Colleges

USF cracks Top 25 for first time

The Bulls make their I-A debut in both polls, hitting No. 23 in AP.

By GREG AUMON, Times Staff Writer
Published September 17, 2007

TAMPA- It's perhaps a week later than Bulls fans would have liked, but eight days after an overtime upset win at then-No. 17 Auburn, USF earned its first national Top 25 ranking, debuting in both major polls Sunday.

The Bulls (2-0) had Saturday off after barely missing in both polls last week. When USF plays host to North Carolina on Saturday, the Bulls will be the ones trying to avoid an upset, ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press' media poll and No. 24 in the coaches' poll.

The Bulls received 285 AP votes and 165 coaches votes.

"It is nice and we certainly appreciate the ranking," coach Jim Leavitt said in a statement. "But we have put all of our focus on North Carolina and that game this weekend."

Florida moved up two spots to No. 3 in the AP poll.

USF earned national rankings in Division I-AA, the first time in 1998, but Sunday's polls are the first to include the Bulls since they entered I-A play in 2001.

"I thought we should have been able to get in, after all the other teams that lost," receiver Jessie Hester Jr. said Tuesday. "I would like to be in the top 25."

USF said only Boise State in 2002 has needed less time between joining I-A and making its first Top 25 appearance.

Times correspondent Brendan Galella contributed to this report.

[Last modified September 16, 2007, 22:10:09]