clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

South Florida cancels game with FAU on Saturday

The Bulls don’t have any Covid-19 outbreaks, but after facing a Notre Dame team that does, their in-state game this weekend could be in jeopardy.

By Collin Sherwin Updated
South Florida quarterback Jordan McCloud throws a pass during the NCAA football game between the South Florida Bulls and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on September 7th, 2019 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: The South Florida Bulls have pulled out of their game with Florida Atlantic this weekend.

Be advised “work in good faith with FAU to identify a future date to reschedule the game” doesn’t necessarily mean in 2020. The teams do not have a mutual open date between now and the end of the season.

The South Florida Bulls lost 52-0 last weekend at Notre Dame, but that might not be the biggest L the team took from South Bend. After the Fighting Irish announced Covid-19 outbreaks on their team earlier this week, now USF has paused all team activities due to the virus as well despite no outbreaks or positive tests at this time.

Not to be cynical here, but this is a game that might not be wholly in USF’s interests to play this weekend. The Bulls opened as a 5.5 point underdog to the Florida Atlantic Owls on Saturday in Boca Raton, though that has been bet down to +3.

And after the thrashing they took against Notre Dame, it’s clear there’s not much of a chance for USF to compete for a title in 2020. FAU has won Conference USA two of the last three seasons, but that’s considered a league of far less quality than the American Athletic Conference where USF competes.

And did we mention FAU also employs 50% of all former head coaches in USF history? Willie Taggart leads the Owls in his first season this year after being let go at Florida State. And his defensive coordinator is Jim Leavitt, considered by many to be the father of USF Football for starting the program and leading it for 13 years before being fired in 2009.

It’s a total rebuild for the Bulls and new head coach Jeff Scott, who has yet to have a full recruiting class after the shambolic Charlie Strong tenure. Getting boat raced in Boca probably isn’t great for the long-term trajectory of the program. It’s a game USF doesn’t really need to play except for contractual obligations, and the liability of those is mitigated in the midst of Covid-19.

We’re not saying USF is ducking anyone... we’re just saying it might behoove (get it, hooves, Bulls, ha!) the team to not make the drive across Route 60 on Friday.

More From DraftKings Network