During the American Athletic Conference coaches teleconference Monday, USF head coach Charlie Strong doesn't mince words about his team's upcoming opponent. He knows SMU will be a tough matchup -- and a team coming to Tampa, Florida, loaded with confidence fresh off a road win over a top-25 opponent in TCU.

"Our hands are going to be full," Strong said, "but it's going to be a great matchup for us being here at home."

USF is 1-2 on the season and enters Saturday's matchup off a bye week. The Bulls earned their first victory on Sept. 14, defeating South Carolina State, 55-16, at home. Prior to that game, the Bulls had scored 10 points in two games.

"South Florida is one of those teams that's starting to come into their own," SMU coach Sonny Dykes said. "They have gotten significantly better from Week 2 to Week 3 and have an open date before us. When you play on the road and you face a team that had an open date, those are hard games to win. This South Florida team has a lot of talent, a lot of speed and a lot of guys who can make plays."

They will look to protect home field against an SMU team looking for its first 5-0 record since the 1983 season. Saturday's win over TCU not only meant the Mustangs were able to reclaim the Iron Skillet, but it also meant the team snapped a seven-game losing skid against the Horned Frogs -- and the Mustangs did it at a place where it's hard to get road victories in Amon G. Carter Stadium.

For Strong, there was a lot to process watching the Mustangs win Saturday, and he spoke positively of the players on the team, as well as Dykes.

"Sonny's an excellent coach, and you knew he was going to be successful because he has an unbelievable track record," Strong said. "What he's done with SMU and where he has them right now is amazing. Just to see the change in two years. They're an excellent football team."

Saturday's game will be a reunion of sorts, as Strong will get to see quarterback Shane Buechele once again. Strong recruited Buechele to Texas when he was the head coach there, and Buechele played for Strong for one season before Strong was fired and moved on to USF.

Buechele now is one of several transfers for SMU making a difference in the turnaround of the program.

"He [Dykes] has got a lot of transfers," Strong said, "and he's doing it the right way."

A win for USF would be huge for the confidence of Strong's team, particularly with both teams beginning conference play this week. Strong knows it won't be easy, but that can be said for the remaining games on the schedule.

"You have a very competitive league, and each and every game, you have to be ready to go play," he said. "On any given Saturday, that old cliche is 'anyone can be beat.' It's a well-coached league with some really good coaches and really good players."

SMU (4-0) at USF (1-2)

3 p.m. CT, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida