The University of South Florida will play home-and-home football series with the University of Wisconsin and the University of Maryland, USF Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug Woolard has announced. USF will visit Wisconsin, who has appeared in three consecutive Rose Bowls, on Sept. 27, 2014 with the Badgers making a return trip to Tampa on Sept. 16, 2017. The Bulls will host Maryland on Sept. 6, 2014 and travel to play the Terps on Sept. 19, 2015.
“We are pleased to be able to add quality Big Ten opponents in Wisconsin and Maryland to our football schedule,” Woolard said. “They should be outstanding opportunities for our football program as well as attractive games for our fans.”
The 2014 non-conference schedule consists of home games against Western Carolina (Aug. 30), Maryland (Sept. 6) and N.C. State (Sept. 13) along with the trip to Wisconsin (Sept. 27).
“This is the type of schedule we want to have here at USF,” said head coach Willie Taggart. “We want to challenge and prove ourselves against top competition. We think it is important to play these types of non-conference games not only for recruiting, but also to excite our fan base and for the continued growth of our program.”
A member of the Big Ten, Wisconsin has had a tremendous run over the last three seasons, posting a 30-11 record and earning trips to the Rose Bowl in each of those seasons. This will be USF’s first meeting with the Badgers. Maryland is currently a member of the ACC but will move to the Big Ten for the 2014 season. The Bulls will face a familiar foe as Randy Edsall just finished his second year with the program after spending 12 years as head coach at UConn. The 2014 game will also be USF’s first-ever match-up with the Terps.