I'm helping out with our coverage of the Outback Bowl this week, and it's always interesting to see what the perception of USF is from people outside the Tampa area. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz was asked about how playing in Tampa helps his team's recruiting efforts in the area, and this is what he said:

"There are an awful lot of good players in this state, and they don't all go to the three schools in-state, the three major schools, so there are other players to maybe be found," Ferentz said.

Ferentz caught himself a little mid-sentence, but the perception is still lingering that there are three schools to beat for recruits in the state. Miami losing its bowl game to Cal puts them at 7-6, a worse record than USF for the third year in a row, and that keeps them close to USF in a perceived second tier behind Florida and Florida State. But Miami lost to a nine-win BCS team in California, and USF beat a six-win Conference USA team in St. Pete, so the last game is only so telling.

That's why USF coach Jim Leavitt is eager to continue an annual series next season with Miami, with the two schools playing Thanksgiving week each season for the next five years. As Leavitt has said, he won't feel like USF has a place in the state's elite until he's beaten one of those teams head-to-head. ...