From a shade tree to a $340 million stadium

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1997, the South Florida Bulls held their first team meeting under a simple shade tree because the school lacked proper football facilities. Today, the program is preparing for a $340 million on-campus stadium, marking a meteoric rise from humble beginnings to a powerhouse of the American Conference.

The Bulls' ascent began in 1997 under first head coach Jim Leavitt. During their first four seasons as a Division I-AA independent, the team established a winning culture, finishing with a winning record three times and appearing in the AP Poll twice. By 2000, the program was already competing with high-level opponents, defeating three top-15 ranked teams and the Division I-A Connecticut squad in a single season.

The program's most dramatic peak occurred in 2007. After a series of high-profile upsets against ranked teams like Auburn and West Virginia, the Bulls reached a No. 2 national ranking in the AP Poll following a 64–12 victory over UCF. However, this peak was short-lived; injuries plagued the squad, and they fell back to No. 21 in the BCS standings by the end of the season. This era also saw the program's first bowl appearances, including a victory over East Carolina in 2006.

The program has since navigated a volatile coaching carousel, including high-profile tenures by Skip Holtz and Willie Taggart, and the hiring of Charlie Strong in 2016. While the team has faced significant struggles—including two seasons in 2012 and 2013 where they posted the worst records in school history—they have also set numerous records. The Bulls reached a 23-game run of scoring over 30 points in 2017 after winning nine consecutive matches, equaling a previous AP Poll era mark held by Oregon.

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