Ball State
Bulls to Battle Ball State for MAC Title
12/15/2020 8:25:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (5-0, 5-0 MAC) vs. Ball State (5-1, 5-1 MAC)
December 18, 2020
Ford Field - 7:30 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPN
Storylines
• Ball State leads the all-time series, 9-2.
• This is a rematch of the 2008 MAC Championship game. The Bulls defeated Ball State, 42-24, that year to win their lone MAC title.
• The Bulls are making their third appearance in the MAC Championship game. They beat Ball State in 2008 and lost to Northern Illinois in 2018.
• Buffalo has five starters that also started in the 2018 MAC Championship game and 18 players on the current roster played in the game in 2018.
• Buffalo is ranked 23rd in the latest AP Poll - the second week they are nationally ranked.
• Both Buffalo and Ball State have won five straight games this season.
• Jaret Patterson is 163 yards shy of 4,000 for his career. He would become just the second player in school history to rush for 4,000 yards. Branden Oliver holds the school record with 4,049, 212 yards more than Patterson's current total.
• The Bulls have not allowed a sack on the season and now haven't allowed a sack in nine straight games dating back to last year.
• The Bulls are averaging 51.8 points on the season to lead the nation in scoring average. They have scored 40+ points in nine of their last 10 games against conference opponents dating back to last season.
• Buffalo has averaged 446 yards per game rushing over the last three games and now lead the nation in rushing (344.6 ypg).
• Jaret Patterson's next rushing touchdown will be his 19th and tie his own single-season school record set last season.
Bulls to Battle Ball State for MAC Title
The University at Buffalo football team will face off against Ball State in the Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship Game on Friday night at Ford Field. UB is coming off a 56-7 win over Akron on Saturday. The Bulls were led by running back Kevin Marks who rushed for a career-best 182 yards and two touchdowns against the Zips.
Ball State won the MAC West Division following a 30-27 win over Western Michigan on Saturday. The Cardinals are led by quarterback Drew Plitt who has passed for 1,679 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.
Ball State leads the all-time series, 9-2. The Bulls won the last meeting, 40-24, at Ball State in 2017.
Third Trip to Detroit
The Bulls are playing in the MAC Championship game for the third time in school history. Buffalo defeated Ball State, who was ranked 14th at the time, 42-24, to win the title in 2008. Safety Mike Newton was named the game's MVP after scoring one of the Bulls' two defensive touchdowns.
In 2018, Northern Illinois rallied to beat the Bulls, 30-29. Current starters Jacob Gall (OL), Kayode Awosika (OL), Jaret Patterson (RB), Eddie Wilson (DT) and James Patterson (LB) also started in 2018 title game.
Running Down a Dream
UB leads the nation in rushing, averaging 344.6 yards per game. Their current average is by far the best in school history, besting their previous high of 250.5 set last season.
The Bulls have scored 27 rushing touchdowns in five games which is tied for third in school history for a season. UB also scored 27 rushing touchdowns over 14 games in 2008.
The Bulls rushed for a school-record 515 yards in their win over Kent State. UB also set a school and MAC record with 10 rushing touchdowns, breaking the previous record of seven and nine, respectively.
Jaret Patterson ranks second in the nation in yards per carry (8.33) and Kevin Marks is sixth in the nation in yards per carry (7.50).
Jaret Patterson Appreciation Note
Running back Jaret Patterson is posting historic numbers this season. Here are a few of note.
• Rushed for 409 yards against Kent State - the second most in FBS history.
• Tied the FBS record with eight rushing touchdowns against Kent State
• Rushed for 710 yards in back-to-back games against Bowling Green and Kent State- the most ever in consecutive games in FBS history.
• Leads the nation in rushing average (205 ypg) and is eighth in total yardage (1,025) after only five games.
• His 18 rushing touchdowns are third in the nation and second in school history for a single season. He holds the record with 19 set last year.
• Over the last 11 games, Patterson has rushed for 2,138 yards and 33 touchdowns.
