Eastern Michigan
Bulls Open MAC Play at Eastern Michigan on Saturday
9/20/2022 2:07:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (0-3, 0-0 MAC) at Eastern Michigan (2-1, 0-0 MAC)
September 24, 2022
Rynearson Stadium - 12:00 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPN+
Storylines
• This will be the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools.
• Buffalo is 9-14 all-time in MAC openers.
• The Bulls are just 1-4 all-time at Rynearson Stadium with their lone win coming in 2019.
• This will be the Bulls' second straight game on non-green turf. They played last week's contest on Coastal Carolina's teal turf.
• Quian Williams and Justin Marshall both rank in the top five in the MAC in receptions. Williams ranks second with 19 catches and Marshall ranks fifth with 17.
• Quian Williams transferred from Eastern Michigan prior to the 2021 season.
• Linebacker James Patterson (326) is one tackle shy of reaching Khalil Mack (327) for ninth in school history in career tackles.
• Ron Cook (1,157) is 38 yards of passing Dahnel Singfield (1998-02) for seventh place in program history in career kick return yards.
• Quarterback Cole Snyder has thrown for 260+ yards in back-to-back games, becoming the first quarterback to throw for 260+ yards in consecutive games since Tyree Jackson did it in 2018. Jackson was also the last throw for 260+ yards in three straight games, also in 2018.
• The Bulls are looking to avoid their first 0-4 start since 2005.
Bulls Open MAC Play at Eastern Michigan on Saturday
The University at Buffalo football team opens Mid-American Conference play on Saturday with a game at Eastern Michigan.
Buffalo is coming off a 38-26 loss at Coastal Carolina last Saturday. The Bulls were led by kicker Alex McNulty who booted a career-best four field goals against the Chanticleers.
Eastern Michigan is 2-1 on the season and is coming off a 30-21 upset over Arizona State. The Eagles are led by running back Samson Evans who has rushed for 366 yards and three touchdowns on the season.
Eastern Michigan leads the all-time series, 6-3. Buffalo won the last meeting, 43-14, at Eastern Michigan in 2019.
Dynamic Duo
The Bulls feature two of the best wide receivers in the Mid-American Conference in Quian Williams and Justin Marshall. Both players rank in the top five in the MAC in receptions. Williams has 19 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Marshall has 17 receptions for 256 yards and three touchdowns.
Williams is second in the MAC with 19 receptions and Marshall ranks fifth in the MAC with 17 receptions.
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.
Williams has had eight catches in each of the last two games. The last UB player with 8+ catches in consecutive games were Weiser and Willoughby who each had 10 & 8 catches against Nevada and Bowling Green in 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.
Long Way Home
Buffalo has taken the long way to the endzone in each of their first three games.
The Bulls have scored seven touchdowns on the season and all seven drives have been 69 yards or longer. UB has had touchdown drives of 92, 85, 81, 75, 71, 70 and 69 yards.
McNulty Showing off Big Leg
Against Coastal Carolina, Alex McNulty 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 was named the MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
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 fifth in program history in career field goals (31), third in extra points (129) and fourth in career points scored by a kicker (222).
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 10th in school history in career tackles with 326. He is one tackle shy of 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.
Creating Turnovers
Buffalo created four turnovers at Coastal Carolina on Saturday. The four forced turnovers by the Bulls were the most they had in a game since forcing five at Northern Illinois in the opener of the 2020 campaign.
UB has created five turnovers through the first three games of the season. This is an improvement from a season ago when the Bulls created 12 turnovers the entire season.
Snyder Settling in at QB
Quarterback Cole Snyder had the best game of his young career against Holy Cross. The junior signal caller threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 17 of his first 19 passes in the game.
He followed that up with a 264-yard, two touchdown performance at Coastal Carolina. He became the first UB quarterback since Tyree Jackson in 2018 to throw for 260+ yards in consecutive games.
Snyder became 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.
Cooking with Gas
Two-time All-MAC kick returner Ron Cook continues to climb the record books. Against Holy Cross, Cook became just the ninth player in program history to surpass 1,000 career kick return yards. He has 1,157 kick return yards, good for eighth in program history. He is 38 yards of passing Dahnel Singfield (1998-02) for seventh in school history.
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).
Fuqua Named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week
Safety Marcus Fuqua was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Week in week one. It was the first time the junior has earned the honor.
Fuqua had four tackles, an interception and a pass breakup in Buffalo's game at Maryland. He was able to return his interception for 23 yards against the Terrapins.
International Flavor
The Bulls have four international players on this year's roster.
Buffalo has two players who hail from Canada, including Gabe Wallace (BC) and Anthony Venneri (Ontario). In addition, the Bulls have two players from Europe, Fabian Weitz (Germany) and Alain Schaerer (Switzerland).
Max Michel Nominated for Allstate Good Works Team
Senior defensive end Max Michel is among 114 nominees for the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Awarded to community champions, it recognizes student-athletes who display exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field.
A native of New Jersey, Michel quickly embraced the Queen City. He has worked with the Buffalo City Mission, organizing a coat drive in December, collecting coats, jackets, gloves and hats. In its first year, the coat drive resulted in over 50 coats and other warm items of clothing being donated to the Buffalo City Mission.
He also donates his time volunteering at the Buffalo City Mission's kitchen, helping prepare food, emptying the garbage and whatever else he can do to help.
In addition, Michel is on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy.
McNulty Named Campbell Trophy Nominee
Senior kicker Alex McNulty 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.
McNulty is a double major in biology for pre-veterinary science and physics. He carries a 3.8 grade point average and is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection.
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.
