Confidence permeated the interviews with USF players during AAC Media Days, but it wasn’t the kind built on empty promises.
It was confidence rooted in preparation, chemistry, and a belief that the Bulls are capable of taking another step toward conference championship contention in 2026.
That mindset was evident from both sides of the ball as tight end Wyatt Sullivan and linebacker Grayson Howard discussed the expectations surrounding this year’s team.
For Sullivan, returning to USF was never much of a decision.
“It was a no-brainer,” Sullivan said. “Playing tight end in this offense is exciting. You look at what Coach did at Ohio State with two tight ends and one of the best offenses in college football, and it made the decision easy.”
Sullivan believes the biggest strides in his own development have come not from adding athleticism, but from mastering the finer details of the position.
“I’ve always been a natural receiver,” Sullivan said.
“The last few years I focused so much on that part of my game that I didn’t spend enough time perfecting my routes. Now I’m becoming more detailed and more of a student of the game. It’s about understanding why you’re making a certain move and when to use it instead of just running a route.”
That attention to detail mirrors the standard being set throughout the offense.
While many teams preach realistic expectations, Sullivan says the Bulls have chosen a different approach.
“We don’t believe in realistic goals,” he said. “Why not try to be the best offense in the country? We don’t compare ourselves to anybody else. We compare ourselves to ourselves every day. If everyone keeps getting better, learns the system, and does things the right way, the results will come.”
On the other side of the football, Howard arrived in Tampa looking for both a fresh start and the right environment to continue his career.
He found both.
“I wanted a fresh start, but I also wanted to stay in Florida and be around like-minded people,” Howard said. “USF just felt like the best fit.”
Howard said one of the first things that stood out during offseason workouts was the bond throughout the locker room.
“The closeness of this team has impressed me the most,” he said. “Everybody’s connected. I spend time with the guys in my linebacker room, but I also hang out with offensive players. That’s the kind of chemistry championship teams have.”
USF’s defense has undergone significant changes, adding key transfers while returning experienced contributors. Howard believes that combination, paired with defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s aggressive scheme, gives the Bulls the pieces to become one of the American Athletic Conference’s top defenses.
“If you’ve watched Coach Orlando’s defenses throughout his career, you know how smart he is,” Howard said. “He puts players in the right position to make plays. We brought in talented transfers, we have great returning players, and when everyone understands the system, you can play fast and make plays on Saturdays.”
The confidence expressed by Sullivan and Howard wasn’t based on preseason hype or outside expectations. Instead, it reflected a program that believes its daily habits are laying the foundation for something bigger.
The Bulls know the American Athletic Conference will once again be a difficult race. But inside the locker room, the expectation isn’t simply to compete.
It’s to contend for a championship.