USF vs. Cincinnati Football: Everything You Need To Know

TAMPA, FL – USF Coach Charlie Strong has put the word out across the Tampa Bay area: All hands on deck.

Now ranked in the Top 15 in the Amway Coaches Poll, Strong is expecting big things from the community for this week’s homecoming game against longtime rival Cincinnati.

During the American Athletic Conference Football Teleconference on Tuesday, Oct. 2, Strong said he spoke with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce about getting the community to support the USF football team.

“I just said to them, you know you’ve got a really good football team and we just need your support and we need everybody on board,” he said during the teleconference. “Just come out to the games. We play in a really nice arena. There are so many positives and we’ve just got to continue to talk about it, get our student body behind it, get our administration at our university behind us and then we’ll get those seats filled.”

Here’s everything you need to know for the USF vs. ECU football game:

Kickoff Time: Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

TV, Radio and Online: ESPNU, USF Radio Network, Bulls Unlimited on iHeart Radio

Point Spread: USF is favored by a whopping 24.5 points across the board in the books listed on OddsShark.com

Rankings: Aside from its No. 15 ranking in the Amway Coaches Poll, USF stood pat in the AP Top 25 Poll at No. 18. Cincinnati is not ranked in either poll.

Records: USF (5-0, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) has a chance to equal its best start to a season, matched only by the team’s 2007 season. Cincinnati enters the game with a 2-4 record (0-2 AAC).

Hurricane Irma: Originally, USF was scheduled to play UMass for homecoming. After Hurricane Irma (and Hurricane Harvey) played havoc with the AAC schedule, UMass dropped its game so USF could still play a full AAC schedule.

Location: Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway

Tickets: Standard admission tickets are available from $21 to $50 as of Tuesday evening at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ar.... USF students can claim their tickets via www.USFStudentTix.com, the new 100-percent mobile platform. To help get alumni out to the homecoming game, USF is offering $15 tickets for alumni at https://groupmatics.events/s/other/USFAlumni.

Parking and Directions: Click here for directions to Raymond James Stadium and click here for the Raymond James Stadium parking map.

Tailgating: Tailgating is permitted in all stadium parking lots. Tailgaters can only occupy one spot and saving spaces is not permitted. Tailgating can only take place directly behind each fan’s own vehicle without blocking other spots, walkways or aisles.

Clear Bag Policy: The following bags are permitted into Raymond James Stadium:

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVS and do not exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches
• This is the size of a 1-gallon clear plastic freezer bag
• Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, with our without a handle or strap can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bags
• All bags are subject to search upon entry and are subject to additional searches within the stadium
• All items left unattended outside the gates will be disposed
• Approved bags must be carried when approaching the lines prior to entry
• Prohibited bags include coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, luggage, seat cushions, computer bags and camera bags

Prohibited items: The following items are prohibited at Raymond James Stadium:

• Aerosol or spray bottles of sunscreen
• Any item that can be used as a missile
• Backpacks, duffel bags or large bags
• Bags or cases not approved in accordance with the Clear Bag Policy
• Cameras longer than 12 inches, including the body, lens and filter
• Camera bags and binocular cases
• Cans and bottles
• Coolers
• Fireworks
• Food and drinks
• Glass
• Horns and lasers
• Illegal drugs
• Pets (service animals are permitted)
• Recreational balls
• Seat cushions
• Sticks, poles, camera/selfie sticks or extenders
• Strollers
• Umbrellas
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems and radio controlled model aircraft or drones
• Video cameras
• Weapons

Image and video via USF Athletics YouTube channel