USF vs. San Jose State Football: Everything You Need To Know

TAMPA, FL – Coming off of its most successful season in its 20-year history, the University of South Florida will start its 2017 campaign with its best national preseason ranking.

Heading into its first game of the season at San Jose State, USF is ranked No. 19 in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll and No. 21 in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll. It’s the second time USF started the season nationally ranked (2008).

Head Coach Charlie Strong will take the helm, replacing Willie Taggart, who left to take the head coaching job in Oregon. Strong is the fourth head coach in USF football history.

Returning from last year’s 11-win season are senior quarterback Quinton Flowers, who is on five preseason watch lists; senior running back D’Ernest Johnson, senior center Cameron Ruff, senior punter Jonathan Hernandez, senior cornerback Deatrick Nichols, senior linebacker Auggie Sanchez and senior defensive lineman Deadrin Senat.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Kickoff time: Saturday, Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern

TV and radio: CBS Sports Network, USF Radio Network

Point spread: The opening lines have USF favored between 20.5 and 21.5 in the books listed on OddsShark.com.

Records: This is the first game of the season for both USF and San Jose State.

Last meeting: This is the first meeting between the Bulls and the Spartans.

Location: CEFCU Stadium, 127 S. 10th St., San Jose, Calif.

Tickets: Adult general admission tickets are $20 and youth general admission tickets are $15. Tickets are still available at http://www.ticketmaster.com/San-Jose-State-Spartans-Football-tickets/artist/834335.

Parking and Directions: Click here for direction to CEFCU Stadium or click here for the CEFCU Stadium Parking and Tailgating Map.

Tailgating: Tailgating is allowed in any paid parking lot at CEFCU stadium.

Prohibited Items: The following items are prohibited in CEFCU Stadium:

• Bags larger than 14" x14"x 6"
• Poles or sticks longer than 24"
• Artificial noisemakers
• Hard-sided coolers
• Glass bottles
• Aluminum cans
• Outside food
• Outside beverages (sealed water under 1 liter is permitted)
• Weapons of any kind
• Bikes, scooters, skateboards
• Beach balls, Frisbees
• Leaflets, confetti
• Fireworks
• Animals
• Umbrellas

Patch staff photo