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South Florida enters the 2026 season with rising expectations and major national attention. The Bulls finished 9-3 in 2025 and earned another bowl appearance. New head coach Brian Hartline now leads a program expected to challenge for an American Athletic Conference title. The conference schedule release also showed strong television interest in South Florida.
The American announced several early kickoff times and television windows across major networks. ESPN platforms, CBS Sports Network, FOX, and ACC Network will all carry conference games. The schedule also features multiple prime-time opportunities for the Bulls throughout the season.
South Florida opens the season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Florida International in Tampa. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The matchup gives Hartline his first regular-season game as South Florida’s head coach. The home opener also offers fans an early look at the new era surrounding the program.
The Bulls travel to Army on Sept. 12 for their first conference game of the season. Kickoff is set for noon on CBS Sports Network. The game marks South Florida’s earliest conference opener in program history. It also becomes the program’s first trip to West Point since 2003.
South Florida returns home on Sept. 19 against Delaware State. The game begins at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The matchup closes the Bulls’ nonconference home schedule before conference play intensifies during October and November.
Several conference games received national prime-time television slots later in the season. South Florida visits UTSA on Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The game will air on either ESPN or ESPN2. The Bulls then travel to East Carolina on Nov. 6 for another 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN2.
One of the biggest home games arrives on Nov. 12 against Memphis. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. on either ESPN or ESPN2. The matchup could become a major late-season showcase at Raymond James Stadium. Both teams may still be competing for conference positioning at that point.
South Florida also appears in the American’s Black Friday and Saturday flex scheduling group. Tulane’s visit to Tampa remains flexible until Oct. 11. The conference could place the game on ESPN if both programs remain title contenders entering the final weeks.
The American enters 2026 following a successful 2025 season. The conference produced nine bowl teams and a College Football Playoff appearance by Tulane. South Florida’s television exposure reflects growing national respect for the program.
Hartline steps into a season filled with opportunity, visibility, and expectations. The national television schedule gives the Bulls several chances to prove themselves on a larger stage.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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