[13] In 1962, still years before any sports were announced, students voted to make the Golden Brahman, a breed of bull, the university's first mascot because of Florida's history in cattle raising.

[17] The Golden Brahmans men's soccer team won the first intercollegiate game in school history on September 25, 1965, defeating Florida Southern College 4–3.

[25][28] Two years later though in the spring of 1987, both the men's and women's swimming teams were cut due to financial hardships brought on by the sport not being sponsored by the Sun Belt, among other issues.

[50] In the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships three months later, Beckford won the high jump national title again.

[52] The Bulls men's basketball team won their first regular season conference title in 2024 under first year head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim.

This was an NCAA record, as USF achieved its first Top 25 ranking faster than any other Division I-A team in the modern era with 104 weeks.

[55] In a Week 12 game against SMU, Quinton Flowers passed Matt Grothe to become the school leader in single season total offense.

[55] On November 30, 2016, Quniton Flowers was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, which is the first such award in school history.

[73] Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh, a Broyles Award finalist, was hired as USF's sixth football head coach on December 4, 2022.

[79] Some notable former USF football players are George Selvie, Jason Pierre-Paul, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Marlon Mack.

[89] USF has produced many MLB players and managers including National Baseball Hall of Fame member Tony La Russa.

[37][38][109] The team uses a waterfront facility on Bayboro Harbor on the University of South Florida's St. Petersburg campus called the Haney Landing Sailing Center.

[18] Notable USF men's soccer alumni include Roy Wegerle, Jeff Cunningham, and Mark Chung.

[118] In 2022, Georgina Corrick became the first pitching triple crown winner in NCAA softball history, leading the nation in wins, strikeouts, and ERA.

[128] The USF women's track & field team has produced four Olympians: Damu Cherry of the United States in 2008, Dayana Octavien of Haiti in 2008, Sasha Springer-Jones of Trinidad and Tobago in 2008, and Zahira Allers-Liburd of Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2024.

[131] On November 10, 2021, USF athletic director Michael Kelly announced that two new women's varsity sports would be created in the coming years.

[4] Financial difficulties, along with the sport not being sponsored by the Sun Belt Conference, led to both the men's and women's teams being cut after the 1986–87 season.

[114][147] In 2020, Évelyne Viens became the first USF alum to win an Olympic medal as an athlete in any sport when Canada's women's soccer team won gold.

However, multiple USF alumni coached medal winning teams and individuals in the Olympics prior to this, including Ken Eriksen and Ed Baird.

USF's main rival is the University of Central Florida Knights, who are located 98 miles northeast in unincorporated Orange County near Orlando.

In the event of a tie in the overall competition, the athletic program that scores higher in the annual NCAA Graduation Success Rate will be awarded one extra point and crowned as the champion for that season.

The signal is used as good luck during field goals, extra points, free throws, and as general school spirit.

[169] In 2012, the facility was dedicated to the late Lee Roy Selmon, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former director of USF athletics.

[170] The 104,000 square foot facility houses all USF sports teams except for men's and women's basketball, sailing, and volleyball.

[171] Since the opening of the arena, it has been the site for USF commencement ceremonies, orientation sessions, and other major university and community events.

[172][173] The venue is also one of the top concert spots in the Tampa Bay region, having hosted musicians like Elton John, Florence and the Machine, Frank Sinatra, Heart, Sting, and more.

[44] The USF football team plays at Raymond James Stadium, home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

USF is one of only five FBS teams to play their home games in a current NFL stadium (the others being Miami, Temple, Pitt, and UNLV).

[189][190] With the exception of the all-girl and co-ed cheerleading squads, all club sports are funded through USF's Student Government Association rather than the athletic department.

[195] USF has both a Men's and Women's Flag Football Club, both of which compete in the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association.