USF (2-0; 0-0 American) will host Illinois (2-0; 0-0 Big Ten) tonight, Friday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 PM (ET) at Raymond James Stadium. ESPN will broadcast the game and fans can listen to the contest on USF Football Radio Network (AM 820 in Bay Area). There is some buzz around town about this game and we give you 12 reasons why we are excited about it.

1 This is the first time Illinois and South Florida are meeting. Illinois is scheduled to host South Florida at Soldier Field in Chicago next season (Sept. 15, 2018).

2 USF QB Quinton Flowers is one rushing TD from the USF career record of 32 set by his former teammate and current Indianapolis Colt Marlon Mack. With 2,731 career rushing yards, Flowers stands second all-time at USF, 878 shy of Mack (3,609) and 216 shy of Tim Tebow (2,947) for the most ever by an FBS QB in the state of Florida.

3 In the wake of Hurricane Irma’s impact on Florida, USF is providing complimentary admission to tonight’s football game vs. Illinois to first responders and their families as well as to Florida high school football teams, many of which have had their games cancelled as a result of the storm. Bulls are expecting over 80 high school football teams to be in attendance.

4 Illinois (2-0) is looking for it’s first 3-0 start since 2011 and it’s first non-conference road win since 2007 (at Syracuse).

5 Florida is home to 14 current Illini and the former home of head coach Lovie Smith. Smith returns to Raymond James Stadium, his old home stadium when he was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Illini Tre Watson (Tampa Catholic), Bobby Roundtree (Largo) and Jake Hanson (East Lake) are from the Tampa area.

6 USF Senior safety Devin Abraham has started 27 games over his USF career and brings 127 career tackles and six interceptions, including in back-to-back games to start 2017, into the Illinois game. His father, Donnie, joined the Illinois staff as a defensive backs/safeties coach this season. Donnie played nine seasons in the NFL, including six in Tampa Bay (1996-2001), where he played alongside current Illini coach and Bucs Pro Bowl linebacker Hardy Nickerson and for a coaching staff that included Illini head coach Lovie Smith. Donnie was also the head football coach at Gibbs High School (St. Petersburg) and Clearwater High School (Clearwater). Served as an assistant coach at East Lake (Tarpon Springs) under current head coach Bob Hudson.

7 Illinois Freshman DE Bobby Roundtree (Largo High School) had 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble against WKU. He has 3.0 sacks through his first two college games. His 1.5 sacks/game are the most in the nation among freshmen, tied for 9th overall in FBS and tied for first in the Big Ten.

8 The USF defense has shown solid improvement under first-year defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary. The USF D has created 5 turnovers, forced 20 punts (10 ppg), has six sacks and has given up an average of 308 yards and 19.5 ppg game, that is down from 482 yards and 31.6 ppg in 2016.

9 Illinois has played 17 true freshmen, the second-most in the nation behind LSU. The Tigers have played 20 frosh. Illinois’ seven true freshmen starters against WKU were the most in a game in program history (OL Larry Boyd, TE Louis Dorsey, RB Mike Epstein, DL Isaiah Gay, DB Nate Hobbs, OL Alex Palczewski, DL Bobby Roundtree).

10 USF ranked fifth in the nation in rushing offense in 2016, posting 285.3 yards per game. The Bulls joined New Mexico as the only two FBS teams to run for at least 150 yards in every game. This season, the Bulls are averaging 234.0 yards on the game.

11 Illinois WR Carmoni Green was high school teammates with USF WR Darnell Salomon and CB Deatrick Nichols at Miami Central High School. Illinois LB Tré Watson and USF DB Bentlee Sanders attended Tampa Catholic High School and Illinois LB Jake Hanson and USF DB Devin Abraham attended East Lake High School (Tarpon Springs, Fla.).

12 100 of the 109 players on USF roster heading into fall camp hail from the state of Florida. That represents nearly 92 percent of the roster with Georgia (3 players) being the only other state producing a current Bull.