Ohio
Bulls Travel to Ohio for Some Tuesday Night #MACtion
10/27/2022 3:19:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (5-3, 4-0 MAC) at Ohio (5-3, 3-1 MAC)
November 1, 2022
Peden Stadium - 7:30 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPN2
Storylines
• The Bulls are in search of a sixth straight win for just the second time in their FBS era (2013).
• The Bulls are looking to improve to 5-0 in MAC play for the fourth time in program history (2013, 2018, 2020).
• Since joining the MAC in 1999, the Bulls are 1-10 at Ohio's Peden Stadium. Their lone win came in 2008.
• This will be the Bulls sixth road game over the first nine weeks.
• The Bulls are in search of their fourth straight road win for just the second time in their FBS era (2018).
• The Bulls have not allowed points in the fourth quarter in any of their last five games. UB has outscored its opponents 48-0 in the fourth quarter over the same span.
• Shaun Dolac leads the nation in solo tackles with 62 and ranks 7th in total tackles with 85.
• Kicker Alex McNulty is two field goals shy of tying the program record for single-season field goals. McNulty's 15 field goals, which is tied for second in the nation, is two shy of the record 17 made by Gerald Carlson in 1995.
• Safety Marcus Fuqua leads the MAC and is tied for the FBS lead with five interceptions. He had a career-best three picks in UB's last game against Toledo.
• The Bulls have forced 16 turnovers over the last six games, including an FBS-era six turnovers (4 INTs, 2 FR) in their last game against Toledo.
• A win would make the Bulls bowl eligible for the seventh time in program history and the fifth time in the last six seasons. UB played in bowl games in 2008, 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Bulls Travel to Ohio for Some Tuesday Night #MACtion
The University at Buffalo football team will travel to Ohio on Tuesday for a battle for first place in the MAC East Division.
Buffalo is 5-3 overall, 4-0 in the MAC and is coming off a 34-27 win over Toledo on Oct. 22. The Bulls were led by safety Marcus Fuqua who had a career-high three interceptions against the Rockets.
Ohio is 5-3 overall, 3-1 in the MAC and is coming off a 24-17 win over Northern Illinois on Oct. 22. The Bobcats are led by quarterback Kurtis Rourke who has thrown for 2,408 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season.
Ohio leads the all-time series, 15-12. The Bulls won the last meeting, 27-26, at UB Stadium last season.
Fuqua Named Bronko Nagurski National Player of the Week
Safety Marcus Fuqua was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following his standout performance against Toledo. He's the first UB player to ever earn the honor. The junior had a career-high three interceptions against the Rockets to become just the fourth UB player to record three interceptions in a game. The last UB player with three picks was Cortney Lester against Western Michigan in 2012. Steven Nappo had three interceptions against Frostburg State in 1986 and Pete Rao had a school-record four interceptions in a game against Cortland State in 1953.
Fuqua leads the MAC and is tied for the FBS lead with five interceptions. He was named the MAC East Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season following his performance against Toledo.
Give Me That!
Buffalo forced six turnovers against Toledo - the most by a UB team in its FBS era. The previous record was five set against Central Michigan (2019), Western Michigan (2012), Bowling Green (2010) and Kent State (2006). The Bulls' four interceptions tied an FBS era record as well. UB previously had four interceptions against Central Michigan (2018), Ohio (2015) and Western Michigan (2012).
Buffalo has forced 17 turnovers on the year, five more than they forced all of last season. The Bulls' lead the MAC and rank seventh in the nation with a +8 turnover margin.
Cook Named to Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
Ron Cook was named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll following his performance against Toledo. Cook touched the ball 25 times three different ways for 233 all-purpose yards and the winning score in the Bulls' 34-27 come-from-behind home win over conference foe Toledo. Cook carried the ball 18 times for 118 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown run mid-fourth quarter. He caught three passes for 40 yards, accounted for nine first downs from scrimmage and returned four kickoffs.
Cook leads the Bulls in rushing with 496 yards on the season and has scored three touchdowns. He is also fourth on the team in receiving with 13 catches for 154 yards.
All Gassett, No Brakes
Slot receiver Jamari Gassett has emerged as a serious threat, complimenting outside receivers Quian Williams and Justin Marshall. He ranks third on the team in receiving with 25 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns.
He has had the knack of making big plays lately with five receptions of 32 yards or more in the last five games, including a 32-yard TD catch against Toledo and a 65-yard touchdown reception at Eastern Michigan.
Dolac Dominance
Junior linebacker Shaun Dolac has put on a tackling clinic in recent weeks. He has registered double-digit tackles in four of the last five games.
Against Bowling Green, all of his 14 tackles were solo and in the previous game against Miami (OH), 12 of his 14 tackles were solo. He currently leads the nation in solo tackles with 62 and ranks 7th in the nation in total tackles with 85.
He was named the MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 3.
Originally a walk-on, Dolac entered the starting lineup late last season. In his 10 total games as a starter, he has averaged 11 tackles per game and totaled 11.5 tackles for loss.
Big Play Bulls
The Bulls have had a number of different players make big plays on offense this season. Six different Bulls have registered a play of 40 yards or longer. Wide receiver Jamari Gassett leads the way with three such plays - a 65, 47 and 44-yard reception. Wide receiver Justin Marshall has a 69 and 49-yard TD catch and fellow wideout Quian Williams has a pair of 59-yard touchdown receptions. On the ground, Mike Washington has a 92-yard TD run, Al-Jay Henderson has an 84-yard touchdown run and Ron Cook has a 49-yard run.
