#9 Missouri
Bulls Travel to Missouri to Face Ninth-Ranked Tigers
9/4/2024 10:05:00 AM | Football
Buffalo (1-0, 0-0 MAC) at #9 Missouri (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
September 7, 2024
Faurot Field - 6:00 pm CST
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
SECN+/ESPN+
Storylines
• This is Buffalo's second trip to Missouri. The Bulls last played in Columbia in 2008, a 42-21 Tiger victory.
• The Bulls are 0-4 all-time against teams from the SEC. The Bulls previous SEC tilts were at Auburn (2006), Missouri (2008), Tennessee (2011) and Georgia (2012).
• The only other time the Bulls played Missouri, the Tigers were members of the Big XII Conference.
• The Bulls are 1-15 all time against ranked opponents. Their lone win came against #14
Ball State in the 2008 MAC Championship Game.
• Ninth-ranked Missouri will be UB's highest-ranked opponent since the Bulls played at #2 Ohio State in 2013.
• Quarterback C.J. Ogbonna started a game at Missouri's Faurot Field back in 2021 as the starting signal caller for Southeast Missouri State. He finished 7-of-14 for 53 yards and rushed for 96 yards.
• The Bulls have one player on their roster from the state of Missouri. Starting left guard Trevor Brock hails from St. Louis (Affton High School).
• Linebacker Shaun Dolac was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after tallying 11 tackles, 2 TFLs, a sack and an interception against Lafayette.
• Missouri quarterback Drew Pyne is the brother of former UB linebacker Brendan Pyne who spent the 2020 season with the Bulls as a graduate transfer.
• Buffalo AD Mark Alnutt is a graduate of Missouri and was a three-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 1993-95 playing linebacker and tight end.
Bulls Travel to Missouri to Face Ninth-Ranked Tigers
The University at Buffalo football team will travel to Missouri to face the ninth-ranked Tigers at Faurot Field on Saturday night.
Buffalo is 1-0 on the season and is coming off a 30-13 victory over Lafayette last Thursday night. It was a strong defensive effort by the Bulls, led by linebacker Shaun Dolac who finished with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.
Missouri is 1-0 on the season following a 51-0 victory over Murray State last Thursday night. The Tigers were led by quarterback Brady Cook who threw for 218 yards and a touchdown agianst the Racers.
Missouri leads the all-time series, 1-0. The Tigers won the last meeting, 42-21, at Faurot Field in 2008.
Dominant Defensive Debut
It was a strong debut for the Buffalo defense in the Bulls' 30-13 season-opening victory over Lafayette. The Bulls were especially stout against the run, holding the Leopards to just 43 yards rushing on 29 carries for a 1.5 yard-per-carry average.
The Bulls held All-American running back Jamar Charles to only 12 yards on 14 carries a season after he ranked second in the nation in rushing.
UB won the line-of-scrimmage battle as it registered 11 tackles for loss, the most in a game since tallying 11 against Akron on Dec. 2, 2022.
Dolac is Back
After suffering an injury in the fourth game of the 2023 season, forcing him to miss the rest of the year, All-MAC linebacker Shaun Dolac is back healthy and ready to go for 2024.
If the season opener against Lafayette was any indication, another big season is likely in store for the graduate linebacker. Dolac finished with a game-high 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception to seal the victory. He was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
Dolac had a record-breaking season for the Bulls in 2022. A first-team All-MAC selection, he ranked second in the nation in tackles with 147 which were the third-most in program history for a single season. Even more impressive was that he led the nation in solo tackles with 97 - 17 more than any UB player in program history.
A local product, Dolac came to UB as a walk-on in 2019. He was a 2022 semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the best player in the country who started their career as a walk-on.
Saint Nik
Nik McMillan had a solid performance in his starting debut at wide receiver against Lafayette. The redshirt-sophomore finished with five receptions for 76 yards and a 31-yard touchdown catch.
McMillan, a Buffalo native, appeared in seven games as a reserve wideout a year ago, but missed nealry half the season with an injury.
Bark the Spark
Running back Jacqez Barksdale proved to be the spark the Bulls needed in Buffalo's win over Lafayette. Inserted in the lineup in the third quarter, the powerful running back plowed over Lafayette defenders to the tune of 99 yards on 14 carries (7.1 ypc). His 19-yard touchdown run, in the fourth quarter, iced the game for the Bulls.
It is Barksdale's second season with the program. Last year, he rushed for 248 yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries for a team-best 4.8 yards per carry.
7 Up
C.J. Ogbonna has been tabbed the Bulls' starting quarterback and made his first career start for the Bulls against Lafayette in the opener. He threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns against the Leopards.
