Miami (OH)
Bulls Host Miami (OH) on Saturday in Homecoming Matchup
9/27/2022 2:24:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (1-3, 1-0 MAC) vs. Miami (OH) (2-2, 0-0 MAC)
October 1, 2022
UB Stadium - 3:30 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPN+
Storylines
• The Bulls have won four of the last five meetings with Miami at UB Stadium.
• Buffalo has scored points in 13th straight quarters. The last quarter the Bulls didn't score was the third quarter of the opener at Maryland.
• The Bulls have run 74 more plays than their opponents over the last two games. UB was +40 at Coastal Carolina and +34 at Eastern Michigan.
• Buffalo leads the MAC and ranks ninth in the nation in time of possession (34:34).
• Linebacker James Patterson (323) is nine tackles shy of reaching Mike Newton (342) for eighth 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 three straight games, becoming the first quarterback to throw for 260+ yards in three consecutive games since Tyree Jackson did it in 2018. Jackson was also the last throw for 260+ yards in four straight games, doing it over the final four games of 2017.
• Alex McNulty has made seven field goals in the last two games and has made nine straight since missing his first kick of the season. His next made field goal will be the 35th of his career and will tie him with Dallas Pelz (2000-03) for fourth in school history.
• For the second straight week, the Bulls are facing a MAC team coming off a win over a Power 5 program. Miami topped Northwestern last week. Last Saturday, UB defeated an Eastern Michigan team coming off a win over Arizona State.
Bulls Host Miami (OH) on Saturday in Homecoming Matchup
The University at Buffalo football team will host Miami (OH) on Saturday afternoon at UB Stadium.
Buffalo is 1-3 overall, 1-0 in the MAC and is coming off a 50-31 win at Eastern Michigan last Saturday. The Bulls were led by quarterback Cole Snyder who threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two other scores.
Miami (OH) is 2-2 on the season and is coming off a 17-14 upset over Northwestern. The RedHawks are led by wide receiver Mac Hippenhammer who has 17 receptions for 219 yards and four touchdowns on the season.
Miami (OH) leads the all-time series, 16-8. The RedHawks won the last meeting, 45-18, at Miami last season.
Controlling the Line of Scrimmage
The Bulls have significantly controlled the ball and the clock over the last two games.
Against Coastal Carolina, the Bulls ran 93 plays to 53 for Coastal (+40) and had a time of possession of 39:06 compared to 20:54 for the Chanticleers (+18:12).
Against Eastern Michigan, the Bulls ran 84 plays to 50 for Eastern (+34) and had a time of possession of 38:37 compared to 21:23 for the Eagles (+17:14).
The Bulls lead the MAC and rank ninth in the nation in time of possession (34:34).
Nifty 50
Buffalo scored 50 points in its win at Eastern Michigan last Saturday. It was the most points the Bulls ever scored in a MAC road game, besting the mark of 49 previously set at Northern Illinois in 2020. It marked the seventh time UB scored 50 points against a MAC opponent.
50-point performances in MAC games
70 vs. Kent State, 2020
68 vs. Western Michigan, 2017
56 vs. Akron, 2020
55 vs. Akron, 2014
51 vs. Akron 2011
51 vs. Miami (OH), 2018
50 at Eastern Michigan, 2022
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 10 in the MAC in receptions and receiving yards. Williams has 25 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Marshall has 20 receptions for 301 yards and three touchdowns.
Williams is third in the MAC in receptions and sixth in receiving yards while Marshall ranks 10th in the MAC in receptions and fourth in receiving yards.
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.
Long Way Home
Buffalo has taken the long way to the endzone in each of their first four games.
The Bulls have scored 12 touchdowns on the season and 11 drives have been 69 yards or longer. UB has had touchdown drives of 92, 85, 81, 75, 75, 75, 75, 75, 71, 70 and 69 yards.
McNulty Showing off Big Leg
After missing his first field goal of the season, Alex McNulty has made nine straight field goals, including seven over the last two games. He currently leads the MAC and ranks second in the nation in field goals made.
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 has been named the MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week each of the last two weeks.
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 (34), second in extra points (134) and third in career points scored by a kicker (236).
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 9th in school history in career tackles with 333. He recently passed 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 Sept. 17. 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 six turnovers through the first four 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 seems to be getting more and more comfortable each week. In his last outing 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 (256.50) and fourth in passing efficiency (133.76).
Snyder is the first quarterback since Tyree Jackson in 2018 to throw for 264+ yards in three straight games.
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.
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).
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 Semifinaiist
Senior kicker Alex McNulty is a semifinalist 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.
