Bowling Green
Bulls Host Bowling Green in Homecoming Matchup
10/10/2023 2:45:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (2-4, 2-0 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (2-4, 0-2 MAC)
October 14, 2023
UB Stadium - 3:30 pm
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPN+
Storylines
• Saturday is homecoming at UB Stadium.
• Buffalo has won five of the last six meetings with Bowling Green.
• The Bulls are looking to start 3-0 in MAC play for the fifth time in program history. UB also started 2-0 in 2013, 2018, 2020 and 2022.
• Devin Grant's four interceptions are tied for first nationally. He was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following his three-interception performance against Central Michigan.
• The Bulls have forced eight turnovers over the last three games, including a season-best four last week against Central Michigan.
• UB's defense is allowing 11.5 points and 306 yards of total offense through two MAC games this season.
• 10 different players have scored touchdowns for the Bulls this season.
• Ron Cook (1,565) is 55 yards shy of catching Terrell Jackson (1,620) for second place in program history in career kick return yardage.
• Alex McNulty has recorded 10 straight touchbacks on his kickoffs. 77 percent of his 30 kickoffs on the season have gone for touchbacks.
• Under Head Coach Maurice Linguist, the Bulls are 7-3 in the month of October, including six straight wins.
Bulls Host Bowling Green in Homecoming Matchup
The University at Buffalo football team will host Bowling Green on Saturday in search of their third straight win.
Buffalo is 2-4 overall, 2-0 in the MAC and is coming off a 37-13 win over Central Michigan last Saturday. Devin Grant had three interceptions, including two pick sixes to lead the Bulls.
Bowling Green is 2-4 overall, 0-2 in the MAC and is coming off a 27-0 loss at Miami (OH) last Saturday. The Falcons are led by running back Terion Stewart who has rushed for 416 yards and four touchdowns on the season.
Bowling Green leads the all-time series, 12-8. The Bulls won the last meeting, 38-7, at Doyt Perry Stadium last season.
Devin Almighty
Not too many players in the MAC have had a better start to conference play than Devin Grant. In the first two MAC games, the Bulls safety had 14 tackles, three interceptions and a blocked kick.
He tied an FBS-era school record with three interceptions and became the first player in program history to return two picks for touchdowns against Central Michigan.
Against Akron in the MAC-opener, Grant had a career-high 10 tackles and blocked a potential game-tying field goal in overtime to secure the win for the Bulls.
Grant was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against CMU. It marked the second straight year a UB player won the award. Fellow safety Marcus Fuqua earned the distinction last year.
Grant is now tied for the national lead in interceptions with four.
Improving Defense
After struggling on the defensive side of the ball in nonconference play, the Bulls seemed to have righted the ship through two conference games.
In four nonconference games, Buffalo allowed 44.5 points per game while give up 512 yards per game. However, through two conference games, the Bulls only allowed 11.5 points per game while allowing 306 yards per game.
The Kids Are Alright
The defensive turnaround could be attributed to young players being inserted into the lineup.
Sophomore safety Devin Grant has 34 tackles, four interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Redshirt-freshman linebacker Red Murdock has 20 tackles, a team-best six tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles on the season.
True freshman cornerback Charles McCartherens has 20 tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
True freshman linebacker Dion Crawford has started the last two games and has eight tackles in those two contests.
You Get a TD, You Get a TD...
Ten different players have scored touchdowns for the Bulls this season. Ron Cook leads the way with five touchdowns followed by Marlyn Johnson (4), Darrell Harding (2), Cole Harrity (2), Mike Washington (2), Devin Grant (2), Jacqez Barksdale (1), Bobbie Curry (1), Nik McMillan (1) and CJ Ogbonna (1).
Special Teams Honors
Each of the last two weeks a member of UB's special teams has been honored by the Mid-American Conference.
Following UBs' win over Central Michigan, Alex McNulty was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week. He made three field goals and all four extra points against the Chippewas.
Punter Anthony Venneri was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week following the Bulls win over Akron. He averaged 49.8 yards on six punts with four of his six punts traveling at least 50 yards, including a game-long 63-yarder. Three of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.
Working Overtime
Buffalo's 13-10 overtime win over Akron was its first OT win since beating Army in overtime in 2016. It was the Bulls' first road overtime win since defeating Bowling Green in two overtimes at Doyt Perry Stadium in 2008. Before their win at Akron, the Bulls were just 2-5 in overtime games dating back to 2009.
