In what some have called "the Big East game of the year," the No. 21 USF Bulls will take the field for a nationally televised conference showdown against the No. 8 Cincinnati Bearcats Thursday at Raymond James Stadium. Each year USF football designates one game as USF Polytechnic Day, and this is it.

More than 250 members of the USF Polytechnic community will travel to Tampa to root for the Bulls to remain undefeated on USF Polytechnic Day. ESPN will televise the matchup of 5-0 teams, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. In addition to the game, USF Polytechnic will host pregame tailgate space near the stadium. Co-hosted with USF Polytechnic's Student Government Association, the festivities include the presentation of the third annual "Goodmania Tailgate Award." 

"Every year we get a bigger turnout for USF Polytechnic Day," said Samantha Lane, assistant director of university relations. "It's great to see this spirit and pride, and it helps bring the community together around a common passion: the Bulls!"   

The majority of USF Polytechnic's students come from Polk County and welcome the opportunity to be associated with a nationally prominent university and the excitement of Big East athletics.  The connection between Lakeland and USF's athletics program grew stronger when Lake Gibson graduate Matt Grothe became the starting quarterback for USF's ascendant football team in his freshman year. Since then, the Bulls have made a stunning rise to national prominence.

Students, faculty and staff at USF Polytechnic have taken special pride in the connection. An informal poll on campus last year indicated that Grothe's starring role on the gridiron had increased local interest in USF's football fortunes.

The Bulls have three other players from Polk County on the roster:

• Maikon Bonani,  Lake Wales (Lake Wales HS)
• Josh Garvin, Lakeland (Lake Gibson HS)
• Jamar Taylor, Lakeland (Lakeland HS)

Each season the USF Athletic Dept. designates one game for each of USF's regional campuses. The campus receives an allotment of tickets for the campus community and receives special recognition during the game.

USF has never lost on USF Polytechnic Day, with wins in 2005 over then-undefeated Louisville; in 2006 over Connecticut in a game that saw Matt Grothe solidify his hold on the starting QB position; in 2007, when the rapidly rising Bulls validated their first Top 25 ranking with a dominating 37-10 victory over North Carolina before 37,693, then the fifth largest home crowd for USF; and in the 2008 season opener when the Bulls overwhelmed Tennessee-Martin 56-7.