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USF Equals Program Record With 10th Straight Poll Appearance

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Bulls ranked No. 16 in Coaches Poll and No. 18 in AP Top 25 Poll
Program record 10-game win streak is second longest in the nation

TAMPA, OCT 1, 2017 – Following a 61-31 rout of ECU on Saturday, which saw the Bulls score their most points ever in a road game, USF (5-0) will enter a bye week ranked No. 16 in the Amway Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the AP Top 25 Poll.

USF, which is riding a school-record 10-game win streak that is the second longest in the nation, stands in the top 20 for the second straight week and has now appeared in 10 straight polls dating to last season. That string of poll appearances equals the program record previously set during the 2008 season.

The No. 16 ranking marked USF’s highest since being ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll and No. 14 in the Coaches Poll in week 6 of the 2011 season. USF marked its 25th week in program history appearing in the top 20 in the polls and 36th in the Top 25. The entire AP and Coaches polls can be seen here: http://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings.

The Bulls’ 5-0 start is the program’s best since starting 5-0 in the 2009 season and is one win shy of the USF’s best-ever start of 6-0 posted in 2007. The Bulls extended their nation-leading streak of games scoring 30-plus points to 22, now the second-longest longest streak on record since 1936 and one game shy of Oregon’s mark of 23 (2011-12).

USF ran for 300 or more yards for the third straight game Saturday, posting a season-best 390 yards on the ground while scoring a season-high 61 points at ECU. The output has the Bulls’ offense ranked fifth in the nation in rushing (309.2 ypg), ninth in scoring (44.8 ppg) and 13th in total offense (510.0 ypg) after five games. Seniors Darius Tice (438 yards), D’Ernest Johnson (432) and Quinton Flowers (395) rank third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the American Athletic Conference in rushing yards. Johnson (Immokalee) posted his third straight 100-yard game on Saturday, logging a career-best 111 yards and two touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, USF grabbed two interceptions to up its nation-leading totals in interceptions (14) and turnovers gained (16). The Bulls’ defense ranks fifth in the nation against the run (74.4 ypg) and 16th in total defense (293.8 ypg). Junior Mazzi Wilkins (Tampa) ranks second in the nation in pass break-ups (2.0 pg), and he and senior Devin Abraham (Tarpon Springs) rank sixth nationally with three interceptions on the year.

USF will take a weekend off before returning to action for a Homecoming clash vs. Cincinnati on Sat., Oct. 14, in Raymond James Stadium. The kick off time for that game is anticipated to be announced this week.