PREVIEWS -- SATURDAY, 10-19-24 ACTION
MAC STANDINGS AS OF OCT. 13 # = Preview ready. Click Read More for details
# Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan -- 2 p.m.
Rynearson Stadium -- Ypsilanti, MI
# Western Michigan at Buffalo -- 3:30 p.m.
UB Stadium -- Buffalo, NY
# Kent State at Bowling Green -- 3:30 p.m.
Doyt L. Perry Stadium -- Bowling Green, OH
# Ohio at Miami -- 3:30 p.m.
Yager Stadium -- Oxford, OH
# Toledo at Northern Illinois -- 3:30 p.m.
Huskie Stadium -- DeKalb, IL
Ball State at Vanderbilt -- 7 p.m.
First Bank Stadium -- Nashville, TN
Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan -- 2 p.m.
Rynearson Stadium -- Ypsilanti, MI
Both schools are coming off disappointing conference losses dropping them to 1-1 in MAC play.
The Eagles missed a chance to equal their best start since 1989, falling at home to Miami. CMU rallied late against Ohio, but fell short as the Bobcats ended Central Michigan’s two-game win streak.
This week’s game will mark the 102nd all-time meeting between the two Michigan schools that was first played Nov. 1, 1902, a 10-0 win for CMU in Mount Pleasant. Overall, CMU holds a 64-31-6 advantage in the series with a 25-20-4 lead when the game is played in Ypsilanti. The two teams have traded wins in the last three seasons with CMU taking a 26-23 win in Mount Pleasant last year.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (3-3, 1-1 MAC) . . . was blitzed in the first two stanzas as visiting Ohio scored 21 second quarter points on the way to a 24-0 halftime lead.
The Chippewas bounced back with 18 straight points. After a Bobcat field goal, Central Michigan scored a final touchdown to make it a 27-25 game with 1:52 remaining. However, the Chippewas were unable to get the ball back.
➤➤ The Bobcats out-gained CMU 424-292, but Ohio committed the game’s only two turnovers.
➤➤ Both teams converted four third downs. (Ohio 4-of-14; CMU 4-of-11). The Chippewas were 2-of-2 on fourth down conversions.
➤➤ CMU quarterback Tyler Jefferson and Joe Labas combined to complete 14-of-22 passes totaling 131 yards.
➤➤ The Chippewas ran for 161 yards, led by Marion Lukes (20 carries, 110 yards, 3 TDs).
Lukes also had a team-high five receptions totaling 31 yards.
➤➤ Central Michigan ranks third among MAC teams in scoring (29.2 ppg). ➤➤ CMU is first in total offense (406.7 ypg), fourth in rushing (180.7 ypg) and fourth in passing (.226.0 ypg).
EASTERN MICHIGAN (4-2, 2-0 MAC) . . . got off to a bad start Saturday when Miami scored with a 75-yard pass play on the first play from scrimmage.
The Eagles marched down the field on their first possession to tie the score, but MU tallied on two more passing TDs before intermission.
Eastern Michigan pulled within one score with the third quarter’s only touchdown, but Miami controlled the fourth stanza with 17 unanswered points.
➤➤ QB Cole Snyder completed 27-of-42 passes, good for 211 yards with one interception. He also ran 18 times for 37 yards and a score.
➤➤ Max Reese led EMU receivers with seven catches totaling 50 yards.
➤➤ The Eagles totaled 121 yards rushing. Delbert Mimms III led the way with 20 carries for a total of 78 yards and one TD.
➤➤ Luke Murphy led EMU defenders with 10 tackles (3 solo, 1 TFL).
➤➤ As a team, Eastern has compiled seven fumbles recovered, which ties for the third-most in the nation -- one off the pace of both Memphis and Oklahoma.
➤➤ Entering the game with Central Michigan, Eastern ranks 15th nationally in turnover margin at 1.00 per game and sixth nationally in turnovers lost with three. Of those three turnovers, just one came from throwing an interception, which ranks second nationally behind Army, who is the only team yet to throw a pick.
➤➤ Kicker Jesus Gomez has a long of 57 yards this year. He has also kicked two 55-yarders during his career.
➤➤ Eastern Michigan is tied for 19th among FBS teams with 28 transfers this season.
Rynearson Stadium -- Ypsilanti, MI
Both schools are coming off disappointing conference losses dropping them to 1-1 in MAC play.
