The University of South Florida (USF) athletics program has had a remarkable year, achieving numerous milestones across various sports. Men’s basketball proudly claimed their first American Athletic Conference regular season title, while men’s track and field successfully swept both the indoor and outdoor American championships. The men’s golf team also celebrated their sixth American conference championship win. In volleyball, the team secured their first-ever regular-season American title and their first conference title since 2002.
In cheerleading, the All Girl Cheer team excelled at the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) College Nationals by winning two national titles. Several teams, including volleyball, softball, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball, faced and triumphed against top-10 ranked opponents, showcasing the high caliber of competition within USF athletics.
Reflecting on the past year, Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly expressed pride in the success of USF Athletics and acknowledged the incredible achievements of student-athletes both in competition and in academics. The football team concluded the fall season with a thrilling five-overtime victory over San Jose State in the Hawai’i Bowl, marking back-to-back bowl wins and highlighting senior wide receiver Sean Atkins’ historic accomplishment of becoming the all-time leading receiver for USF.
An exciting milestone for the university includes the groundbreaking of a new $340 million on-campus stadium, which promises to be a significant development for USF Athletics and a source of pride for the Bulls family. Additionally, the 2024 USF Athletics Hall of Fame recently welcomed new inductees, celebrating the foundations laid by former athletes and coaches.
USF student-athletes have also performed remarkably well in academics, maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher for 20 consecutive semesters and achieving record numbers in the latest Graduation Success Rate report, with five teams achieving a perfect 100% graduation success rate.
Looking ahead to 2025, Kelly urged the community to rally behind spring sports, particularly the debut of the women’s lacrosse team in February. He emphasized the importance of community support and encouraged fans to take advantage of early ticket deals for the upcoming season.
As the year comes to a close, USF Athletics is poised for an exciting future, and Kelly thanked the USF family and the Tampa Bay community for their support, wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year.
Overall, this year has been a testament to the hard work and dedication of USF athletes, coaches, and supporters, creating a hopeful outlook as the Bulls continue to strive for excellence both on and off the field.