Nebraska
Bulls Head to the Midwest for a Date with Nebraska
9/7/2021 2:34:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (1-0, 0-0 MAC) at Nebraska (1-1, 0-1 B10)
September 11, 2021
Memorial Stadium - 3:30 pm (EST)
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
Big Ten Network
Storylines
• This will not only be Buffalo's first game vs. Nebraska, but it will be the first time the Bulls will play a game in the state of Nebraska.
• The Bulls are 1-9 all time against teams from the Big Ten Conference. UB won at Rutgers in 2018 for its first Big Ten win. Buffalo did defeat Penn State in 1900 and Rutgers in 2002, but it was before the teams joined the conference.
• Saturday's game against Nebraska will be the first of three straight against first-time opponents (Nebraska, Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion).
• The Bulls did not attempt a punt against Wagner, marking the first time in their FBS era (since 1999) they didn't attempt a punt in a game.
• Taylor Riggins has 15.5 career sacks, tied for eight in program history. He is a half sack behind Keith Hanson (1994-97) for seventh place.
• Kevin Marks has scored at least one rushing touchdown in six straight games dating back to last season. He is three rushing touchdowns shy of tying Branden Oliver (2010-13) for third in school history with 33.
• Alex McNulty (131) is four points shy of Mark Mozrall (1991-94) for fifth place in program history in career scoring by a kicker.
• Quarterback Kyle Vantrease has only been sacked twice in the last 15 games.
• Buffalo has two players from the state of Nebraska on their roster - OG Nolan Gorczyka (Omaha - Roncalli Catholic) & C Jack Hasz (Omaha - Creighton Prep).
Bulls Head to the Midwest for a Date with Nebraska
The University at Buffalo football team heads to Nebraska on Saturday for their first road game of the season.
The Bulls are coming off a 69-7 win over Wagner in the season-opener. UB rolled up 569 yards of total offense to cruise to the victory.
Nebraska is 1-1 on the season and is coming off a 52-7 win over Fordham on Saturday. The Cornhuskers are led by quarterback Adrian Martinez who has thrown for 232 yards and a TD and rushed for 111 yards and another score.
This is the first meeting between the schools.
Bulls Win Big in Linguist Debut
It was an impressive debut for head coach Maurice Linguist last Thursday night as the Bulls easily disposed of Wagner, 69-7.
UB scored on each of its first 11 possessions of the game. The Bulls were in victory formation on their 12th possession. It was the third most points ever scored by a UB team and the most ever in a season opener.
The Bulls rolled up 569 yards of offense - 320 yards rushing and 257 yards passing. It was first time since 2014 against Akron that the Bulls rushed for 300 yards and passed for 200 yards in the same game.
Defensively, UB only allowed 97 yards of total offense, its fewest allowed since giving up only 84 yards against Hofstra on Oct. 24, 1992.
Welcome Back Taylor
After a breakout season in 2019, Taylor Riggins missed the entire 2020 campaign with an injury. The Bulls' defensive end is now healthy and looking to return to his All-MAC form.
Riggins was a first-team All-MAC selection in 2019 after posting 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He ranked second in the conference in sacks in 2019.
In the opener against Wagner, Riggins had a team-high six tackles and a pair of sacks. He now has 15.5 career sacks - good for eighth in school history.
On Your Marks
UB running back Kevin Marks begins his first season as the Bulls' starting running back after splitting time with All-American Jaret Patterson over the last three seasons.
Despite only starting five games over his career, Marks ranks fifth in program history in career rushing yards with 2,693 and fourth in program history in career rushing touchdowns with 30. An All-MAC Third Team selection in 2020, Marks is 1,358 yards shy of breaking Branden Oliver's school record of 4,049 career rushing yards.
Marks was on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards.
Stepping Up at Receiver
There were numerous question marks at wide receiver heading into the season with only three returners catching a pass last season. However, those questions were quickly answered in the Bulls' win over Wagner.
On the second play of the game, Jovany Ruiz caught a pass over the middle and raced 63 yards for a touchdown. The senior finished with three catches for 76 yards in the game.
Newcomer, Quian Williams, a grad transfer from Eastern Michigan, led UB with five catches for 96 yards.
In total, nine different Bulls caught passes against the Seahawks, including Marlyn Johnson who hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass for his first career score.
Spreading the Wealth
Seven different players scored for the Bulls in their 69-7 win over Wagner in the opener.
Kevin Marks and Dylan McDuffie each scored two rushing touchdowns. Jake Molinich, Ron Cook and Tajay Ahmed also scored rushing TDs. Jovany Ruiz and Marlyn Johnson added receiving touchdowns for the Bulls.
Winning Ways
Since the 2017 season, the Bulls have more wins than any other school in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo has 31 wins over that span. Toledo is second with 29 followed by Ohio which has 27.
Not So Fast
The Bulls defense has been dominant over the last few seasons and it looks like that trend may continue this year.
UB has ranked in the top two of the MAC in total defense each of the last three seasons, ranking first in 2020 and 2019 and second in 2018.
