Febuary Sports Preview

Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest

By Kendall Bulkiewicz

As February rolls in, USF’s spring sports teams are gearing up for an action-packed month filled with thrilling matchups and intense competition.

With a broad lineup of games across multiple sports, Bulls fans have plenty to look forward to. Whether it’s the sound of the bat at the baseball field, the fast-paced action on the basketball court, or the high-energy matches on the tennis courts, this month promises to be one full of excitement.

Here’s a across baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, track & field and tennis.

Baseball

The Bulls open its season with a home series against Iowa, followed by matchups against Florida State and FIU before an in-state rivalry clash with UCF. The has made 14 NCAA tournament appearances, with its most recent regional win in 2021.

2/14 | 6:30 PM | vs. Iowa

2/15 | 2:00 PM | vs. Iowa

2/16 | 12:00 PM | vs. Iowa

2/18 | 5:00 PM | vs. Florida State

2/25 | 6:00 PM | vs. FIU

2/28 | 6:30 PM | vs. UCF

*Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest*

Softball

The Bulls host multiple tournaments in February, starting with the Rawlings Invitational before the Fonseca Memorial Tournament and the South Florida Showdown. USF Softball has a strong history, making 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a Women’s College World Series run in 2012.

Double Header (2/12)

4:00 PM & 6:30 PM | vs. FGCU

Fonseca Memorial Tournament (2/14 – 2/16)

2/14 | 1:30 PM | vs. Penn State

2/14 | 4:00 PM | vs. Loyola-Chicago

2/15 | 11:15 AM | vs. St. John’s

2/15 | 4:00 PM | TBD (Semifinals)

2/16 | 12:00 PM | TBD (Finals)

2/19 | 6:30 PM | vs. Louisville

South Florida Showdown (2/21 – 2/23)

2/21 | 4:00 PM | vs. Michigan

2/21 | 6:30 PM | vs. Wisconsin

2/22 | 1:30 PM | vs. Louisville

2/22 | 8:30 PM | vs. Kent State

2/23 | 2:00 PM | vs. Troy

Men’s Basketball

The team has a thrilling schedule, including Alumni Day against North Texas. Throughout the years the team has had several accomplishments, including winning the 2019 College Basketball Invitational and winning their first American Athletic Conference 2024-2025 regular season title and were ranked during this season in the Associated Press’ Top 25 College Basketball Poll for the first time. They also had back-to-back sellout crowds with a record-breaking attendance of 10,659 fans at the Yuengling Center.

2/13 | 9:00 PM | vs. Memphis (Arthur Jones Day)

2/23 | 12:00 PM | vs. North Texas (Alumni Day)

Women’s Basketball

The Bulls focus on key conference matchups, with themed nights like Play4Kay and Salute to Service. The team has competed in the NCAA Tournament nine times and has made nine appearances in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (18 total postseason appearances), including winning the WNIT Championship 2008-09. The women’s basketball team recently earned the fifth seed in the 2023-24 American Athletic Conference Championships. The team also had a record-breaking attendance of 9,821 fans during the 2024-2025 season.

2/12 | 7:00 PM | vs. Rice (Play4Kay)

2/22 | 7:00 PM | vs. Memphis (Alumni Day/Salute to Service)

Women’s Lacrosse

The Bulls take on tough competition, including an in-state showdown against UF. This is USF’s inaugural season in women’s lacrosse, marking an exciting milestone for the program.

2/14 | 7:00 PM | vs. Lehigh University

2/18 | 6:00 PM | vs. UF

2/23 | 12:00 PM | vs. Towson University

Men’s Tennis

USF faced rival UCF early in the month on Feb. 3, falling short in a tough battle 3-4. The Bulls have been a dominant program in the AAC, with appearing in 17 conference championships. The team will have more games in March, with six total matches. Many of the February games will be played away.

Women’s Tennis

The Bulls host multiple home matches, featuring themed events like “Bark with the Bulls.” The team has appeared in 12 AAC titles and consistently ranks among the top teams in the conference. The USF women’s tennis team has won 13 conference titles, the second most number of wins in any women’s team at the school.

2/14 | 12:00 PM | vs. FSU

2/21 | 12:00 PM | vs. UTSA

2/23 | 12:00 PM | vs. Tulane (Bark with the Bulls)

Track and Field

The Track and Field team will be traveling to many different states across the country with one event in Tampa. USF has produced several NCAA qualifiers and All-Americans in recent years.