A year after being an afterthought when the season began, USF football now included in potential playoff chatter

Completing summer camp for USF football means the impatient wait for the opening game against Bethune-Cookman University about to start. While we here at Green, Gold, and Bold believe good things are ahead for the Bulls in the upcoming campaign, some reputable outlets are taking it a step higher.

The Athletic (pay site) included USF on a list of 13 potential sleepers to make this year's expanded playoff field.

“The Bulls took a huge leap forward in Alex Golesh’s first season as head coach, going from 1-11 to 7-6 with a 45-0 bowl win against Syracuse. With star quarterback Byrum Brown back and a defense that can only get better, keep an eye on Tampa,” Athletic reporter Chris Vannini wrote.

“The non-conference schedule is tough with Alabama and Miami, but the conference schedule could be favorable, with USF set to play four of the bottom five teams in the AAC preseason poll, plus conference frontrunner Memphis at home. If the Bulls can get through the first five games at 3-2, watch out for a late run.”

Now, we know how these stories come about. Sports sites need somethiing to generate traffic in slow times, and the editor probably said, "Hey, let's do a what-if prediction about the playoffs." I wouldn't suggest anyone run to Vegas based on USF showing up on this list.

However, it does speak to the fact the Bulls are on some radars now and it's definitely a glass more than half-full view. It won’t take long before we know how realistic that is. I suggest we’ll know after the Miami game in Week 4 if the Bulls are serious contenders for the post-season tournament as the Group of 5 representative.

As much as we’d love to see USF roll into Tuscaloosa in Week 2 and leave with Alabama’s backside in its travel bag, that’s a tall cedar to climb. The Miami game feels different, though. It should generate a decent TV audience and it will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Miami is talented enough to attract attention, especially if the ‘Canes beat Florida in Gainesville to open the season. Beating Miami would send USF flying into American Athletic Conference play, where the first two games are at Tulane and home against Memphis.

Winning the AAC is probably the Bulls’ only route to the playoffs. It’s true, however, that USF is a chic pick (not to mention a great story) to charge back into the national consciousness this year after an extended absence.

As we’ve mentioned here before, the vibe on Fowler Avenue right now is real – not cocky, but overflowing with quiet confidence.

While grizzled former sportswriters like me might eye a game at Alabama with trepidation, I don’t think the young men in the USF football helmets look at it that way. I don’t believe there’s any game on the schedule the Bulls don’t believe they can win.

So, taking it back to where we came in, there is a valid reason to say the Bulls could be that team that joins the post-season playoff party.

It starts with belief, and USF has plenty of that.