” said Anna Kovac, a UF senior who was at the game. “It was such a shocker.”
However, the overall game was close. After going neck and neck for almost the entire game, by the time the final whistle blew, the energy in Gainesville had flipped.
“People were chanting ‘Fire Napier’ on the way out,” said Kovac.
USF, once overlooked, was suddenly making waves. With the team’s steady improvements over the past five years and a promising future ahead, it’s hard not to feel the excitement.
This wasn’t a one-hit wonder. Just a week earlier, the Bulls bulldozed then-No. 25 Boise State, 34-7, a win that hinted something bigger might be brewing in Tampa. Now, after back-to-back upsets, USF has cracked the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2018 — and not just cracked it but landed at No. 18.
“Everyone was celebrating like crazy after the UF win,” said Alexis Andriesse, a USF student. “The energy on campus was so enthusiastic. There’s a huge increase in school spirit.”
So why are the Bulls all of a sudden the ones to watch?
Head coach Alex Golesh has turned the program around since taking over three years ago, and the Bulls’ momentum feels less like luck and more like destiny.
The numbers back it up: according to the University of South Florida Athletics, USF is only the fourth team since 1936 to start a season with two straight wins over ranked opponents while unranked itself.
It’s only natural to question what comes next for a team like this.
Well, USF has some big plans. The Bulls typically play at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium — sharing it with the Tampa NFL team, the Buccaneers. Currently under construction is USF’s very own stadium, on its own campus grounds, set to open in Fall 2027.
Andriesse said the Bulls’ hot start has made the project even more exciting for students.
“Students are definitely more invested now that we beat UF,” said Andriesse. “I would say I’m more likely to attend a game now.”
Meanwhile, at the University of Tampa, school spirit looks different. With no football team of its own, many students don’t mind being detached from the sports world. But for others, like UT senior Jacob Dobosh, it feels like something’s missing. With the new stadium coming, would students like Dobosh be more inclined to join in on USF’s journey to the championship?
“While they’re great right now, football is unpredictable,” said Dobosh. “As a UTampa student, it wouldn’t change how likely I am to attend the games. It’s not worth the financial hit.”
So whether UTampa students decide to follow USF’s season or not, one thing’s for sure: the excitement in Tampa is contagious.