• Five games into his junior season, Patterson already holds the school record for career rushing touchdowns (51) - 17 more than second place James Starks. He is tied for sixth in MAC history in career touchdowns.
This is 40
After scoring 70 points against Kent State (the most by a UB team in its FBS era), the Bulls are averaging 51.8 points per game - tops in the nation. UB has scored 40+ points in each of the first five games of the season for the first time in program history. It is also the first time they have ever scored 40+ points in their first five MAC games. The Bulls have now scored 40 or mores points in nine of their last 10 games against conference opponents.
The 259 points scored through five games this season are already more than 11 of UB's 21 full seasons as an FBS program.
Koonce Invited to Senior Bowl
Senior defensive end Malcolm Koonce has accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl. He will be the fourth player in school history to play in the prestigious all-star game, joining DT Gerry Philbin (1964), WR Anthony Johnson (2019) and QB Tyree Jackson (2019).
A first-team All-MAC selection in 2019 after leading the conference in sacks, Koonce has 24 tackles, five tackles for loss and four sacks this season.
With 17 career sacks, Koonce currently ranks seventh in school history.
UB Career Sack Leaders
1. Khalil Mack (2010-13) 28.5
2. Rich Dabado (1989-92) 24.0
Vance Canosa (1992-95) 24.0
4. Trevor Scott (2004-07) 19.0
5. Steven Means (2009-12) 18.5
6. Dave May (1983-86) 18.0
7. Malcolm Koonce (2017-) 17.0
Second Half Adjustments
The third quarter has been the best quarter for the Bulls this season. UB has outscored its opponents 84-7 in the third quarter so far this season. The Bulls scored at least 14 third-quarter points in each of their first five games. In fact, in Buffalo's win over Miami (OH), the Bulls scored on its first four possessions of the second half, with scoring drives of 81, 82, 62 and 84 yards.
O-Line Honored by Joe Moore Award
For the second straight season, UB's offensive line has been named a semifinalist for Joe Moore Award, given anually to the top offensive line unit in the FBS ranks.
Buffalo's offensive line has blocked for the nation's highest scoring offense (51.8 ppg) and top rushing offense (344.6). In addition, the Bulls haven't allowed a sack all season.
The Bulls starting offensive line this season has been Kayode Awosika (LT), Jacob Gall (LG), Mike Novitsky (C), Jack Klenk (RG) and Jake Fuzak (RT).
National Team of the Week
Following their 70-41 win over Kent State, Buffalo was named the Reveal Suits National Team of the Week by the FWAA on Nov. 30. It was the first MAC school to win it since Sept. 16, 2017, when Northern Illinois won at Nebraska.
The 70 points scored were the most by a UB team since joining the FBS ranks in 1999. The Bulls rushed for a school-record 515 yards, and broke the MAC record with 10 rushing touchdowns against the Golden Flashes.
Excelling in the Red Zone
The Bulls have been in the red zone 21 times this season and have scored 20 touchdowns. A turnover on downs against Bowling Green was the only time they didn't score once in the red zone. Of their 20 scores, 18 have been rushing touchdowns.
Building a Consistent Winner
Head Coach Lance Leipold has been able to build a consistent winning program since being hired prior to the 2015 season. The Bulls have won 29 games since the start of the 2017 season - going 6-6 in 2017, 10-4 in 2018 and 8-5 last year. The 29 wins are the most by any MAC team since the start of the 2017 campaign.
Big Play Bulls
The Bulls have used big plays to find the endzone so far this season. They have scored 13 touchdowns of 40 yards or more. Against Miami (OH), Kyle Vantrease had a 78-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Wilson and an 82-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Nunn. It marked the first time in UB's FBS era (since 1999) that it had two touchdown passes of 78 or more yards in the same game.
Running back Jaret Patterson has touchdown runs of 42, 49, 56, 57 and 58 yards this season.
Long touchdown plays aren't limited to the offense as the Bulls scored on a 42-yard and 46-yard fumble recovery and a 65-yard pick six in the opener at Northern Illinois. In addition, Tyrone Hill blocked a field goal and returned in 63 yards for a score.
