USF - anything to learn?

[Jetskies]

These guys have beaten Boise St & Florida and are now sitting at #18 as of 9/7/25.

THIS is how you get noticed by the Big12. I know one good season won't make a team transcend to p4, but it will be so so sad if they are up next and we get passed over again.

something is clicking in Tampa - anything we can learn from them and apply to our situation?

 

[cellocgg]

We have a solid showing against Syracuse in a game we weren't even supposed to win and BY acts like the sky is falling

 

[KryHavok]

The tongue in cheek response is that they invested in research to become AAU, they invested in football with a new on campus stadium, and they didn't fumble their last few HC hires like we did before we got Mora. They will leapfrog us when the next Px invite opens up. What is the lesson, invest in your school and football and recruit in hotspots, which USF has a clear advantage.

 

[FightOnCT]

This is the second thread made about USF of all teams, they’re not any more ahead/behind us than they were beforehand. Any of their advantages have already been mentioned with ACC expansion post-FSU.

I’m mad about the game Saturday, I don’t think it should be this much of a struggle for us to beat P4 opponents, but to the point of fearing that USF is passing us because of two games is ridiculous imo. I could easily argue about branding and athletics revenue in our favor.

We were passed over at a time where our athletics were in a complete rut or certain schools let their personal grievances into the equation. That is likely not the case anymore.

 

[cellocgg]

The tongue in cheek response is that they invested in research to become AAU, they invested in football with a new on campus stadium, and they didn't fumble their last few HC hires like we did before we got Mora. They will leapfrog us when the next Px invite opens up. What is the lesson, invest in your school and football and recruit in hotspots, which USF has a clear advantage.

USF has the major disadvantage of existing in a saturated college sports market. B12 ain't gonna take them and ACC would have to lose FSU and Miami first

UConn has the advantage of being a large, successful brand in a region lacking in big programs. It's an untapped market with massive potential

 

[CTBballfan243]

When the top tier schools are cherry picked from the ACC by the P2 there should be room for both USF and UConn in a reconfigured ACC.

 

[Jetskies]

We have a solid showing against Syracuse in a game we weren't even supposed to win and BY acts like the sky is falling

respectfully, I said nothing of syracuse and this past weekend.

to clarify, I am saying these guys are ranked. they did it by beating 2 solid football brands back-to-back, whose names carry weight. To me, that is a big deal and something you can absolutely put in your resume book next time your AD calls a P4 conference commish, asking for a sit-down with them.

Even if they lose the ranking later this year, to have gotten it at all is still noteworthy and surely something USF will milk the heck out of, should they be lucky enough to get into a room with the ACC or Big12.

 

[Kolumbo]

USF has been solidly ahead of UConn for a while now and will be in a P4 conference before UConn. It's not even close. Lesson #1:

 

[KryHavok]

Not picking a flight with you, but I think it's myopic to argue about a saturated market considering the multiple Px teams in California and Texas, and it's not a stretch to think Florida can support that too. Regarding our brand, which arguably is the strongest among the non-Px, that brand and untapped market got us NOTHING for the last 15 years in terms of an actual Px invite, especially considering the previous 2 summers coming off our BBall championships. It doesn't matter to the degree you think it does.

We are missing the diamonds in the rough who will give us an edge. Bell is a great WR, but he needs to get the ball. I'm not gonna rail on Fagnano as did well last year, but our offense didn't click when it needed to yesterday when ball control would've seal the game. It's a catch-22 that hampers us: win and the good players will come here, and yesterday's game was a need to win. USF took down Florida, yet last year Maryland shredded us. Our pedigree says Gx but our goal is Px. I've got no solutions other than the point that coaches and players have to feel the urgency that we need wins. I don't care if it's ugly, go out there, gut it out, and don't let the opposing QB light us up for 400 yards in a come from behind win.

 

[Alum86]

Yeah. That’s why. We haven’t torn down the Dairy Bar and put up a stadium.
Stop already.

 

[cellocgg]

Not picking a flight with you, but I think it's myopic to argue about a saturated market considering the multiple Px teams in California and Texas.

My point was they won't be a priority to conferences that already have camp setup in Florida. CR is about expanding footprint and reaching new markets. Plus, their Floridian contemporaries will rally against them.

 

[Chin Diesel]

My point was they won't be a priority to conferences that already have camp setup in Florida. CR is about expanding footprint and reaching new markets. Plus, their Floridian contemporaries will rally against them.

USF won't be a priority to the B1G or SEC when they take teams from Florida. The ACC and Big12 will have holes to fill in Florida and USF is near the top of the ACC and Big 12's list for expansion.

 

[CTBballfan243]

USF has been solidly ahead of UConn for a while now and will be in a P4 conference before UConn. It's not even close. Lesson #1:

USF must have some wealthy donors that are paying to have that new stadium built. UConn needs a major donor to step up to build an on campus stadium and build new roads from 84 to campus.