PickCartherens
Freshman cornerback Charles McCartherens had the best game of his young career at Louisiana. He had two interceptions in the game, making him the first true freshman in the program's 25-year history as an FBS program to have multiple interceptions in a game. Mike Newton (2 vs. Kent State in 2006) and John Syty (2 vs. UTEP in 2008) had two picks as redshirt-freshmen.
McCartherens has started the last four games and has totaled 19 tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble since being inserted into the starting lineup.
Sterling Marlyn
Wide receiver Marlyn Johnson is having breakout season for the Bulls. Through six games, he has 23 receptions for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Over his first four seasons combined, he totaled 23 catches for 234 yards and a touchdown.
He had the best game of his UB career against Fordham, finishing with seven receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns - all career highs.
Johnson has had a touchdown catch in three different games this season.
Cole Powered
In his second season as the Bulls' starter, quarterback Cole Snyder is off to a tremendous start. The graduate signal-caller leads the MAC in passing yards per game (217.8) and is second in touchdown passes (11) and total offense (224.7).
Snyder became the first quarterback in program history to complete 24 or more passes in each of the first three games of the season. In addition, he became the first UB quarterback since Tyree Jackson in 2018 to throw multiple touchdown passes in each of the first three games of the season.
He had a career-best four touchdown passes against Fordham.
With 4,337 career passing yards, Snyder is just the 10th quarterback in program history to throw for 4,000 yards.
Spreading the Wealth
A number of different receivers have recorder receptions this season - 13 to be exact. An average of nearly 10 different receivers per game have made a catch this year.
A program-record 12 different Bulls caught passes in the opener at Wisconsin. 10 different players registered a catch against Liberty.
11 players have at least four receptions on the season, led by Cole Harrity (25), Marlyn Johnson (23) and Boobie Curry (17).
Agent Zero
Cole Harrity has become a favorite target of quarterback Cole Snyder. Over the first six games, he has a team-best 25 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns. He made the most of his first career start at Wisconsin. The UB grad had five catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns against the Badgers.
In his second year with the program, the New Mexico State transfer appeared in all 13 games last season and finished with 13 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Hinesight
A season ago, Clevester Hines was playing wide receiver. In fact, he remained at that position until a week before the Bulls played George Southern in the Camellia Bowl and Coach Linguist asked him to move to cornerback due to injuries at the position.
Hines started in the Camellia Bowl and, in his first game at the position, totaled seven tackles and three pass breakups. He has remained at cornerback for 2023 and started the first two games of the season. He has 17 tackles and two tackles for loss on the year
Perfect 10
Graduate safety Marcus Fuqua tied for the national lead with seven interceptions in 2022. It was the most by a UB player in the program's FBS era (since 1999).
Along with being an All-MAC First Team selection, Fuqua was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press. He joined Khalil Mack (2013) and Jaret Patterson (2020) as just the third UB player ever named an AP All-American.
Max Michel Earns 1-MAC Award
University at Buffalo defensive end Max Michel earned The Mid-American Conference (MAC) 1-MAC Award - given annually to the student-athlete who has a tremendous impact and excellence in inclusion efforts.
A native of New Jersey, Michel quickly embraced the Queen City. Last December, he held his second annual coat drive. Through his efforts, he was able to collect numerous coats, jackets, gloves and hats and donate them to the Buffalo City Mission.
He also donates his time volunteering at the Buffalo City Mission's kitchen, helping prepare and serve food, emptying the garbage and whatever else he can do to help.
In addition, Michel volunteers his time with Harrison's Playmakers, a non-profit organization that promotes social inclusion and kindness with year-round sports programs and activities for kids with developmental differences and special needs.
Among his numerous other volunteer ventures, Michel organized a group of teammates to work with WNY Peacemakers to distribute free groceries in East Buffalo.
In addition, Michel is on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy.
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 12 seasons. Shaun Dolac was named to the first team in 2022.
Rounding out the list are James Patterson (2022, 2021, 2020), 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).
McNulty Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Graduate 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 graduated with degrees in biology for pre-veterinary science and physics. He carries a 3.7 grade point average and is a four-time Academic All-MAC selection.
McNulty is a two-time All-MAC selection and was the 2022 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. He is the program record holder in career field goals (56), extra points (181) and points scored (349).
He has made five 50+ yard field goals over his career and is the first kicker in program history to make 100 consecutive extra points.
Bulls Picked Third in MAC East
Buffalo was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division according to the MAC head coaches.
Ohio was picked first with 63 points, followed by Miami (OH) (52), Buffalo (51), Bowling Green (35), Akron (26) and Kent State (19).
Toledo was picked to win the West Division, followed by Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, Ball State and Western Michigan.
Toledo 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 24th year, and 16th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his seventh 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.