Now in his second year with the program, the senior signal-caller appeared in eight games in 2023, but was used primarily in running situations. He rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns on the season. He passed for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Obgonna began his career at Hutchinson Community College where he helped lead the Blue Dragons to a national title in 2020. From there, he transferred to Southeast Missouri State where he was a two-year starter for the Redhawks. His best season came in 2021 when he threw for 1,521 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 357 yards and another three scores en route to being named to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team.
New Faces
Looking to bolster the roster, the Bulls welcomed 18 transfers this offseason. In addition, 35 freshman joined the team.
Of the 18 transfers, 16 were on the Bulls' depth chart for week one, including projected starters WR Taji Johnson, (Boston College), Edge Kobe Stewart (Samford), DT Tristan Souza (Washington State), K Upton Bellenfant (Alabama), P Ethan Duane (Old Dominion) and long snapper Byron Floyd (Pitt).
In addition, three true freshmen are on the week-one depth chart - Patrick Clacks III (WR), Kobi Blackwell (CB) and Dylan Drennan (P).
Nine Bulls Named to Athlon Preseason All-MAC Team
Athlon Sports released its preseason All-Mid-American Conference football team and nine University at Buffalo players were named to the squad. The list was headlined by two first-team selections, linebackers Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock.
The second team included offensive lineman Tyler Doty, defensive tackle George Wolo, cornerback Charles McCartherens and safety Marcus Fuqua.
The third team included running back Jacqez Barksdale, while offensive lineman Caelan Shepard and edge C.J. Bazile were on the fourth team.
Taji Johnson Nominated for Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Wide receiver Taji Johnson is among 178 nominees for the 2024 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. Beginning this year, Allstate is partnering with the Wuerffel Foundation to bring together two of the most meaningful awards in college football.
Since joining the UB football program in January, Johnson wasted little time impacting the Western New York community. Through Engaged Athlete Fellowship, Johnson has aimed to impact the lives of local students hoping to inspire them to attend college. He began a program titled "A Day in the Life" where he invited local students to experience a day on UB's campus, visiting classrooms and interacting with current students, hoping to serve as inspiration.
This is the third straight year Johnson has earned the nomination. He was nominated each of the last two seasons while at Boston College.
Experience on the Offensive Line
While the Bulls will have many new faces in the lineup entering this season, one area they do return experience is the offensive line. UB returns four offensive linemen who have seen time in the starting lineup.
Guard Tyler Doty started 22 games over the last two seasons and was an All-MAC Third Team selection in 2023.
Trevor Brock will start at the other guard spot after starting the final seven games of last season.
Caelan Shepard started all 12 games at right tackle last season.
In his sixth year with the program, Dom Polizzi has made four starts at center for the Bulls.
Orlando on Preseason Watch List for Comeback Player of the Year
Graduate tight end Jake Orlando is on the preseason watch list for the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Orlando suffered an injury last season and was limited to just four games. He had four receptions for 28 yards before getting hurt.
A local product, Orlando is in his second season as a graduate transfer from UMass.
Seeing Red
Linebacker Red Murdock continues to develop into a top-tier linebacker in the Mid-American Conference. The redshirt-sophomore is coming off his best season in 2023. He appeared in 12 games and started the final six a season ago. He ranked third on the team in tackles with 60 and added 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and four forced fumbles. His four forced fumbles were two shy of the single-season school record.
He is equally impressive in the classroom as he was named Academic All-MAC and Academic All-District last season.
The Lembo Era Begins
A 30-year coaching veteran, Pete Lembo begins his first season as Buffalo's head coach.
Lembo has had successful stints as head coach of three separate programs. From 2001-15, he served as head coach at Lehigh (2001-05), Elon (2006-10) and Ball State (2011-15). He amassed a 112–65 career record, including a 79–36 record in 10 seasons at the FCS level, making him one of the winningest coaches in the history of that classification.
When Lembo was head coach at Lehigh, he led the Mountain Hawks to a 37-26 victory over UB in 2002.
International Flavor
The Bulls have five international players on this year's roster.
Buffalo has three players who hail from Canada, including offensive lineman Jackson Bellamy (Ontario), defensive tackle Jordan Poyser (Ontario) and edge Nick Roy (Quebec). In addition, punter Ethan Duane is from Australia and edge Luke Yau Gayle hails from England.
New Number, Who Dis?
Several players are sporting new numbers for the 2024 campaign.
Name Old # New #
Jacqez Barksdale 20 4
Jonathan Capo 19 4
Mason Cumbie 16 15
Pershaun Fann 15 13
Al-Jay Henderson 22 5
Charles McCartherens 43 5
Nik McMillan 17 3
C.J. Ogbonna 10 7
Victor Snow 82 0
New Look MAC
2024 will mark the first time the Mid-American Conference will not be divided into divisions for football. In years past, the 12 teams were divided into two six-team divisions, with the Bulls playing in the East Division. Moving forward, the top two overall teams in the standings will play for the MAC title as opposed to division winners.
Miami (OH) 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 25th year, and 17th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his eighth 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.