Long Way Home
Buffalo has taken the long way to the endzone in each of their first eight games.
The Bulls offense has scored 26 touchdowns on the season and 19 drives have been 69 yards or longer. UB has had touchdown drives of 99, 92, 91, 85, 84, 82, 81, 80, 80, 75, 75, 75, 75, 75, 75, 71, 70, 70 and 69 yards.
Big Game James
Back for a fifth season, linebacker James Patterson continues to cement himself as one of the best linebackers in program history.
He had six tackles at Maryland in the opener to bring his career total to 303. He's the 12th player in program history to reach the 300 tackle mark and currently ranks 6th in school history in career tackles with 364. He moved past all-time great Khalil Mack on UB's career tackle list.
A team captain since his sophomore season, Patterson was named All-MAC First Team in 2020 and 2021. He made his 51st career start against Toledo, the most starts by any player in program history. James O'Hagan (2015-18) and Peter Bittner (2007-10) are the only other players to start 50 games at UB.
Dynamic Duo
The Bulls feature two of the best wide receivers in the Mid-American Conference in Quian Williams and Justin Marshall. Williams has 41 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns. Marshall has 35 receptions for 497 yards and five touchdowns.
Williams and Marshall each had eight catches against Coastal Carolina, marking the first time since 2015, two UB players had eight or more receptions in the same game. Matt Weiser, Marcus McGill and Ron Willoughby each had eight catches against Bowling Green on Oct. 3, 2015.
Against Holy Cross, both players (Williams 105/Marshall 116) went over 100 yards receiving in the same game for the first time since Antonio Nunn (182) and Trevor Wilson (118) each had 100-yard games against Ball State in the 2020 MAC Championship Game.
McNulty Showing off Big Leg
Alex McNulty has made 15 field goals on the season to lead the MAC and rank second in the nation. He is two shy of the single-season school record for field goals set by Gerald Carlson in 1995.
Against Coastal Carolina, he was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goal attempts, becoming the first UB kicker since A.J. Principe in 2007 to make four field goals in a game.
He followed up that performance by making three more field goals at Eastern Michigan. He was named the MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week following both games.
McNulty kicked a 52-yard field goal against Holy Cross, it was his third career 50-yarder. He also kicked a 50-yard field against Bowling Green last season and a school-record 55-yarder against Northern Illinois last year as well.
He is the first Buffalo kicker in its FBS era (since 1999) to make three 50-yard field goals in a career. Gerald Carlson made four 50-yarders in the mid-90s when the Bulls were an FCS program.
McNulty currently ranks third in program history in career field goals (40), first in extra points (150) and second in career points scored by a kicker (270).
Not So Fast
The Buffalo defensive line had its most dominant game of the season at UMass on Oct 15. The Bulls had four sacks and 15 tackles for loss against the Minutemen. The 15 tackles for loss were the most by a UB team since joining the FBS ranks in 1999.
Defensive end Ibrahim Kante led the way with three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks, Daymond Williams and James Patterson each had a pair of TFLs for the Bulls.
Snyder Settling in at QB
Quarterback Cole Snyder seems to be getting more and more comfortable each week. Against Eastern Michigan, the junior signal-caller finished 20-of-29 for 297 yards and two touchdowns and added two rushing scores.
He ranks fourth in the MAC in passing yards per game (238.4).
Snyder threw for a season-high 305 yards and three touchdowns against Holy Cross, becoming the first UB quarterback to throw for 300 yards since Kyle Vantrease threw for 365 yards against Ball State in the 2020 MAC Championship game. He also became the first UB quarterback to throw for three touchdowns in a game since Vantrease threw for three touchdowns against Miami (OH) in 2020.
New Faces
Looking to bolster the roster, the Bulls welcomed 25 transfers this offseason, including 11 from power five programs.
UB's power five program transfers include WR Justin Marshall (Louisville), CB Elijah Blades (Florida), WR Boobie Curry (Arizona), CB Caleb Offord (Notre Dame), S Solomon Brown (Minnesota), S Jahmin Muse (Boston College), QB Cole Snyder (Rutgers), DE Ibrahim Kante (NC State), DE Damian Jackson (Nebraska), S James Ziglor (Vanderbilt) and OL Isaiah Wright (Rutgers).
Of the 60 players on the depth chart, 24 are in their first year with the program.
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 at least one linebacker named All-MAC each of the last 11 seasons. James Patterson was named to the first team in 2020 and 2021.
Rounding out the list are Kadofi Wright (2019), Khalil Hodge (2018, 2017, 2016), Brandon Berry (2015), Okezie Alozie (2015), Lee Skinner (2014), Adam Redden (2014) and Khalil Mack (2013, 2012, 2011).
Bulls Picked Third in MAC East
Buffalo was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division according to the MAC media.
Miami (OH) was picked first with 139 points, followed by Kent State (116), Buffalo (78), Ohio (72), Bowling Green (71) and Akron (28).
Northern Illinois was picked to win the West Division, followed by Toledo, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Ball State.
Northern Illinois was selected as the preseason favorite to win the MAC Championship.
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 23rd year, and 15th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his sixth season as analyst. Brad Riter also returns as game host.
The UB Football postgame show will once again take place at The Anchor Bar on Maple Road with host Bob Gaughan.
