USF heading to Orlando as Hurricane Milton closes in, Memphis game rescheduled

The USF football team is headed to Orlando today ahead of Hurricane Milton closing in on Tampa, a source told On3. The Bulls’ game against Memphis has been rescheduled to Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium. The American Athletic Conference plans to continue to assess the situation.

New television distribution has not been announced.

“For now, it has been rescheduled for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET,” USF said in a statement. “We will assess the conditions and overall situation after the storm has passed to determine if any further adjustments are necessary.”

The Category 5 hurricane could come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa Bay region, which has not endured a direct hit by a major hurricane in more than a century. Forecasters have warned of a possible 8- to 12-foot (2.4- to 3.6-meter) storm surge in Tampa Bay. That’s the highest ever predicted for the region and nearly double the levels reached two weeks ago during Helene, said National Hurricane Center spokesperson Maria Torres.

The storm could also bring widespread flooding. Five to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters) of rain was forecast for mainland Florida and the Keys, with as much as 15 inches (38 centimeters) expected in some places. The Tampa metro area has a population of more than 3.3 million people.

USF trailed just 14-13 entering the fourth quarter of its game at Alabama last month but ultimately fell 42-16. The Bulls also fell to Miami 50-15 at home.

“I got hired to win games,” USF head coach Alex Golesh said after the Alabama loss. “We recruited guys here to win games, and as much as we don’t talk internally about winning and losing games, we talk so much about our build-up and our process daily throughout an entire year to help us actually win the game.”

USF is 2-3 on the season, coming off a bye. Memphis is 4-1 entering Saturday’s game. Friday’s game was initially scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.