After last week's fingernail-biting finish at Army, South Florida is back home against an opponent that, on paper, is outmatched.
Yes, Delaware State has enjoyed a renaissance under second-year coach DeSean Jackson. The Hornets' 8-4 finish in 2025 marked their first winning season in 12 years, and they're off to a 2-1 start this season. Good on them.
But the Bulls represent a different-level challenge for the visitors, and it would be stunning if this game is remotely close. USF has defeated 12 straight FCS opponents and is 35-1 against the FCS overall since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2000.
So, what does USF get out of a game like this?
With a win, the Bulls would be 3-0 for the first time since 2018. That's good.
And if the score is as lopsided as most people believe it will be, it would be a chance for some backups to get meaningful reps. Head coach Brian Hartline and his staff preach process and preparation, so if the Hornets are counting on USF to overlook them, that ain't happening.
"(This game) requires your utmost attention and your utmost preparation when we go out there and throw routes on air and hand the ball from backfield action," Hartline said earlier this week. "So a lot of work put in this week, and it got the guys attention. They're not patting themselves on the back. It was a good hard day of practice here in Tampa."
After Delaware State this week and a trip to Bowling Green next Saturday, the Bulls will basically be in American Conference mode for the rest of the season. The only non-conference game remaining after that is Kent State on October 17 for homecoming. That was the opponent the Bulls found in a scramble drill after Alabama moved the originally scheduled game for this season to a later date.
The Bulls will focus on keeping things clean. They have only seven penalties combined in their two games, which ranks 13th in the nation for the fewest number of flags. USF is one of 19 teams in the country with no turnovers after two games.
"You have to be where your feet are,'' center Thomas Shrader said. "You've got to embrace the hard. We can't be complacent that we beat Army. We have to move on and look forward to the next game.''
How to watch USF vs. Delaware State in Week 3
Date: Saturday, September 20 at Raymond James Stadium
Time: 7 p.m.
How to watch: ESPN+ Play-by-Play: TJ Rives, Analyst: Henry Burris
How to listen: Q105 FM & Tune-In Digital Radio – Bulls Unlimited. Play by play: Jim Lighthall. Analyst: Sam Barrington. Sideline: Joey Johnson. Pregame Show (1 hour prior to kick): Darek Sharp, Rock Riley and Joey Johnson
What are the betting odds for USF vs. Delaware State?
FanDuel Sports book favors USF by 36.5 points. The ESPN matchup predictor gives USF a 98.9 percent chance of winning.
Series between USF vs. Delaware State
This is the first meeting between the two programs.
What's the weather forecast for this game?
At kickoff, the temperature will be around 81 degrees with a feels-like temperature of 86. There is a 35 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms.
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