Game Day Guide: USF Bulls at Army Black Knights

Kickoff Info

USF hits the road for the first time in 2026 when the Bulls face Army on Saturday, September 12 at noon ET. The game will be played at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York, and will air on CBS Sports Network, with radio coverage on Q105FM/Bulls Unlimited.

The game is also USF's first American Athletic Conference matchup of the season. Both teams enter the game 1-0 after opening the season with wins.

Tickets

Game Tickets

USF Event (sidearm-529-14389)

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Weather

West Point is expected to see mild conditions around kickoff Saturday, with temperatures in the low to mid-70s. Current forecasts call for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies during the afternoon.

Fans should still check the forecast before heading to the game, as conditions can change.

Coaches Thoughts

Brian Hartline knows Army presents a very different challenge than the Bulls faced in their season opener.

"The way Army operates, frankly, it feeds into everything I believe in," Hartline said.

That starts with how USF handles Army's triple-option offense. Hartline said the Bulls need to account for all three decisions involved in the option and rely on discipline and effort rather than overthinking the assignment.

"When there's a triple option, there are three decisions that have to be made and you need an answer for all three," Hartline said. "The best way to erase anything is high effort, high discipline, running through the football with effort."

Hartline also pointed to the lessons from USF's 19-9 win over FIU. While the Bulls protected the football and limited penalties, the offense finished with 208 total yards.

"We left a lot of opportunities on the field," Hartline said. "We want to make the routine plays routinely. We want to execute on a consistent basis, not up and down."

The Bulls' head coach also made it clear that the goal is to improve without losing the things USF did well in the opener.

"We're trying to get some things fixed, but we're also trying to make sure the things we did well remain a staple."

USF's Offense

Michael Van Buren Jr. will make his second start at quarterback for the Bulls after completing 11 of 18 passes for 100 yards against FIU.

D.J. Crowther led USF's rushing attack in the opener with 42 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Bulls also showed they can win without relying on turnovers or explosive offensive numbers. USF did not turn the ball over against FIU and finished the game with 108 rushing yards.

Nico Gramatica provided a major part of the scoring in the opener, making all four of his field-goal attempts, including a 53-yarder.

USF's Defense

USF's defense gave up 381 total yards to FIU but kept the Panthers out of the end zone until the final seconds.

The Bulls forced three turnovers and allowed just 80 rushing yards. Tayvion Beasley recorded an interception that set up a USF touchdown, while Amarion Fortenberry recovered a fumble.

That defense will face a very different challenge against an Army offense that rushed for 569 yards in its season opener.

Key Matchups

• **USF defensive line vs. Army's rushing attack:** Army ran for 569 yards against Bryant. USF will need to slow down the Black Knights on the ground.

• **USF offense vs. Army's defense:** Army held Bryant to three points and did not allow a touchdown in the opener. The Bulls will face a defense coming off a strong first performance.

• **Third downs and turnovers:** USF forced three turnovers and committed none against FIU. Army converted six of nine third downs against Bryant.

What to Watch For

Both teams enter the matchup at 1-0, but they got there in very different ways.

Army opened its season with a 59-3 win over Bryant and rushed for 569 yards, making the Black Knights' ground game the biggest challenge facing the USF defense.

The Bulls opened the Brian Hartline era with a 19-9 win over FIU. USF forced three turnovers, did not commit one, and got four field goals from Nico Gramatica.

Saturday's matchup will provide an early look at how USF's defense handles one of the nation's most run-heavy offenses, while the Bulls' offense will look to build on its first game against an Army defense that allowed just three points in its opener.

A few things to watch: Can USF slow down Army's rushing attack? Can the Bulls create more offensive production on the road? And can USF continue the turnover margin that helped it win the season opener?

Getting There

**Michie Stadium** 700 Mills Road West Point, NY 10996

Fans attending without an advance parking pass are directed to enter through Washington Gate at 917 Washington Road. General public parking is directed through Washington Gate.

**Go Bulls.**