(BCSNN) — College football is back with the 2025 season already under way. Joining the festivities in Week One on Thursday will be No. 25 Boise State and South Florida with a nationally televised showdown at Raymond James Stadium. The matchup, slated for 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs and sets the tone for a season of high expectations on both sides.
Boise State enters the opener as the reigning Mountain West champion and a preseason favorite to repeat. The Broncos finished 12–2 last season and earned a berth in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, falling to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. Head coach Spencer Danielson returns 15 starters, including quarterback Maddux Madsen, who threw for 3,018 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2024.
Despite losing All-American running back Ashton Jeanty to the NFL, Boise State’s offense remains potent. The backfield will feature Sire Gaines and Fresno State transfer Malik Sherrod, while wideout Cam Camper leads a receiving corps that blends experience and explosiveness. The Broncos also boast one of the nation’s top offensive lines, anchored by NFL prospect Kage Casey.
Defensively, Boise State returns edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan and linebacker Braxton Fely, part of a front seven that led the nation in sacks last season. The secondary, which allowed just 6.1 yards per pass attempt in conference play, is expected to be even stronger in 2025. With a favorable Mountain West schedule and depth across the board, the Broncos are eyeing another playoff run.
South Florida, meanwhile, is looking to build on back-to-back bowl seasons under third-year head coach Alex Golesh. The Bulls finished 7–6 in 2024 and capped the year with a Hawai‘i Bowl win over San Jose State. Quarterback Byrum Brown returns from a midseason leg injury and is expected to lead one of the American’s most dynamic offenses.
Brown threw for 2,312 yards and 18 touchdowns in nine games last season and will be supported by a revamped receiving corps that includes Tennessee transfer Chas Nimrod and Stanford transfer Mudia Reuben. Running back Cartevious Norton, a Charlotte transfer, adds power to a fast-paced attack that averaged 32.2 points per game in 2024.
USF’s defense, which ranked 118th nationally last season, has been retooled with veteran additions and a deeper linebacker unit led by Mac Harris and Jhalyn Shuler. Defensive tackle Josh Celiscar, a UCF transfer, anchors a front that must improve against the run and generate more pressure. Golesh said the Bulls are “built for a game like this” and emphasized the importance of starting strong.
The opener also serves as a litmus test for USF’s championship aspirations in the newly rebranded "American Conference." With a challenging non-conference slate that includes road games at Florida and Miami, the Bulls are aiming to prove they belong among the league’s elite. “We want to win a marquee game,” Golesh said. “That happens to be the first one.”
With playoff implications for Boise State and a statement opportunity for USF, Thursday’s clash promises to be one of the most compelling Week 1 match-ups to keep an eye on. In the Florida heat and under the national spotlight, both programs will look to launch their seasons with momentum while seeking a defining victory.
