ESPN will shine a spotlight on USF with SportsCenter on campus before the UTSA game

USF's game Thursday night against American Conference rival UTSA was already huge with College Football Playoff implications, but on Monday the Bulls learned that ESPN has decided to add another layer of hype to the event.

Before the game, ESPN will air its signature SportsCenter from the plaza outside the Marshall Center on the USF campus. Anchor Matt Barrie and other members of the broadcast team will be there to tell the story of what's happening with the Bulls. That will air from 2-3 p.m., followed by a special 5 p.m. edition ofSportsCenter live from Raymond James Stadium

"What's going on here is some pretty cool stuff in terms of in terms of the stadium and this football complex, I don't take for granted," head coach Alex Golesh said. "The last time we were at (Raymond James) that place was rocking.

"For us to be able to continue to showcase it, put put the city of Tampa, and put this university on display, is absolutely huge. That's what major college football is about, and that's what we've worked incredibly hard to build."

The game will be shown on ESPN, making it the eighth of USF's nine games to that point televised by either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, or the SEC Network, owned by Disney, the network's parent company.

The Bulls haven't played since the 34-31 loss at Memphis on October 25. They are 6-2 overall and are one of six American teams with one conference loss. The extra time off has given some of USF's injured players more time to recuperate.

That could include receiver Chas Nimrod, who has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury. He wasn't listed on the depth chart among five receivers for this game, but Golesh said Nimrod -- who provides big-play ability -- could be ready by Thursday.

"Chaz is, is doing, doing really, really well. He's out out here, running, prepping. I think it'll be really, really close," Golesh said. "He's pushing like crazy to get back. He's physically close. He's been mentally super in it, and our doctors trainers have done an incredible job getting him back healthy, so it'll be really close. Our hope is that he's able to go."

UTSA comes in off a 48-26 blowout win over Tulane that helped throw the conference race into chaos, The Roadrunners are 4-4 and have a quick-strike offense led by quarterback Owen McCown. He was 31-of-33 passing for 370 yards and four touchdowns against Tulane.

"He's a veteran who has played a ton of football," Golesh said. "A week ago he played lights out, and really has all year. He's completing close to 70% of his passes, (with) four interceptions on the year. Doesn't make dumb decisions. Really takes care of the football.

"And for them, it starts with the run game. Their running back is truly one of the best in the country. You watch Robert Henry and what he's been able to do. He's almost at 1,000 (yards) through eight week."

A win would keep USF in the hunt for a berth in the American championship game, while a loss would all but eliminate the Bulls from contention. The stakes are that high, and it has been a while since we could say that about the Bulls in November.

"I think at the end of the day right now November, it's the detail, it's the physicality, it's the effort. Who can sustain a level of focus long and probably harder to do right now in college football than it's ever been. But if you can stay focused and detailed out longer, you'll have a chance to go compete at the end of November," Golesh said.

"That's where we're trying to build to. I'm really excited about our team. I think the focus has been right. I think their approach has been right. I think they're they've taken it and learned and grown, and I'm super excited about our leadership, the steps that they've taken to demand that it's done the right way.."