 

[KryHavok]

My point was they won't be a priority to conferences that already have camp setup in Florida. CR is about expanding footprint and reaching new markets. Plus, their Floridian contemporaries will rally against them.

I want to be wrong, but 15 years of watching CR pass us up time and again made me think they don't want to expand to our area otherwise they would have already done so. The all cretins crew have the fruit and BCU, they don't need another northeast state that's in between. And the Big12, they are digging into their southwest mentality despite having Cinci, West Virginia, and UCF...they might not mind getting a northeast presence to get NY views, but as the last 2 years of CR showed, they DON'T want to expand with us. If/when I am wrong I will happily admit it.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

We really have to ask ourselves what is the end game. Most here agree that the ACC will be raided in the next few years. Do we really think the next iteration of that conference will be worth 20-30 million per school? It would essentially be AAC 2.0/Old Big East merger. I can't even get myself worked up over it anymore. CR takes all of the fun out of college sports. All for what? So the P2 get more money.

 

[Kolumbo]

My point was they won't be a priority to conferences that already have camp setup in Florida. CR is about expanding footprint and reaching new markets. Plus, their Floridian contemporaries will rally against them.

I'm tired of all the CR debates about markets and footprints. Florida is more than 6 times larger than CT by population if state borders are so important. A P4 conference should have more than 1 member in Florida. Cal, Tex, Flo.

Here's an interesting take. # of programs by conference in the 3 most populous states Cal, Flo, Tex:

5 - American
5 - Big XII
5 - ACC
3 - SEC
2 - Big Ten

USF must have some wealthy donors that are paying to have that new stadium built. UConn needs a major donor to step up to build an on campus stadium and build new roads from 84 to campus.

From what I've read, it's all USF funds and includes other campus improvements
USF plays in an NFL stadium just down the street but is still building its own stadium on its crowded campus
UConn plays in a shell college stadium 30 minutes away from campus but can't find a way to build a stadium on a campus with no shortage of land
Perception is reality

 

[huskymedic]

USF must have some wealthy donors that are paying to have that new stadium built.

Here’s how USF says it is funding its stadium

A multi-million dollar loan, student fees and untraceable donations. Those are just three of the seven ways USF says it will be funding its estimated $340-million stadium project, which broke ground earlier this month. The stadium is slated to be completed in 2027. Here’s a breakdown on those...

www.usforacle.com

USF approves $407 million price tag for stadium, related infrastructure

The USF Board of Trustees approved a $407 million expenditure for USF’s 35,000-seat on-campus stadium and other associated projects during a Tuesday meeting. The stadium will cost $348.5 million. It’s a slight jump from the previous price of $340 million the board approved in June 2023. The...

www.usforacle.com

 

[CTBballfan243]

I want to be wrong, but 15 years of watching CR pass us up time and again made me think they don't want to expand to our area otherwise they would have already done so. The all cretins crew have the fruit and BCU, they don't need the another northeast state that's in between. And the Big12, they are digging into their southwest mentality despite having Cinci, West Virginia, and UCF...they might not mind getting a northeast presence to get NY views, but as the last 2 years of CR showed, they DON'T want to expand with us. If/when I am wrong I will happily admit it.

I think once the P2 pick their final teams for their respective conferences that UConn will have a good shot to be one of the teams that will backfill. Plus there is a good chance that Louisville and Pitt go to the B12 when UNC, Clemson, FSU, virginia(???) go to the B1G 10 and SEC. The ACC may need quite a few teams. UConn will be one of the teams in the running for a spot in the ACC.

 

[cellocgg]

USF plays in an NFL stadium just down the street but is still building its own stadium on its crowded campus
UConn plays in a shell college stadium 30 minutes away from campus but can't find a way to build a stadium on a campus with no shortage of land
Perception is reality

I still don't understand why the on-canpus stadium is apparently so important for CR. There are other P4s without one. Would ours still be a problem if we were selling out? We were at one point and nobody was complaining about it. We just had record attendance since 2013, I don't see why we couldn't have regular sellouts in a few years

 

[CTBballfan243]

I'm tired of all the CR debates about markets and footprints. Florida is more than 6 times larger than CT by population if state borders are so important. A P4 conference should have more than 1 member in Florida. Cal, Tex, Flo.

Here's an interesting take. # of programs by conference in the 3 most populous states Cal, Flo, Tex:

5 - American
5 - Big XII
5 - ACC
3 - SEC
2 - Big Ten


From what I've read, it's all USF funds and includes other campus improvements
USF plays in an NFL stadium just down the street but is still building its own stadium on its crowded campus
UConn plays in a shell college stadium 30 minutes away from campus but can't find a way to build a stadium on a campus with no shortage of land
Perception is reality

So they have the land for the stadium. Now they just need to start fund raising. The project at UConn will probable exceed 1 billion, once you include the costs of designing, permitting, and constructing the roads from 84 to campus. UConn needs to start fund raising and saving.

