Bowling Green heads to Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 24, for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at UB Stadium in a matchup that carries real weight in the MAC race. Both teams enter the game 2-1 in conference play, and the Falcons are starting the first of a two-game road stretch that could shape their standing over the next two weeks.
Bowling Green is 2-5 overall after a 32-31 overtime loss to Ball State at home, a game that left the Falcons looking for a cleaner finish in tight moments. Buffalo, meanwhile, is 4-3 overall after back-to-back conference wins over Toledo, 23-8, and Massachusetts, 25-18 in overtime.
What Eddie George wants to see
Head coach Eddie George said Bowling Green has to do a better job establishing the run and responding to Buffalo's ground game. That has been a theme for the Falcons, who have struggled to stop the run while also having trouble creating consistent production on the ground themselves.
George said the Falcons need to clog the holes and be more effective defensively against what Buffalo likes to do. He also said Bowling Green has to find ways to establish the run offensively, while still being ready to throw when necessary and build a plan that keeps the offense balanced.
That challenge is reinforced by Buffalo's recent success on the ground. The Bulls have already shown they can control games with their rushing attack, and they will look to keep that formula going at home. Bowling Green, for its part, will need a sharper response than it showed in last year's 28-3 loss at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
Conference implications are clear
This is not just another midseason MAC game. With both teams sitting at 2-1 in league play, the Oct. 24 game offers an early chance to gain ground in the standings. Bowling Green has a chance to steady itself after the Ball State loss, but it will need to do it on the road, against a Buffalo team that has already proven it can win close conference games.
The Falcons have not lacked for effort in the league, but this trip to Buffalo will test whether they can turn that into a more complete performance. For a team entering a difficult road stretch, the timing makes the result even more important.
