USF is on the doorstep of football’s Top 25, checking in Sunday at No. 26 in the Associated Press poll.
The Bulls, 3-1 overall, received 53 votes, which was the most of any team in the American Conference. Memphis and North Texas were the other conference teams to receive votes.
Interestingly, neither Navy (4-0) nor Tulane (4-1) from the American received votes.
The Bulls climbed to No. 18 in the AP poll after defeating Florida, but fell out after losing 49-12 at No. 3 Miami.
Oregon jumps to No. 2 and Ole Miss has its highest ranking in 10 years. See where other top teams rank.https://t.co/7dTTUiT9QR
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) September 28, 2025
Another poll peculiarity is that Florida State fell 10 spots to No. 18 after losing to Virginia, which was unranked at the time. While FSU, 3-1, has a win over Alabama, the Seminoles dined on cupcakes in their other two wins -- routing East Texas State 77-3 and Kent State 66-10. Still, that was good enough to get FSU ranked 8th nationally before the loss to Virginia,
The Cavaliers landed at No. 24 this week, six spots behind the Seminoles despite the win.
USF had an open date over the weekend, but opens conference play at home on Friday against Charlotte. The Bulls are 27.5-point favorites on FanDuel.
The 49ers, also coming off a bye week, are 1-3 under first-year coach Tim Albin. Charlotte hired him from Ohio University, where the Bobcats were Mid-American Conference champions last season.
Charlotte is 0-1 in American Conference play, having lost to Rice 28-17 on September 18.
USF has won both games it has played against the 49ers, and they haven’t been close. The rolled 48-14 in Tampa in 2023, and then demolished the 49ers 59-24 last season in Charlotte.
The 49ers fired head coach Biff Poggi after that game.