 

[Kolumbo]

Here’s how USF says it is funding its stadium

A multi-million dollar loan, student fees and untraceable donations. Those are just three of the seven ways USF says it will be funding its estimated $340-million stadium project, which broke ground earlier this month. The stadium is slated to be completed in 2027. Here’s a breakdown on those...

www.usforacle.com

USF approves $407 million price tag for stadium, related infrastructure

The USF Board of Trustees approved a $407 million expenditure for USF’s 35,000-seat on-campus stadium and other associated projects during a Tuesday meeting. The stadium will cost $348.5 million. It’s a slight jump from the previous price of $340 million the board approved in June 2023. The...

www.usforacle.com

from your article

"At the time of publishing, USF has raised over $45 million of the $50 million goal, according to a university spokesperson."

"The largest donation thus far has come from Tampa General Hospital, who donated $25 million last September.
this is from the same site. I don't really care too much but they don't say how much is donations"


from your same site:

USF approves $407 million price tag for stadium, related infrastructure

The USF Board of Trustees approved a $407 million expenditure for USF’s 35,000-seat on-campus stadium and other associated projects during a Tuesday meeting. The stadium will cost $348.5 million. It’s a slight jump from the previous price of $340 million the board approved in June 2023. The...

www.usforacle.com

"The USF Board of Trustees approved a $407 million expenditure for USF’s 35,000-seat on-campus stadium and other associated projects during a Tuesday meeting."

"The stadium will cost $348.5 million. It’s a slight jump from the previous price of $340 million the board approved in June 2023. The motion passed unanimously with little discussion."

"USF has secured $358.1 million in funding for the stadium, including the $200 million loan issued by the USF Financing Corporation in September 2023. The university is accounting for $17 million in interest generated from the loan."

 

[Chin Diesel]

from your article

"At the time of publishing, USF has raised over $45 million of the $50 million goal, according to a university spokesperson."

"The largest donation thus far has come from Tampa General Hospital, who donated $25 million last September.
this is from the same site. I don't really care too much but they don't say how much is donations"


from your same site:

USF approves $407 million price tag for stadium, related infrastructure

The USF Board of Trustees approved a $407 million expenditure for USF’s 35,000-seat on-campus stadium and other associated projects during a Tuesday meeting. The stadium will cost $348.5 million. It’s a slight jump from the previous price of $340 million the board approved in June 2023. The...

www.usforacle.com

"The USF Board of Trustees approved a $407 million expenditure for USF’s 35,000-seat on-campus stadium and other associated projects during a Tuesday meeting."

"The stadium will cost $348.5 million. It’s a slight jump from the previous price of $340 million the board approved in June 2023. The motion passed unanimously with little discussion."

"USF has secured $358.1 million in funding for the stadium, including the $200 million loan issued by the USF Financing Corporation in September 2023. The university is accounting for $17 million in interest generated from the loan."

For those who are curious what "USF Financing Corporation" is and does................

USF Financing Corporation | University Treasurer

 

[CTBballfan243]

Other fan bases mock UConn for the situation and it adds to the perception that UConn isn't committed to football 100%. You can't compare UConn to UCLA and Miami. UConn is in no situation to be an exception to the rule. Sure it would be different if UConn were already in the club.

UConn should just build a dorm and a building or two a Rentschler Field, make it part of the Hartford Campus. Then the could say that they have an on campus stadium. It would a whole lot cheaper then building a new stadium in Storrs.

 

[Kolumbo]

I still don't understand why the on-canpus stadium is apparently so important for CR. There are other P4s without one. Would ours still be a problem if we were selling out? We were at one point and nobody was complaining about it. We just had record attendance since 2013, I don't see why we couldn't have regular sellouts in a few years

Other fan bases mock UConn for the situation and it adds to the perception that UConn isn't committed to football 100%. You can't compare UConn to UCLA and Miami. UConn is in no situation to be an exception to the rule. Sure it would be different if UConn were already in the club.

I've thought about this. UConn could try something to support its unorthodox approach to facilities. A marketing approach.

"UConn is a Big Time University. Connecticut is the 29th ranked state by population and the 48th state by land
Connecticut is UConn's campus" 😉

 

[B1GEast]

It's one game, congrats to USF, but honestly, let the season play out and they probably lose to Navy.

If the ACC back fills with USF that's not a conference anyone is going to be excited about.

The ACC soon might have a lot of holes to fill and we'll probably be one of those teams along with Memphis, but USF is not getting into the 10, 12 or SEC.

I don't get why everyone is making this out to be something huge, last year Memphis beat Florida State in a down year, nobody was knocking on their door.

The college football landscape is going to look very different. No one really knows what will happen.