Massachusetts
Bulls Travel to UMass on Saturday
10/14/2025 3:06:00β―PM | Football
Buffalo (3-3, 2-0 MAC) atΒ MassachusettsΒ (0-6, 0-2 MAC)
October 18, 2025
McGuirkΒ Stadium -Β 2:30 pm
Β
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPN+
Storylines
β’ Buffalo is looking to start 3-0 in MAC play for the first time since 2022.
β’ The Bulls are playing their first road game since playing at Kent State on Sept. 13.
β’ The Bulls and Minutemen are playing as conference foes for the first time since 2015.
β’ Buffalo leads the all-time series, 9-6. The Bulls have won five of the six meetings since both teams joined the FBS ranks, including a 34-3 victory at UB Stadium last season.
β’ Buffalo's last four games have been decided in the final minute of regulation.
β’ The Bulls have blocked a punt in four of the last five games. Their four blocked punts are the most in the country. Β Β
β’ Red Murdock is one forced fumble shy of the NCAA record of 16 career forced fumbles held by former UB great Khalil Mack.
β’ With 330 career punt return yards, Victor Snow is one yard behind Tom Elliott (1968-70) for fifth place, nine yards behind K.J. Osborn (2016-18) for fourth place and 30 yards behind Andy Hurley (1983-84) for third place in career punt return yardage in program history.Β
β’ Al-Jay Henderson (1,797) is 29 yards shy of entering the Top 10 in career rushing yards in program history.
β’ Linebacker Mitchell Gonser is a native of Medfield, MA
Bulls Travel to UMass on SaturdayΒ
The University at Buffalo football team will travel to Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon looking to win their third straight conference game. Β Β Β Β
Buffalo is 3-3 overall, 2-0 in the MAC and is coming off a 31-30 overtime win over Eastern Michigan on October 4. The Bulls were led by wide receiver Victor Snow who had 136 receiving yards and scored three total total touchdowns.Β
Massachusetts is 0-6 overall, 0-2 in the MAC and is coming off a 42-6 loss at Kent State last Saturday. The Minutemen are led by linebacker Timmy Hinspeter who has 65 tackles and four tackles for loss on the season.
The Bulls lead the all-time series 9-6. Buffalo won the last meeting, 34-3, at UB Stadium last season.
Close Calls
It has been a season filled with heartpunding finishes for the UB football team. Each of their last four games have been decided in the final minute.Β
Trailing, 28-24, at Kent State, Victor Snow caught the game-winning touchdown pass with 1:03 left in the fourth quarter to help the Bulls win, 31-28.
UB dropped its next two contests to Troy, 21-17, on a touchdown with 45 seconds remaining, and to UConn on a walk-off field goal, 20-17, after the Bulls tied the game on a touchdown with 59 seconds left.
Jack Howes drilled a 50-yard field goal against Eastern Michigan, as time expired, to force overtime, where the Bulls won, 31-30.
Dylan Named National Punter of the Week
Dylan Drennan was named the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week for his performance against Eastern Michigan. Β Β Β
The redshirt-freshman from Dallas, TX recorded five punts with a net average of 56.6 yards in Buffalo's 31-30 overtime victory over Eastern Michigan. Drennan had three punts downed inside the 20-yard line, including one at the one-yard line, one at the six and one at the eight. His longest punt of the day traveled 76-yards, a career-best.Β
Drennan ranks second in the Mid-American Conference in punting, averaging 46.3 yards per punt. Of his 30 punts, seven have sailed over 50 yards and nine have been downed inside the 20-yard line.
Forcing the Issue
Red Murdock has forced four fumbles in the last three games to bring his career total to 15. He is currently tied for second in NCAA history in career forced fumbles. He is one shy of the all-time NCAA record of 16 career forced fumbles held by former UB great Khalil Mack. Β Β
After leading the nation in forced fumbles a season ago with seven, Murdock is again at the top of the rankings this season with four.
Let it Snow
Wide receiver Victor Snow has picked up where he left off last season. Through six games, Snow has 29 catches for 410 yards and five touchdowns - all team highs.Β
He was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week following his six-catch, 136-yard, two-touchdown performance in UB's win over Eastern Michgian. He added a nine-yard rushing touchdown against the Eagles. He was also named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll.Β
Β
The Webster, NY native led the Bulls in receiving a season ago with 55 catches for 651 yards and six touchdowns en route to earning All-MAC Third Team honors.Β
Block Party
The Bulls have blocked a punt in four of the last five games. Connor Henderson had a block against Saint Francis and Eastern Michigan, Miles Greer had a block at Kent State and Jonathan Capo had a block against UConn.
The four blocked punts are first in the nation.
It is the most blocked punts by a UB team since joining the FBS ranks in 1999.
Sper of the Moment
Lamar Sperling had a breakout game for the Bulls against UConn last Saturday. The redshirt-sophomore running back had nine carries for 106 yards and a touchdown against the Huskies. He had a 63-yard touchdown run against UConn which was the longest by a Bull since Al-Jay Henderson's 68-yard TD run against Western Michigan on Oct. 19, 2024.
Sperling has rushed for 191 yards on 29 carries this season for a team-best 6.60 yards per carry average.
Howes it Going
Kicker Jack Howes joined the Bulls prior to the season after transferring from Maryland. He has been a consistent threat for UB, making seven of his nine field goals and all 18 of his extra point attempts.
