No. 19 South Florida opens Strong era vs. San Jose St.
No. 19 South Florida (11-2) at San Jose State (4-8), 7:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Line: South Florida by 21 1/2.
Series Record: First meeting.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Both teams get a head start to the season under new coaches with Charlie Strong taking over the Bulls and Brent Brennan coaching his first game with the Spartans. South Florida comes in with high expectations after tying the 2008 squad for the highest preseason ranking in school history.
KEY MATCHUP
South Florida WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. San Jose State CB Andre Chechere. Valdes-Scantling is a deep-threat receiver who averaged 18.9 yards per catch last season and had five TDs among his 22 receptions. Chechere is perhaps San Jose State's best defender and an NFL prospect. He had four INTs and 14 passes defensed last season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
South Florida: QB Quinton Flowers. Flowers is one of the most dynamic returning quarterbacks in the country. Flowers threw for 2,812 yards last season, rushed for 1,530 yards and accounted for 42 total touchdowns. The only other player with at least 1,500 yards rushing and 2,000 yards passing was Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
San Jose State: QBs Josh Love and Montel Aaron. Brennan won't say who will start until game time. Love has some experience, going 31 for 60 for 392 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions as a freshman last season. Aaron redshirted last year but has made some big plays in the spring game and in practice leading up to the opener.
FACTS & FIGURES
South Florida plays its first game in California since 1999 against San Diego State. ... The Bulls have scored at least 30 points in 17 straight games, the longest active streak among FBS teams. ... Flowers has rushed for at least 100 yards in five straight games. ... San Jose State has lost 23 of 24 games against ranked opponents with the only win coming in a 62-52 victory over No. 16 Fresno State on Nov. 29, 2013. ... The Spartans are opening against a ranked opponent for the 10th time in school history and first ever at home. They have lost all nine previous openers against ranked teams. ... San Jose State has 123 returning starts on the offensive line, tops among all FBS teams.
___
AP college football website: collegefootball.ap.org