USF Bulls go from I-AA opponent Stony Brook to No. 8 Florida in one week

After a 59-14 win over Stony Brook to kick off the Skip Holtz era at USF, the Bulls travel to Gainesville in Week Two to face arguably the most daunting challenge in program history, as No. 8 UF and USF collide for the first time on the football field Saturday at 12:21 p.m. Florida overcame a lackluster performance over the weekend to defeat Miami (OH) 34-12.

With Urban Meyer at the helm, the Florida Gators have been to three of the past four SEC Championships and claimed a pair of national titles over that same span. "They've proven to be one of the best in the country," Holtz says. The Gators rank sixth in the updated USA Today Coaches' Poll, released Tuesday, while the Bulls drew four votes, as they did in the preseason balloting.

However, both USF and Holtz have a penchant for dramatic upsets. In their most recent example, the Bulls went to Tallahassee last September and knocked off No. 18 Florida State. Meanwhile, Holtz developed his reputation in the underdog role at East Carolina, opening the 2008 season with a back-to-back wins over ranked teams, as his Pirates pillaged Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

At his weekly media conference, Coach Holtz discussed a range of topics, including respect for his friend and counterpart, Meyer. He was also thrilled that several USF newcomers gained valuable playing experience in the opener, keeping his Bulls fresh and healthy for the showdown with the Gators.

Bright House Sports Network also spoke with USF Director of Athletics, Doug Woolard about the importance of these in-state, non-conference collisions and the progress that the Bulls are making with their extensive facilities renovations.