The full non-conference schedule for the USF men’s basketball team includes a road trip to Tuscaloosa for a game against SEC power Alabama on December 17.
First-year Bulls coach Brian Hodgson was an assistant to ‘Bama coach Nate Oats from 2019-23 before taking the head coaching job at Arkansas State.
The Crimson Tide finished 28-9 last year and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Duke.
Alabama finished sixth in the NET rankings used by the NCAA selection committee to select and seed teams for the tournament.
Really proud of the non-conference schedule we put together, and the high level games on this schedule! Charging Forward!!!! https://t.co/fxnLnKqIkm
— Bryan Hodgson (@CoachBHodgson) July 16, 2025
The Bulls will also visit Oklahoma State on November 19. The Sooners finished 41st last season in the NET rankings.
Utah State (37th last season in NET) and the College of Charleston come to Tampa to complete the home-and-home series that began last year. The Bulls lost to both teams on the road in 2024.
Other home games include Florida A&M on November 3 to open the season, Coppin State (November 12), Georgia College and State (November 22), and UMBC (December 21).
The Bulls will meet George Washington in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off in Uncasville, CT. on November 8.
USF heads to Kennesaw State for the inaugural “Love Wins Classic,” honoring the late Amir Abdur-Rahim. The programs, each coached by Coach Amir, plan to meet annually beginning this season.
They will also have three games in three days from November 26-28 in the Battle For Atlantis at Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
The eight-team field includes Colorado State, St. Mary’s, Vanderbilt, VCU, Virginia Tech, Western Kentucky, and USF’s American Athletic Conference rival, Wichita State.
The pairings for that event will be announced later.
The Bulls are approaching this season with great expectations.
USF's 2025 recruiting class of five incoming freshmen and eight transfers ranks No. 29 nationally according to 247Sports composite rankings.
"This class sets the tone for what we're building at USF," Hodgson said. "We've brought in high-character, extremely talented young men who thrive on competition and embrace the daily work it takes to win.
“They're going to help us build on the foundation that's already in place and push our championship culture forward in Tampa. I'm truly excited about the direction we're headed."