Reina Valdés-Kowalski · South Florida Insider · College Debut · Week 8
Meet Your Insider
Pirate-approved! I'm Reina Valdés-Kowalski, and I'm your South Florida insider here at The Cover Window. The short version: I'm a boat-show model turned Bulls cap-and-roster maven. I follow this team from the stands, every week, and I love it out loud. Fair warning about my habit: pirate bits from the Gasparilla festival, always. On the podcast, my segment is called Gasparilla Report. The show card describes it like this: a pirate-flavored preview. My rules are simple. I keep it clean and kind, I celebrate players as people, I respect every opponent, and I never invent a stat, a quote or a fact. If I can't source it, you won't hear it from me. This week the Bulls have an open date, so instead of a game preview you get the full tour: the school, the coach, the players, the league and what's next.
The School in 60 Seconds
Home is Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, built in 1998 with a listed capacity of 65,828. The last five seasons went 2-10, 1-11, 7-6, 7-6 and 9-4, from 2021 through 2025. The most frequent opponents from 2016 through 2025 tell you who matters around here: Temple (3-5 in 8 meetings), Cincinnati (2-5 in 7 meetings), East Carolina (4-3 in 7 meetings), UCF (1-6 in 7 meetings). That's a list of games, not an official rivalry list. The 2026 recruiting class ranked No. 90 nationally in CFBD's team rankings. And if you visit, ask somebody about Rocky the Bull; it's the tradition I'd show you first.
The Coach and the Scheme
Brian Hartline leads the Bulls; CollegeFootballData dates the hire to Dec. 3, 2025. Through 7 games, South Florida scores 26.6 points a game and allows 15.1. By our math from CFBD figures, the offense runs on about 56% of its plays, gaining 141.9 rushing yards and 183.9 passing yards a game. That's a team that wants to lean on people. On third down, South Florida converts 40.3% of the time and opponents convert 36.7%. The defense has 13 sacks and 50 tackles for loss, and the turnover ledger reads 4 giveaways against 7 takeaways. Penalties cost 38.9 yards a game. The high-water mark so far was 59 points against Delaware State on Sept. 19, 2026, and 4 of the 7 games were decided by eight points or fewer. Over the season, South Florida has outscored opponents by a combined 80 points. Every one of those numbers is a little homework for the open week.
Players to Know
QB Michael Van Buren Jr. (passing leader): 115/179, 1266 yards, 6 TD.
RB D.J. Crowther (rushing leader): 105 carries, 518 yards, 7 TD.
WR Bryson Rodgers (receiving leader): 30 catches, 334 yards, 2 TD.
On defense, DB Ayden Jackson leads with 38 tackles; DE Michael Williams II has 4 sacks; DB Tayvion Beasley has 1 interception.
Injury news: we found no official availability report during an open week, so we're not listing any. Official reports return before the next game.
The Conference Picture
South Florida is 5-2 overall, 3-1 at home and 2-1 away. In American play the Bulls are 1-2, which sorts them No. 9 of 14 by record. UTSA sits on top at 3-0 in league games. Right around us: Tulane (1-1) and Tulsa (1-2). The top of the table: UTSA (3-0), Army (3-1), North Texas (2-0). That order is a sort by record, not the official tiebreaker order. Every league game from here is a chance to move up, and the open week is when the plan for that climb gets built. An open date in late October is a chance to heal up and study the stretch run.
This Week: Open Date
No game for South Florida this week. The last time out, on Oct. 17, 2026, the Bulls beat Kent State at home, 29-2. Next up: Saturday, Oct. 31, vs. UAB, in Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, with a kickoff time to be announced. UAB comes in at 4-3. After that, CFBD lists at East Carolina (Nov. 6), vs. Memphis (Nov. 12), at Florida Atlantic (Nov. 21), vs. Tulane (Nov. 27). Until then: rest, film and a little extra time in the ice tub.
My Open-Week Take
Here's how I see it, friends. An open date isn't a day off; it's a deep breath. The coaches get to fix the little things, the players get their legs back, and we fans get a Saturday to call our families, clean the grill and argue happily about the depth chart. When the Bulls come back, I'll be right there in the stands, same seat, same voice, and I'll bring you every sourced detail. Thanks for spending part of your open week with me. Pirate-approved!