USF headed north of the border for International Bowl

University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt was out recruiting Sunday afternoon when the Bulls received word they are headed to the International Bowl in Toronto.

About 15 hours earlier, the dejected Bulls walked off a snow-covered Rentschler Field after losing 29-27 at Connecticut on a 42-yard field goal by Dave Teggart as time expired. A season that started so promising - USF is the only BCS team to start 5-0 in each of the past three seasons - ended in heartbreaking fashion, leaving Leavitt and his staff hopeful they can add some missing ingredients through intense recruiting.

But before National Signing Day rolls around in February, the Bulls will make their fifth consecutive bowl appearance by facing Mid-American Conference member Northern Illinois (7-5) on Jan. 2 at the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays.

USF (7-5) will seek to keep the Big East Conference's perfect record in the bowl intact. Since the inaugural game in 2007, Cincinnati, Rutgers and UConn have defeated MAC teams in the International Bowl.

"I'm excited about Toronto," Leavitt said. "We've never been there. I've never been there. I'm excited for the kids. This is big stuff. We get to go and play indoors. I think it's exciting and pretty neat. This is our fifth bowl game, and every year we've played in a different bowl. Not many programs can say that."

The Bulls made their first bowl trip in 2005, losing to N.C. State in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in their first season in the Big East. USF has been to a bowl every year since, winning 41-14 against Memphis in the St. Petersburg Bowl last season.

Toronto offers one of the more unique bowl experiences in college football since it's the only bowl game that you need a passport to get to. UConn defeated Buffalo in last season's game, which drew a bowl-record 40,184.

Northern Illinois also is making its first appearance in the game. This will be the Huskies' fourth bowl since 2004.

Northern Illinois concluded the regular season Nov. 27 with a 45-31 loss at Central Michigan. However, the Huskies are no pushover, winning at Purdue and narrowly losing on the road to Wisconsin and Toledo.

"This is a great time for the Huskies," Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill said. "It's the first time in school history that NIU will be in back-to-back bowl games, which is a huge accomplishment for our seniors and another step forward for our program. This is a tremendous opportunity for our program versus a tremendous opponent as we know South Florida is a very good program from a great league."

For the Bulls, it's a final opportunity to close the season on a positive note.

"Playing in a bowl game is always special," Leavitt said. "We'll get back to practice and hopefully go up there and play good football."