South Florida Athletics has released its 2026 football schedule, marking the program’s 30th season and unveiling a slate of seven home contests that blend tradition with fresh promotional flair.
The campaign opens on September 5 with a showdown against in‑state rival FIU, and will wind down on November 27 or 28 when the Bulls host Tulane, the latter date still pending final conference alignment.
Each home game will be anchored by a distinct theme — from Opening Night celebrations to a Halloween‑styled Black Out, from Homecoming festivities to a Salute to Service that honors the military community — while sponsors line up giveaways that promise fan experiences beyond the gridiron.
The conference championship will be staged on December 5 at 8 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium, where the regular‑season champion will defend its title under the lights of Tampa Bay.
Beyond the schedule, the Bulls are celebrating a storied past that includes 18 winning seasons, 16 All‑America honorees and 35 first‑team all‑conference selections, a legacy underscored by 30 NFL draft picks and a 13‑game bowl record that sits at 8‑5.
Recent on‑field success has been evident in back‑to‑back 10‑win campaigns of 2016 and 2017, a program‑record 11‑2 finish in 2016, and a 9‑4 mark in 2025 that secured a third consecutive bowl appearance and four weeks inside the AP Top 25.
The infrastructure side of the story is equally compelling: a $22 million indoor performance facility opened in 2023, while an on‑campus stadium and football operations center are rising toward a 2027 completion target, promising state‑of‑the‑art resources for players and coaches.
A milestone season on the horizon
As the Bulls gear up for a landmark 30th year, the blend of nostalgic promotions, historic milestones and cutting‑edge facilities sets the stage for a campaign that could rewrite the next chapter of South Florida football.