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University at Buffalo
Florida International
Bulls Travel to Florida for First-Time Tilt with FIU
9/8/2026 1:34:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (1-0, 0-0 MAC) at FIU (0-1, 0-0 CUSA)
September 12, 2026
Pitbull Stadium - 6:00 pm
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Television
ESPN+
Storylines
• This will be the first meeting between Buffalo and FIU.
• This will mark the eighth time UB will play a game in the state of Florida. The Bulls' last game in Florida was at FAU in 2015, a 33-15 victory. Buffalo is 1-6 all time in games played in the Sunshine State.
• The Bulls are looking to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2020 and third time in their FBS history (2018, 2020).
• Buffalo is looking to win a non-conference road game for the first time since winning a at UMass on Oct. 25, 2022.
• Buffalo has six players on its roster from the state of Florida. Linebacker Joey Cheshire (Lakeland) and edge Caleb Oliver (Deltona) are both on this week's depth chart.
• Wide receiver Chance Morrow had a career-best three touchdown receptions in the season-opening victory over UAlbany.
• Quarterback Elijah Holmes threw three touchdown passes against UAlbany in his debut, making him the first UB quarterback in Buffalo's FBS era to throw three touchdowns in his first career start for the Bulls.
• Head Coach Pete Lembo has totaled 15 wins over his first 26 games, making him the fastest coach to win 15 games in program history.
• FIU defensive line coach Joe Cauthen was Buffalo's defensive coordinator in 2021.
Bulls Travel to Florida for First-Time Tilt with FIU
The University at Buffalo football team will travel to Florida to face FIU on Saturday night at Pitbull Stadium.
Buffalo is 1-0 on the season after defeating UAlbany in the opener, 21-17, on Sept. 3. The Bulls were led by wide receiver Chance Morrow who had a career-best three touchdown catches in the game.
FIU is 0-1 on the season after losing at USF, 19-9 on Saturday. The Panthers are led by wide receiver Maguire Anderson who had eight catches for 87 yards in the opener.
This is the first meeting between the programs.
Take a Chance
Wide receiver Chance Morrow had the best game of his career in the season-opener against UAlbany. The fifth-year transfer from Louisville, now in his fourth season with the Bulls, had a career-best seven receptions and three touchdowns against the Great Danes.
His three touchdowns surpassed the two TDs he had in his first three seasons with the Bulls.
Morrow became the first Buffalo player to total three touchdown catches in a game since All-MAC receiver Anthony Johnson had three touchdown receptions against Miami (OH) in 2018.
Holmes Sweet Holmes
It was quite the debut for quarterback Elijah Holmes against UAlbany in the opener. The transfer quarterback from Division 2 Wingate threw all three touchdowns in Buffalo's 21-17 win over the Great Danes. He became the first quarterback in the Bulls FBS era (since 1999) to throw three touchdown passes in his first career start at Buffalo.
Utilizing the Tight End
If the season opener was any indication, Buffalo will be utilizing the tight end a lot more in 2026. Newcomers Clint Walker (5 rec., 41 yds) and Trevor Wilson (2 rec., 14 yds) combined for seven receptions in the game.
In 2024 and 2025, tight ends combined for 15 catches for those entire seasons.
Only one tight end has caught a touchdown over the last four seasons - Andrew Schnackenberg at Kent State in 2023.
Close Calls
Buffalo's 21-17 victory over UAlbany was another one-score game for the Bulls. Eight of UB's last 11 games, dating back to last season, have been decided by one score. The Bulls are 4-4 in those eight one-score games.
Bulls in the Sunshine State
Buffalo is 1-6 all-time in games played in the state of Florida. The last time UB played in Florida was a victory at FAU in 2015
Year Opponent Result
2015 at FAU W, 33-15
2009 at UCF L, 23-17
2003 at UCF L, 19-10
1994 at UCF L 48-0
1993 at UCF L, 42-7
1992 at UCF L, 63-21
1966 at Tampa L, 27-8
Bulls vs. C-USA
There's not a lot of history between Buffalo and the current programs in Conference USA. Liberty is the only other current school from C-USA the Bulls have faced.
The Flames own a 3-1 series lead over the Bulls, but UB won the last meeting, 26-7, in the 2024 Bahamas Bowl.
Previous C-USA members the Bulls played over the years were Charlotte, FAU, Old Dominion, UCF and UTEP.
Buffalo does have future series scheduled against current C-USA members Jacksonville State and Delaware.
Spreading the Wealth
UB quarterback Elijah Holmes had 27 completions in the opener against UAlbany. He connected with eight different receivers.
Chance Morrow led the way with seven receptions, followed by Clint Walker (5), Jaylen Andrews (3), Dwayne Early (3) and Terrance Shelton (3).
Last season, eight different players registered catches in a game only once.
