Here’s a look at USF’s opening opponent, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Last year: The Wildcats finished 3-8 in head coach Raymond Woodie’s first season there, but they won two of their last three and gave rival FAMU a fight before falling 24-7 to close the year. After starting 1-1, they lost six in a row, but let’s cut Woodie some slack.
The program was in free fall when he took over, compiling a 4-18 record from 2021-22 after canceling the 2020 season because of COVID-19.
One of the games canceled that season was against USF.
The Wildcats also displayed some discipline, committing only 49 penalties for the season and an average of 35 penalty yards per game.
Welcome back: Woodie was an assistant to Willie Taggart at USF from 2013-36 and followed him to Oregon and Florida State before serving as the associate head coach at Florida Atlantic from 2020-22.
He was a four-year letterman at Bethune-Cookman and graduated in 1996. He was a two-time first-team all Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection and was twice to the Division I-AA All-America team.
This is his first college head coaching job, although he was a high school head coach for 13 seasons combined at Palmetto and Bayshore high schools.
New faces: Woodie used the portal well to upgrade the team’s roster, bringing in 10 new players, including running back Cross Patton from Oregon.
Patton could be someone to watch. In B-CC’s second scrimmage, he had runs of 27 and 32 yards and also had a 10-yard TD run.
Woodie was encouraged.
"I saw so much improvement from last weekend, and that's what I am thrilled about with today's scrimmage," he said. "Guys were ready to play, ready to work, ready to hit. Everyone we put in for any situation, they embraced it and used the opportunity to his advantage."
Starting at quarterback: Junior Micah Bowens gets the ball, although it’s likely graduate student Tylik Bethea will see action, too.
Walter Simmons, who appeared in nine games last year as a quarterback, has switched to wide receiver. The Bulls need to be wary of possible trick plays with Simmons throwing from his wide receiver position.
Bottom line: While the Wildcats should be better than a year ago and opening games are dangerous, USF coach Alex Golesh will have his team ready to play. The Bulls could wear down Bethune-Cookman with their hurry-up offense, led by quarterback Byrum Brown.
Expect the Wildcats to put up fight, but the Bulls have too many weapons on offense and should be significantly improved on defense.
Prediction: USF 45, Bethune-Cookman 10.