Buffalo has been especially stout against the run. The last player to rush for 100 yards in a game against the Bulls was Miami (OH)'s Jaylon Bester (107 yards) on September 28, 2019 - a span of 16 games. The Bulls have only allowed one 100-yard rusher in their last 23 games.
The Bulls only allowed 18 rushing yards against Wagner in the opener. Overall, UB gave up only 97 yards of total offense against the Seahawks - their fewest allowed since giving up 84 against Hofstra in 1992.
Linebacker U
UB has had a number of standout linebackers in recent years, most notably Khalil Mack who was an All-American and now an NFL All-Pro.
The Bulls have had 12 linebackers named All-MAC over the last 10 years, including each of the last 10 seasons. Buffalo has two All-MAC linebackers on its current roster. James Patterson was named to the first team in 2020 and Kadofi Wright was a second team selection in 2019.
Rounding out the list are Khalil Hodge (2018, 2017, 2016), Brandon Berry (2015), Okezie Alozie (2015), Lee Skinner (2014), Adam Redden (2014), Khalil Mack (2013, 2012, 2011).
Back for a Sixth Year
The Bulls have six players on the roster who took advantage of their extra year of eligibility due to Covid and are playing their sixth year.
Offensive linemen Jake Fuzak and Jack Klenk, tight end Jake Molinich, wide receiver Dominic Johnson, linebacker Kadofi Wright and defensive end Taylor Riggins are all in their sixth year.
To quote Fuzak; "We are playing under our third president."
Vantrease Back Under Center
The Bulls will have a veteran presence under center again this season as Kyle Vantrease will be the Bulls' starting quarterback for the third straight season. After entering the starting lineup midway through the 2019 campaign, Vantrease has started the last 15 games at quarterback for UB.
The Stow, OH native threw for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019 and 1,326 yards and seven touchdowns in a Covid-shortened 2020.
Last season, he threw for 353 yards against Miami (OH) and 365 yards against Ball State, becoming just the second quarterback in UB's FBS era (since 1999) to throw for 350+ yards twice in the same season (Joe Licata was the other in 2014).
In the opener against Wagner, Vantrease was 15-for-19 for 231 yards and a touchdown and was named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week.
Watch Out
The Bulls have representatives on seven different NCFAA award preseason watch lists. Linebacker James Patterson, linebacker Kadofi Wright, running back Kevin Marks, quarterback Kyle Vantrease and offensive lineman Jake Fuzak each appeared on at least one watch list.
Buffalo Players on NCFAA Watch Lists
Kevin Marks - Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award
James Patterson - Bednarik Award, Butkus Award
Jake Fuzak - Outland Trophy
Kadofi Wright - Lombardi Award
Kyle Vantrease - Johnny Unitas
Eight Bulls Named to Athlon Preseason All-MAC Team
Athlon Sports released its preseason All-Mid-American Conference football team and eight University at Buffalo players were named to the squad. The list was headlined by five first-team selections, running back Kevin Marks, offensive tackle Jake Fuzak, defensive end Taylor Riggins, linebacker James Patterson and punt returner Ron Cook.
Linebacker Kadofi Wright was named to the second team.
The fourth team included cornerback Aapri Washington and Cook again as a kick returner.
Home Sweet Home
The Bulls have built quite the home field advantage over the last few seasons. UB is 16-2 in its last 18 games played at UB Stadium. Since 2017, the Bulls are 6-1 against non-conference opponents with their only loss coming to Army in 2018.
Nice to Meet You
The Bulls have three opponents on their schedule this season they are playing for the first time. Following the opener against Wagner, an opponent they haven't faced since 1987, the Bulls will play Nebraska, Coastal Carolina and Old Dominion - all first-time matchups.
International Flavor
The Bulls have six international players on this year's roster.
Buffalo has four players who hail from Canada, including Dominic Johnson (Ontario), Cole Burniston (Ontario), Gabe Wallace (BC) and Deondre Doiron (Ontario). In addition, the Bulls have two players from Europe, Fabian Weitz (Germany) and Alain Schaerer (Switzerland).
Klenk Named Campbell Trophy Nominee
Sixth-year offensive lineman Jack Klenk is a nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Given annually to college football's top student-athlete, the Campbell Trophy is also known as the Academic Heisman.
Klenk graduated Summa Cum Laude with degrees in communication and social science interdisciplinary. He posted a 3.823 grade point average. He is a currently working towards a masters degree in real estate development.
He is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection and earned the Mid-American Conference Medal of Excellence in 2021.
On The Airwaves
Again this season, University at Buffalo football can be heard locally on ESPN 1520, a 50,000-watt station with one of the strongest signals in the nation. The Bulls can also be heard on 1280 AM in Rochester.
Calling all the play-by-play action of Bulls football for his 22nd year, and 14th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his fifth season as analyst. Brad Riter also returns as game host.
New this season, the UB Football postgame show will take place at The Anchor Bar on Maple Road with host Bob Gaughan.
