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USF Football Announces UF Series Will Begin 2021 in Tampa; Also Fill 2019 Date with FCS South Carolina State

You see what happens when you work together with schools instead of being #MadOnline?

By Nathan Bond
Idaho v Florida Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images

The University of South Florida Bulls football team announced today that they’ve moved up the second game of the three-game series versus Florida Gators originally slated for September 9, 2023 at Raymond James Stadium to September 11, 2021.

The series was supposed to begin in Gainesville in 2022, but the Gators and Bulls worked to fill a hole in their schedules and decided to make the USF home game the first to start the series.

From the release:

“The University of Florida has been great working with us on this series and we appreciate being able to make adjustments that work best for both programs,” USF vice president of Athletics Michael Kelly said. “We are excited to get the Gators in Tampa two years earlier than originally scheduled and to add to our 2021 non-conference schedule that also includes games at N.C. State and BYU.”

The other two games in Gainesville (2022 and 2025) are still on as scheduled. There was concern among fans that after USF traveled to Gainesville in 2022, UF would buy out the rest of the deal without the Bulls being able to host the Gators at Ray Jay (again). This assures we’ll see the Gators in Tampa, and not just for the Outback Bowl.

USF Fills 2019 Open Date

Also in the release, Kelly announced that USF has filled the open date in 2019 with a home game versus FCS South Carolina State. Central Michigan was originally supposed to face the Bulls, but that series was mutually canceled before Kelly took the USF job.

The Bulldogs went 5-6 (4-3 MEAC) in 2018 where they lost to Georgia Southern and C. early in the year before winning four of their last five games.

The Daily Stampede has requested the contract details of the game.

Future Non-Con Slate is #Good

2019: Wisconsin, @Georgia Tech, BYU

2020: @Texas, Nevada, FAU, (Open date)

2021: @NC State, Florida, @BYU, (Open date)

2022: Texas, @Florida, @Louisville, UMass

2023: @Western Kentucky, San Jose State, (Two open dates)

2024: Western Kentucky, @Texas, NC State, Louisville