In the months leading up to Brian Hartline's first game as South Florida's head coach, most of the curiosity about this team was focused on the offense.
That makes sense, of course. Hartline was the offensive coordinator/quarterback coach at Ohio State. He had a deserved reputation for developing elite wide receivers. And, as the saying goes, offense sells tickets.
But as the Bulls prepare to open the season against FIU on Saturday night, I'll be focused on USF's defense -- especially after defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge gave a preview of coming attractions earlier in training camp.
"We're going to be the aggressor. We're going to swing first and ask questions later," Aldridge said.
When asked what that approach could mean for Panthers quarterback JJ Kohl, Bulls defensive end Michael Williams lowered his voice and said quietly, "“[Kohl’s] going to be in for a long game. Our coaches told us to make his game as hard as possible, so that’s what we’re here for.”
FIU head coach Willie Simmons sparked a turnaround in 2025 in his first season at a program that hadn't been to a bowl game since 2019. He has made it clear that the Panthers should contend for the Conference USA championship this year.
Hartline has the same goal for USF in the American Conference.
While there are a lot of unknowns after both teams reloaded their rosters through the Transfer Portal, the Bulls would seem to have the edge in talent and depth. That's especially true on defense, where USF expects to use that depth to its advantage.
"In the back end, there's crazy depth. Up front, there's crazy depth, and at linebacker, there's crazy depth," defensive end C.J. Hicks said. "Anybody can go in the game at any time, and there's no drop-off."
Hicks -- a former 5-star recruit in high school before signing with Ohio State -- added an element that sounds like the mantra for this unit.
"We're hungry. All of us. We've all been overlooked, not given the shots that we wanted, but we're gonna bring it every single play and let you know about it," Hicks said. "As a defense, we're clicking. We're exactly where we need to be."
How to watch USF vs, FIU in Week 1
Date: Saturday, September 5
Time: 7 p.m.
How to watch: ESPN+ Play-by-Play: AJ Ricketts. Analyst: Patrick Murray. Sideline: Maria Trivelpiece
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. FIU?
FanDuel Sports book favors USF by 14.5 points. The ESPN matchup predictor gives the Bulls an 84.4 percent chance of winning.
Series between USF vs. FIU
The Bulls lead the series 2-0. The last time these teams played each other was in 2008 when the Bulls won 17-9.
What's the weather forecast for this game?
The temperature will be around 88 degrees with a "feels like" temperature of 98 degrees with 67 percent humidity. There is about a 20 percent chance of showers.
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