Howes has made a field goal in all six games this season. His 50-yarder against Eastern Michigan, as time expired, forced overtime where the Bulls eventually won the game.Β
Al-Jay All Day
Not only is running back Al-Jay Henderson Buffalo's leading rusher, but he is second on the team with 18 receptions through five games. He had a career-best eight receptions against Kent State in the MAC opener. It was the most receptions in a game by a running back since Mike Washington had eight catches against Akron in 2022.
Henderson leads the team in all purpose yards, averaging 97 yards per game.
Murdock Named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Linebacker Red Murdock is one of 11 FBS players named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, recognizing college football players from across the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) who exemplify community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement.
Β Β
An All-MAC First Team selection, Murdock has been as impressive off the field as he has been on it. Along with volunteering at numerous community service events, he is the founder and director of the Virginia Homework Helpers branch - a free K-12 tutoring program for students back in his home state of Virginia. He founded this organization after seeing many of his peers struggle in school with no extra help resulting in getting in trouble outside of school or dropping out. He hopes this helps young men and women finish their education under the premise of it being a potential escape from the vicious cycle of becoming a product of high-risk environments.Β
Β
He is just the second UB player named to the team, joining former wide receiver Fred Lee who earned the honor in 2013.
Roberson Settling In
Quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson had the best game of his early UB career to help the Bulls beat Kent State in the MAC opener. Roberson finished 28-for-40 for 318 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning TD with just over one minute to play.Β
Β
It was the most passing yards by a UB quarterback since Kyle Vantrease threw for 365 yards against Ball State in the 2020 MAC Championship game. It was the most passing yards on the road by a UB quarterback since Tyree Jackson threw for 350 yards at Ball State in 2017.
Β
Roberson transferred to UB after spending last season at Kansas State. He saw action in six games and went 3-for-7 for 18 yards and added a 7-yard rush.
Β Β
The New Jersey native spent the previous two seasons at UConn where he started 10 games in 2023. He threw for 2,075 yards and 12 touchdowns and added 120 yards on the ground and two scores. Roberson began his career at Penn State as a reserve quarterback for three seasons. In 2021, he played in four games and threw for 85 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 24 yards.
Gimme That!
The Bulls created at least one turnover in five of the first six games of the season.Β
Β
Linebacker Mitchell Gonser had an interception in the opener at Minnesota. Edge Kobe Stewart had a fumble recovery against Saint Francis, cornerback Keontez Bradley had a fumble recovery at Kent State and linebacker Red Murdock had a fumble recovery and safety Jalen McNair had an interception against Troy. Kobe Stewart pounced on a fumble in overtime to seal UB's victory over Eastern Michigan.
New York Nik
Nik McMillan was having a promising start to the 2024 campaign before suffering a season-ending injury in week two. Back healthy, McMillan has returned to form and is currently third on the team in receptions with 16.
He had the best game of his career at Kent State last week with seven receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown - all career highs.Β
Running Down a Dream
Buffalo rushed for 370 yards in its victory over Saint Francis. It was the most rushing yards by a UB team since the Bulls rushed for 515 Β yards against Kent State in 2020.Β
Al-Jay Henderson led the way with 98 yards and two touchdowns and Ta'Quan Roberson rushed for 88 yards and two scores. Roberson scored on a 40-yard touchdown run in the game, the longest TD run by a UB quarterback since Tyree Jackson scored on a 75-yard run at Kent State in 2017.
Β
All six running backs who saw action in the game rushed for at least 30 yards - James McNeil, Jr. (64), Lamar Sperling (48), Messiah Burch (39), Terrance Shelton (33). Β Β Β
Code Red
Linebacker Red Murdock is coming off one of the most productive seasons in program history. The All-MAC First Team selection ranked second in the nation with 156 tackles which was third in program history for a single season. He added 16.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. His seven forced fumbles on the year were a school record and ranked first in the nation.
With 15 career forced fumbles, Murdock is one shy of the NCAA record of 16 career forced fumbles held by former Bull Khalil Mack.Β
Murdock was named a preseason fourth-team All-American by Athlon Sports and ranks 90th on the list of Top 100 players in college football by ESPN.
OK, Al-Jay
Al-Jay Henderson is coming off a career-best 1,000-yard season for the Bulls. He became the 11th different player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in program history. His 1,078 rushing yards in 2024 ranks 10th in program history for a single season.
He got stronger down the stretch of the 2024 campaign, averaging 124.6 yards over the final five games of the season.
Over his career, he is averaging 5.1 yards per carry which ranks fifth in program history.
Portal Friendly
The Bulls only lost one starter to the transfer portal following last season. Kicker Upton Bellenfant transferred to Texas Tech. In total, only four players who appeared on the depth chart for the 2024 Bahamas Bowl entered the transfer portal.Β
New Faces
Despite only losing a few players to the transfer portal, it didn't stop the UB coaching staff from dipping into the portal to strengthen the team. Eleven transfers joined the Bulls prior to the 2025 campaign. Β
All 11 of the transfers appear on the Bulls' depth chart for week one, including projected starters QB Ta'Quan Roberson (Kansas State), C Jake Timm (LIU), WR Jasaiah Gathings (UConn), CB Koentez Bradley (Arizona State), S Β Miles Greer (Shepard) and K Jack Howes (Maryland).
Others appearing on the depth chart include OL Jake Merritt (Michigan State), TE Marcus Velez (Bethune-Cookman), LB Mitchell Gonser (Harvard), LB Connor Henderson (North Texas) and P Ethan Stumpf (East Carolina).
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. Β
Calling all the play-by-play action of Bulls football for his 26th year, and 18th 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.