New Faces
Buffalo has 54 new players on the roster from a season ago. Of the new faces, 23 are transfers and 31 are freshmen.
There were 22 newcomers on the week-one depth chart.
Elijah Holmes (QB), Clint Walker (TE), Logan Goodwin (Edge), Zach Bergmann (LB), Stevie Bracey (LB) and Joseph Stoever (LS) all started the season opener.
New Coordinators
Coach Lembo has new coordinators on offense, defense and special teams entering this season. Offensive coordinator Tony Tokarz and special teams coordinator Garrett McLaughlin are new to the staff while defensive coordinator Brian Dougherty was elevated from safeties and nickels coach.
Tokarz came to Buffalo from Florida State where he spent the past six seasons, including the previous four as quarterbacks coach. Prior to Florida State, Tokarz was tight ends coach at Memphis where he coached with Lembo.
A native of Orchard Park, McLaughlin returned to Western New York after spending the past two seasons as special teams coordinator and defensive line coach at Columbia.
Dougherty is in his third season on Lembo's staff and first as defensive coordinator. He previously served as defensive coordinator at both the University of Indianapolis and Valparaiso.
Youth Up Front
Buffalo's offensive line is full of new faces and all five projected starters will be making their first career starts for the Bulls when they take the field against Albany.
Left tackle Gabriel Arena has the most experience, appearing in 15 games over the last two seasons.
Arena's backup at left tackle, Tyrone Davis, appeared in five games last season and made one start.
None of the other nine offensive linemen on the depth chart have seen any game action for the Bulls.
Experience in the Defensive Backfield
One area the Bulls do return a lot of experience is the defensive backfield.
At cornerback, Kobi Blackwell played in all 12 games and made seven starts last season. Keontez Bradley played in 12 games and started six a year ago. Oliver Bridges has appeared in 21 games and made three starts over the last two seasons.
At safety, Miles Greer returns after playing in all 12 games a season ago. He ranked third on the team with 74 tackles in 2025. John Keough is back for his third season and has also been a special teams ace. He played in all 25 games over the last two seasons.
Big Shoes to Fill
Buffalo has had an All-American at linebacker in each of the last two seasons. Shaun Dolac was a Consensus All-American and MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and Red Murdock was an All-American last season.
The Bulls only return two linebackers who saw action last season and both mainly played special teams. Mathew HIlty and Jordan Owens are both in the their third season with the team.
Sophomores returning, include Bradley Ilunga-Bisselele and George Hill.
The Bulls welcomed three transfers at linebacker - Zach Bergmann (Missouri Southern State), Stevie Bracey (Virginia) and Joey Cheshire (Cornell).
True freshmen Jack Garbolino, Anwar Witherspoon, Jr., Matthew Heininger and Na'Rod Jarvis will also be in the mix at the linebacker spot.
Six Bulls Named to Phil Steele's Preseason All-MAC Team
Six University at Buffalo football players have been named to Phil Steele's Preseason All-MAC Team.
Wide Receiver Jasaiah Gathings was named to the first team. Safety Miles Greer was named to the second team. Defensive tackle Cornell Evans and nickel SaVeon Brown were named to the third team. Tight end Clint Walker and cornerback Kobi Blackwell were named to the fourth team.
Gathings is in his second year with the program after transferring from UConn. The graduate receiver had 36 catches for 410 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.
Greer is also in his second year with the program after transferring from Shepard University. In 2025, he ranked third on the team in tackles with 74 and added three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Evans, who has started 16 games over the last two seasons, had 14 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in 2025.
Brown had 52 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2025.
Walker is a newcomer to the program after transferring from Davenport University. He spent four seasons with the Panthers and was an All-Conference selection in 2025.
Blackwell had a breakout season for the Bulls in 2025. The redshirt-sophomore had a team-high seven pass breakups in 2025 and added 20 tackles and an interception.
It's Broadview Stadium Now
Thanks to a partnership with Buffalo Athletics and Broadview Federal Credit Union, Broadview Stadium is the new name of the former UB Stadium. The landmark agreement will have the Broadview name on both the stadium and arena for the next 15 years.
Bulls Picked Sixth in Preseason Poll
Buffalo was picked to finish sixth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll according to the MAC head coaches.
Western Michigan was picked first with 138 points, followed by Miami (134), Toledo (115), Ohio (107), Central Michigan (101), Buffalo (81), Eastern Michigan (76), Kent State (64), Bowling Green (59), Akron (52), Ball State (34), Sacramento State (28) and Massachusetts (25).
Western Michigan 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. Calling all the play-by-play action of Bulls football for his 27th year, and 19th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his 10th season as analyst. Brad Riter also returns as game host.
The UB Football postgame show will once again be hosted by Bob Gaughan.
