Florida State and USF to play football series in 2015-16

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State and USF will play a second home-and-home football series set for 2015 and 2016 the schools announced on Monday. This will be the third and fourth meetings between the football programs.

"We are excited to add USF back to our schedule for the 2015 and 2016 seasons," said Florida State Director of Athletics Randy Spetman. "For all the Seminole fans throughout Central Florida, this is a great opportunity to once again see their team play in an NFL facility. The last time we played in Raymond James versus USF the atmosphere was excellent and the excitement generated among our fan base was unmatched."

Florida State will host USF in 2015 (September 25) in Tallahassee before making a return trip in 2016 (September 24) to Tampa for another showdown in Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"We're excited to have USF back on the schedule," FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said. "They're a great program. It's been a good series thus far, and it's great for our fans to have another in-state series on the schedule."

The Seminoles and Bulls met for the first time in 2009 in Tallahassee with USF winning 17-7. Florida State won the second meeting last season in Tampa, 30-17, to even the series at 1-1.

FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher is 6-1 against teams from the state of Florida. The Seminoles will play three teams from the state of Florida in 2013 when FSU hosts Bethune Cookman and Miami, before ending the regular season at Florida.

Those quotes are sort of laughable. The atmosphere and logistics of the game in 2012 were terrible. USF's overall operation was a joke.

It is, however, a chance to play an OK program and cater to the fans in Tampa.

Maybe FSU fans will be able to get tickets in 2016? Perhaps the USF staff and stadium crew will become competent? We'll see. Based on FSU's one trip to Tampa, most aren't optimistic.