USF Gets Into Game Week as Opener With FIU Gets Closer
It finally feels like game week around USF!
The Bulls are preparing for Saturday's season opener against FIU, and head coach Brian Hartline is focused on getting his team into a routine.
For the first few weeks of the season, USF will play on Saturdays, giving the Bulls a chance to establish a rhythm before the schedule eventually changes with Thursday and Friday games.
"We're creatures of habit, so the more we can get into routine, the better the outcome," Hartline said.
The Bulls have already had a chance to rehearse what game week will look like.
Last week, USF went through what Hartline described as a mock week. The team followed its normal Monday and Tuesday schedule, held its Thursday practice and Friday walkthrough, then went to the team hotel.
The players practiced eating at the hotel and went through the different parts of the setup, including finding rooms for walkthroughs and the training room.
On Saturday, the team went to Raymond James Stadium and went through its game-day routine. That included taping, warmups, substitutions, scripted plays and special teams work.
Hartline said the team tried to replicate as much of the upcoming game-day schedule as possible.
"We did as much as we could with the schedule," Hartline said.
Now the Bulls are getting closer to the real thing.
After spending camp competing against their own teammates, the players are eager to see another team across the line of scrimmage.
"We haven't played a game yet," Hartline said. "It's time to suit up, get ready the right way, execute and then have competitive stamina through the entire game."
Williams ready for fifth season
Michael Williams II, a Michigan four-star recruit once holding his high school's single-season sack record with 23.5, returns for a fifth season as one of USF's most experienced defensive linemen
The defensive lineman is entering his fifth year with the Bulls and was recently named this season's Leroy Selmon Award honoree.
Williams said the honor means a lot, particularly because of what Selmon represented to the program.
One part of Selmon's legacy that stood out to Williams was his ability to bring people together.
Williams said he has seen firsthand the difference between teams that are together and teams that aren't.
"I've seen, personally, how a team that's together and a team that isn't together are two completely different teams," Williams said.
Williams has also had to work through injuries throughout his football career. He said he tore both ACLs in high school, one during his junior year and the other during his senior year.
After coming back from those injuries, Williams said he recorded 24 sacks during his senior season.
His time at USF has brought more challenges, but Williams said giving up football was never something he considered.
"I'm honestly very proud of myself for never giving up," Williams said.
Now, with the opener approaching, Williams knows there are challenges that come with the first game.
He pointed to first-game jitters, penalties and mistakes as things the Bulls need to control.
"Week one is when the most mistakes happen," Williams said.
For the defense, Williams said the first goal is stopping the run. Doing that, he said, requires an aggressive approach.
"You can't stop the run being soft," Williams said.
Williams also talked about the defensive line and the players he expects to contribute up front, mentioning Major, Sonny and CJ.
For Williams, the message for the defensive front was simple.
"Fight," he said.
Cook - Offense ready for the opener
Caleb Cook arrives at USF from Georgia Southern, where he earned two All-Sun Belt honors, including first-team recognition in 2025, and a 2026 Outland Trophy watch list nod.
The feeling on the offensive side is similar.
Offensive lineman Caleb Cook said the Bulls have used their additional preparation time for the opener and believes the offense is ready to play.
"If we would have played last week, we would have been great," Cook said. "That's how ready we are."
Cook said the offensive line understands the responsibility that comes with the way USF wants to play.
That includes opening running lanes, protecting the quarterback and helping create opportunities for the offense.
"If you're not good up front, chances are you're not going to be good anywhere else because that's where it all starts up front," Cook said.
The offensive line has also taken Hartline's "win the moment" message to heart.
For Cook, that means taking care of each day before worrying about Saturday.
The Bulls have been working toward the opener since January, Cook said, and the goal now is to make the most of each day leading up to the game.
Hartline has emphasized the same approach.
"Winning the moment and being in the moment is the only thing that dictates potential outcomes," Hartline said.
The Bulls now have the final stretch of preparation before Saturday.
After months of work and a full mock game week, USF is getting closer to its first opportunity to line up against someone other than a teammate.
For Hartline, the focus remains on preparation.
"We will prepare and look forward to the opportunity," he said.