Memphis Tigers Face USF Bulls in Primetime Clash
ESPN will broadcast SportsCenter from Raymond James Stadium before the 8 p.m. kickoff.
By Fernando Rojas ·
The University of South Florida football team hosts the Memphis Tigers on Thursday night for a conference matchup that carries elevated national attention. ESPN will set up its SportsCenter crew at Bulls Bay, located outside Raymond James Stadium, to begin broadcasting at 5 p.m. The game itself is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
The visiting Tigers enter the contest with a 7-2 record. They have won five of their last six games, establishing themselves as one of the top contenders in the American Conference. The home Bulls are currently 6-3 and look to rebound from a recent setback.
USF lost its previous game on the road at East Carolina. The defeat stung the squad, particularly the manner in which it ended. Junior linebacker Grayson Howard described the loss as emotional, citing the team's frustration over falling victim to a game-ending field goal.
"It was definitely an emotional loss, especially losing on a field goal," Howard said. "Really unfortunate, but I think we're really excited for this week. This is a really good team that we're going into," he added.
Head Coach Brian Hartline acknowledged the natural energy that comes with hosting a strong conference rival at home. He noted that the presence of the television crew adds another layer of excitement for the players. Hartline hopes the unique environment will drive the home crowd to a high-energy performance.
"Very excited about the team, very excited about the environment," Hartline said. "And hopefully Bulls Nation will show out in a big way on a Thursday night against a great opponent," he added.
Howard expressed his enthusiasm for the media presence on campus. He believes the additional attention will help fuel the team's performance against the talented Memphis squad. The players are preparing for a physical and fast-paced contest in front of a live audience and a national television broadcast.
