UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
Buffalo (6-1, 3-0 MAC) at Toledo (3-3, 1-1 MAC)October 20, 2018Glass Bowl – 12:00 pm
Radio:
Rochester – Fox Sports 1280
Storylines• The Bulls are 6-1 for the first time since the 1959 season. The last time Buffalo started a season 7-1 was also 1959.
• The Bulls are bowl eligible for just the fourth time in school history. UB was also bowl eligible in 2008, 2013 and 2017.
• Toledo leads the all-time series, 7-2. The Bulls are looking for their first win at the Glass Bowl (0-3).
• Buffalo looks to improve to 4-0 in MAC play for the first time since 2013.
• With wins already against Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan, the Bulls are looking to sweep their West Division opponents for the first time since joining the MAC (1999).
• The Bulls are outscoring their opponents 75-16 in the first quarter of games this season.
• The Bulls are looking to win their fifth straight road game – something they haven’t done as a FBS program.
• Adam Mitcheson (43) is one field goal shy of tying A.J. Principe (44) for the school record for career field goals.
• Khalil Hodge (363) is 14 tackles shy of passing Pete Conley (376) for fourth in school history in career tackles.
• The Bulls have won nine of their last ten games dating back to last season.
• Toledo is the only MAC opponent Lance Leipold hasn’t faced since being hired prior to the 2015 season.
• Saturday’s game will pit the MAC’s best scoring offense (Toledo) against the MAC’s top scoring defense (Buffalo).
The University at Buffalo football team will travel to Toledo on Saturday looking to improve to 4-0 in Mid-American Conference play. The Bulls are 6-1 overall, 3-0 in the MAC and are coming off a 24-6 win over Akron last Saturday. It was a strong defensive effort led by linebacker Khalil Hodge who had 12 tackles and helped keep the Zips out of the endzone.
Bulls Are Bowl Eligible
With a 6-1 record, the Bulls are bowl eligible for the fourth time in school history. Buffalo was also bowl eligible in 2008, 2013 and 2017. The Bulls have won six games in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1983 and 1984 campaigns, when they won eight and six games, respectively.
D-Fense
The Bulls posted their finest defensive efforts of the season in a 24-6 win over Akron. Buffalo didn’t allow a touchdown for the first time since the 2013 season. In fact, the Zips didn’t even enter the redzone, getting no closer than the UB 27-yard line. Buffalo leads the MAC in both scoring defense (21.7) and total defense (335.9).
Hodge Ball
Khalil Hodge tied a career-high with 20 tackles against Army. It was the second time in his career he racked up 20 tackles in a game. He now has 86 tackles on the season which is sixth in the nation.
Marks and Recreation
Kevin Marks is emerging as Buffalo’s top running back after posting his best performance of the season at Central Michigan. The redshirt-freshman running back rushed for a career-high 167 yards and a touchdown against the Chippewas.
Take Your Pick
The Bulls lead the MAC and rank 10th in the nation with nine interceptions, their most since have 13 in 2015. Buffalo had a season-best four picks at Central Michigan. It was the most in a game since picking off four passes against Ohio in 2015.
Serve and Protect
The UB offensive line has done a tremendous job so far this season. The Bulls lead the nation in sacks allowed, letting up only one so far on the year. Buffalo has attempted 202 passes through seven games this season. In addition, the Bulls rank fourth in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with 25.
Road Warriors
The Bulls have won all three road games this season (Temple Rutgers & CMU) and have won four straight road games dating back to last year. The Bulls have won six of their last eight road games. UB’s win at Central Michigan was its third straight road win of the season, marking the first time since the 2008 season the Bulls have accomplished the feat.
Young Guns
A pair of freshmen have emerged as the Bulls top running backs this season. Redshirt-freshman Kevin Marks leads Buffalo with 530 yards and seven touchdowns while true freshman Jaret Patterson is second with 390 yards and five scores. Both are making the most of their action as Marks is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and Patterson is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
Long Way Home
The Bulls have been using big plays to find the endzone this season. 12 of the Bulls’ 34 touchdowns on the year have been at least 22 yards. The Bulls have scored touchdowns of 22, 27, 29, 32, 33, 42, 42, 53, 53, 70, 70 and 75 yards over the first six games.
Os-born to Run
K.J. Osborn is enjoying the best start to a season in his career. He leads the Bulls with 33 catches for 606 yards and six touchdowns. He has already supassed his receiving yardage total from his first two seasons combined (598).
T3
Quarterback Tyree Jackson is off to a blistering start to the season, having already thrown 18 touchdowns, six more than he did all of last season. He already ranks fourth in school history for single-season passing touchdowns.
Chuck WagginChuck Harris continues to develop into a monster edge rusher for the Bulls. Over the last nine games, Harris has eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Not bad for a young man who only started playing football his junior year of high school.
The Kids Are Alright
While many will credit the Bulls’ hot start to their seasoned veterans, you can’t discredit the play of the youngsters. Nearly half of Buffalo’s 32 touchdowns (15) on the season have been scored by freshmen.
Bulls Make History in Piscataway
Buffalo defeated Rutgers, 42-13, on Sept. 22 at HighPoint.com Stadium for its first-ever win over a team from the Big Ten Conference. The Bulls were 0-7 against Big Ten opponents prior to Saturday’s win. It was also UB’s first win over an opponent from a Power 5 conference. Buffalo’s win over Rutgers was one of the largest by a MAC school over a Big Ten opponent in conference history.
Largest point differential in MAC win over Big 10 Opponent:
31 points – Toledo 38-7 win over Minnesota (8/30/01)
31 points – NIU 55-24 win at Purdue on (9/28/13)
30 points – Miami 44-14 win at Northwestern (9/13/03)
29 points – Buffalo 42-13 win at Rutgers on (9/22/18)
Cam Tough
Senior cornerback Cameron Lewis had a career-best two interceptions in the Bulls’ win over Temple. He became the first UB player to intercept two passes in a game since Okezie Alozie had two picks against Ohio in 2015. Lewis has three interceptions on the season and five for his career.
AJ is OK
Not many players in school history made a bigger impact in their first season with the UB football program than wide receiver Anthony Johnson did in 2017.
Mitch Perfect
Kicker Adam Mitcheson is just one made field goal shy of the school record for career field goals made at UB. The senior kicker has made 43 field goals over his career. He is currently second all time, trailing A.J. Principe (2007-10) who made 44 field goals over his career.
Three graduate transfers from Power 5 programs joined the Bulls prior to the 2018 season. Wide receiver George Rushing, safety Ashton White and offensive lineman Trey Derouen all joined the squad.
It’s All Relative
The UB football team features a pair of players related to two of the top five picks in the 2014 NFL Draft. Senior wide receiver Anthony Johnson is the cousin of top pick Jadeveon Clowney. Junior defensive end Ledarius Mack is the younger brother of former UB All-American and fifth pick Khalil Mack.
10-Year Anniversary of MAC Championship
The 2018 season marks the 10-year anniversary of the Bulls’ 2008 MAC Championship – UB’s first and only football conference title. After a 7-5 regular season, the Bulls stunned 12th-ranked Ball State, 42-24, in the title game. Buffalo went on to play Connecticut in the International Bowl – its first-ever bowl game.
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.
