The South Florida Bulls enter the 2026 college football season facing one of the most dramatic roster transformations in program history. After a 9-4 campaign in 2025, South Florida saw head coach Alex Golesh depart for Auburn, while star quarterback Byrum Brown and a significant portion of the roster also left through the transfer portal.
In response, new head coach Brian Hartline attacked the portal aggressively, bringing in 62 new players and assembling the top-rated transfer class in the Group of Six. The result is a Bulls team that looks almost completely different heading into Hartline’s first season.
The 2026 campaign also carries historical significance. It marks the 30th season of South Florida football and the Bulls’ final year playing at Raymond James Stadium before moving into a new on-campus stadium in 2027.
A New Identity Under Brian Hartline
Hartline arrives in Tampa with a reputation built largely around his work with wide receivers, but his first challenge at USF will be much broader establishing an entirely new identity. The Bulls are moving away from the previous staff’s hyper-tempo spread offense and toward a more physical, downhill approach.
Offensive coordinator Tim Beck will be tasked with implementing a smashmouth style designed to control the line of scrimmage and create opportunities for an overhauled group of skill players. With so much roster turnover, early-season chemistry could be just as important as talent.
The biggest question on offense is who will replace Brown. The competition has developed into a battle between LSU/Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren Jr. and Florida State transfer Luke Kromenhoek.
Van Buren enters Tampa as the early frontrunner. He brings significant mobility and 2,896 career passing yards, giving the Bulls a quarterback capable of making plays both inside and outside the pocket.
Kromenhoek presents a very different challenge for defenses. The 6-foot-4 former top-30 recruit possesses a big arm and brings considerable physical upside to the competition.
Whoever wins the job will inherit an offense undergoing a major philosophical change. The quarterback will be expected to make plays through the air while also operating behind a rebuilt offensive line and a physical rushing attack.
South Florida returns only one starter up front, guard Thomas Shrader, making the offensive line one of the biggest areas to watch. The Bulls have attempted to address the losses by bringing in experienced FCS and Group of Five talent.
The projected front includes Ethan Green and Michael Wooten at tackle, Caleb Cook at guard and Missouri State transfer Cash Hudson at center. Preseason All-AAC guard Julius Tate provides another important piece in the interior.
The transition will be critical. If the new line can establish itself quickly, Beck should have the foundation necessary to make the Bulls’ physical offensive philosophy work.
The Bulls intend to establish themselves on the ground, with running backs Alvon Isaac and D.J. Crowther leading a downhill rotation. That rushing attack could help take pressure off whichever quarterback wins the starting job.
At wide receiver, Hartline’s background gives South Florida an obvious advantage in recruiting and developing talent. The Bulls brought in several intriguing options, including Preseason All-AAC selection Mudia Reuben, Jaron Glover, Bryson Rodgers and a healthy Jaden Alexis.
Alexis’ return could be particularly important after injuries limited his availability. The combination of a physical running game and a talented receiving corps gives South Florida the pieces to become a balanced offense if the new system comes together quickly.
Defense Undergoes Its Own Transformation
The changes aren’t limited to offense. Defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge inherits a unit with massive turnover, with just one official defensive starter returning from the 2025 team.
Rather than simply trying to replace individual players, South Florida is building an entirely new defensive identity around Power Four transfers and a multiple look, aggressive scheme.
The Bulls are hoping that infusion of size and experience can allow the defense to play fast despite its lack of continuity.
Preseason All-AAC defensive tackle Asani Redwood leads the interior of the defensive line and will be one of the most important returning pieces.
He will be joined by highly touted Ohio State transfer C.J. Hicks, who brings 44 games of major-college experience to the Bulls. Hicks’ ability to create pressure could become a major weapon for Aldridge.
If South Florida can consistently generate pressure without having to commit extra defenders, it could make life considerably easier for a secondary that is also undergoing significant changes.
At linebacker, Florida transfer Grayson Howard steps into a central role. Howard brings SEC experience and the size necessary to become the centerpiece of the defense. He will be joined by returning rotational contributor Michael Williams II.
The Bulls will need Howard to quickly become a leader on a defense filled with newcomers. His ability to diagnose plays and provide stability in the middle could be especially important during the early weeks of the season.
Safety Tavin Ward is the lone returning defensive starter and provides valuable continuity after recording 60 tackles last season.
Ward will be paired with Preseason All-AAC safety Ayden Jackson, while Minnesota transfer Za’Quan Bryan is expected to help stabilize the cornerback position.
The secondary’s biggest challenge will be developing communication. With so many new faces, the talent may be there, but the group will have to build chemistry quickly against an AAC schedule featuring several capable passing attacks.
2026 Schedule
South Florida opens the season at home against FIU on September 5 before traveling to Army the following week. The Bulls then host Delaware State before traveling to Bowling Green. Conference play begins with a home matchup against Temple on October 3, followed by a Thursday-night road game at UTSA.
After hosting Kent State, South Florida faces a challenging stretch that includes UAB, East Carolina, Memphis, FAU and Tulane. The final two games will be particularly interesting, with the Bulls traveling to Boca Raton to face FAU on November 21 before hosting Tulane on November 27.
South Florida’s 2026 Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location |
| Sept. 5 | FIU Panthers | Tampa, FL |
| Sept. 12 | Army Black Knights | West Point, NY |
| Sept. 19 | Delaware State Hornets | Tampa, FL |
| Sept. 26 | Bowling Green Falcons | Bowling Green, OH |
| Oct. 3 | Temple Owls | Tampa, FL |
| Oct. 8 | UTSA Roadrunners | San Antonio, TX |
| Oct. 17 | Kent State Golden Flashes | Tampa, FL |
| Oct. 31 | UAB Blazers | Tampa, FL |
| Nov. 6 | East Carolina Pirates | Greenville, NC |
| Nov. 12 | Memphis Tigers | Tampa, FL |
| Nov. 21 | FAU Owls | Boca Raton, FL |
| Nov. 27 | Tulane Green Wave | Tampa, FL |
A Season of Transition
The 2026 South Florida Bulls are difficult to compare directly with last year’s team because so much has changed. Golesh is gone. Brown is gone. Much of the roster is gone. In their place is a new coaching staff, 62 newcomers and a roster assembled around Hartline’s vision.
That makes 2026 about more than simply trying to repeat last year’s 9-4 record. It is the beginning of a new era for the program.
Hartline will be judged on how quickly he can turn a collection of transfers into a cohesive team. The quarterback competition, offensive-line chemistry and defensive communication will all be major storylines throughout the season.
For South Florida, the stakes are heightened by the timing. The Bulls are celebrating 30 years of football while preparing to close the Raymond James Stadium chapter before moving into their new on-campus home in 2027.
If Hartline can successfully blend the newcomers with the remaining veterans, South Florida could enter the final season at Raymond James Stadium with plenty of momentum—and potentially lay the foundation for an exciting new chapter in Tampa.