Mr. 3,000
Against Miami (OH) on Nov. 10, running back Jaret Patterson went over 3,000 yards for his career, becoming the fastest player in school history to reach the milestone (29 games). He is currently second in school history in career rushing yards. Patterson needed 138 less carries to pass Starks for second in school history in career rushing.
Player , Yards, Att, Years
1. Branden Oliver, 4,049, 866, 2010-13
2. Jaret Patterson, 3,837, 618, 2018-
3. James Starks, 3,140, 698, 2006-08
4. Anthony Swan, 3,103, 812, 1994-97
5. Alan Bell, 3,022, 682, 1989-92
On Your Marks
While Jaret Patterson gets most of the headlines, fellow running back Kevin Marks is once again having a solid season. The junior is averaging a career-best 102 yards per game this season. He rushed for a career-high 182 yards and two touchdowns against Akron and was named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
Though only starting two games in his career, Marks is seventh in school history in career rushing yards with 2,390. He has nine career 100-yard rushing games.
Breakout Game for Vantrease
Kyle Vantrease had the best game of his career against Miami (OH) on Nov. 10. The junior signal-caller threw for 353 yards and four touchdowns against the RedHawks - both career highs. He was perfect in the second half, going 9-for-9 for 229 yards and three touchdowns. He had touchdown passes of 82, 78, 25 and 5 yards. His previous longest career pass was a 61 yarder against Ohio last season.
Vantrease was the first UB quarterback to throw for 300 yards in a game since Tyree Jackson posted 358 yards passing against Miami (OH) in 2018.
Vantrease is 51 for 85 for 821 yards with six touchdowns and one interception on the season.
Nunn Better
Senior wide receiver Antonio Nunn continues to develop into one of the best receivers in the Mid-American Conference. He is averaging 70.6 yards per game.
Nunn posted 100-yard performances in each of his first two games. He had six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown at Northern Illinois and five catches for 137 yards and a score against Miami.
Taking Matters into their Own Hands
UB scored three defensive touchdowns in its 49-30 win at Northern Illinois on Wednesday. Tim Terry returned a fumble 46 yards for the first defensive score. On the Huskies very next possession, Isaiah King scooped up another fumble and dashed 42 yards for a touchdown. Kadofi Wright added a 65-yard pick six for the Bulls' third defensive score.
It was the first time the Bulls scored three defensive touchdowns in a game since 2015 when the defense also scored three times at FAU.
With three defensive touchdowns in the opener UB was already tied for first in the nation in defensive touchdowns.
Record-Breaking Night for Patterson
Jaret Patterson scored two rushing touchdowns in the opener at Northern Illinois to bring his career total to 35, breaking the school record for career rushing touchdowns. He broke the record of former All-MAC running back James Starks who rushed for 34 scores from 2006-08.
What's more impressive about Patterson's record is how quickly he got there. Patterson scored his 35th touchdown in only his 28th career game. Starks rushed for his 34th career touchdown in his 36th career game and Branden Oliver, UB's all-time leader rusher, scored his 33rd touchdown in his 40th game.
Patterson leads the MAC with 18 rushing touchdowns to bring his career total to 51. He currently ranks sixth in MAC history in career rushing touchdowns.
Wright Place, Wright Time
Senior linebacker Kadofi Wright scored on a 65-yard interception return against Northern Illinois. It was his third career defensive score that have all come over the last two seasons. Wright forced and recovered a fumble for a touchdown at Akron on Oct. 19, 2019 and then, a week later, scored on a 40-yard interception return against Central Michigan. Wright was an All-MAC Second Team selection last season.
International Flavor
The Bulls have five international players from three different countries on this year's roster.
Buffalo has three players who hail from Canada, including Dominic Johnson (Ontario), Cole Burniston (Ontario) and Gabe Wallace (BC). In addition, the Bulls have two players from Europe, Alain Schaerer (Switzerland) and Jordan Avissey (France).