The Eagles missed a chance to equal their best start since 1989, falling at home to Miami. CMU rallied late against Ohio, but fell short as the Bobcats ended Central Michigan’s two-game win streak.
This week’s game will mark the 102nd all-time meeting between the two Michigan schools that was first played Nov. 1, 1902, a 10-0 win for CMU in Mount Pleasant. Overall, CMU holds a 64-31-6 advantage in the series with a 25-20-4 lead when the game is played in Ypsilanti. The two teams have traded wins in the last three seasons with CMU taking a 26-23 win in Mount Pleasant last year.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (3-3, 1-1 MAC) . . . was blitzed in the first two stanzas as visiting Ohio scored 21 second quarter points on the way to a 24-0 halftime lead.
The Chippewas bounced back with 18 straight points. After a Bobcat field goal, Central Michigan scored a final touchdown to make it a 27-25 game with 1:52 remaining. However, the Chippewas were unable to get the ball back.
➤➤ The Bobcats out-gained CMU 424-292, but Ohio committed the game’s only two turnovers.
➤➤ Both teams converted four third downs. (Ohio 4-of-14; CMU 4-of-11). The Chippewas were 2-of-2 on fourth down conversions.
➤➤ CMU quarterback Tyler Jefferson and Joe Labas combined to complete 14-of-22 passes totaling 131 yards.
➤➤ The Chippewas ran for 161 yards, led by Marion Lukes (20 carries, 110 yards, 3 TDs).
Lukes also had a team-high five receptions totaling 31 yards.
➤➤ Central Michigan ranks third among MAC teams in scoring (29.2 ppg). ➤➤ CMU is first in total offense (406.7 ypg), fourth in rushing (180.7 ypg) and fourth in passing (.226.0 ypg).
EASTERN MICHIGAN (4-2, 2-0 MAC) . . . got off to a bad start Saturday when Miami scored with a 75-yard pass play on the first play from scrimmage.
The Eagles marched down the field on their first possession to tie the score, but MU tallied on two more passing TDs before intermission.
Eastern Michigan pulled within one score with the third quarter’s only touchdown, but Miami controlled the fourth stanza with 17 unanswered points.
➤➤ QB Cole Snyder completed 27-of-42 passes, good for 211 yards with one interception. He also ran 18 times for 37 yards and a score.
➤➤ Max Reese led EMU receivers with seven catches totaling 50 yards.
➤➤ The Eagles totaled 121 yards rushing. Delbert Mimms III led the way with 20 carries for a total of 78 yards and one TD.
➤➤ Luke Murphy led EMU defenders with 10 tackles (3 solo, 1 TFL).
➤➤ As a team, Eastern has compiled seven fumbles recovered, which ties for the third-most in the nation -- one off the pace of both Memphis and Oklahoma.
➤➤ Entering the game with Central Michigan, Eastern ranks 15th nationally in turnover margin at 1.00 per game and sixth nationally in turnovers lost with three. Of those three turnovers, just one came from throwing an interception, which ranks second nationally behind Army, who is the only team yet to throw a pick.
➤➤ Kicker Jesus Gomez has a long of 57 yards this year. He has also kicked two 55-yarders during his career.
➤➤ Eastern Michigan is tied for 19th among FBS teams with 28 transfers this season.
Western Michigan at Buffalo -- 3:30 p.m.
UB Stadium -- Buffalo, NY
Three MAC teams remain undefeated in conference play; two of them will meet Saturday when Buffalo hosts Western Michigan
The Bulls are fresh off an upset of Toledo -- also on UB’s home turf, where Buffalo is undefeated in three 2024 outings. Western Michigan, meanwhile, is riding a two-game win streak after going 2-4 in a tough non-conference schedule.
Three of the last seven meetings between Buffalo and Western Michigan went to overtime, including a seven-overtime game won by the Broncos, 71-68, at UB Stadium in 2017. WMU recorded a 24-17 victory in the last meeting (2017) between the two programs.
WESTERN MICHIGAN (3-3, 2-0 MAC) . . . fell behind visiting Akron early last week as the Zips went up 17-0 early in the second quarter. However, by intermission, WMU owned a 24-17 lead.
Each team scored a third quarter TD before a fourth quarter in which the only score was a Bronco field goal. That finished a 34-24 WMU win.
➤➤ Storms in the Kalamazoo area force a five-hour weather delay in the second half.
➤➤ Akron out-gained WMU 501-387 overall, but the Broncos forced four turnovers (3 fumbles, 1 INT) and both teams finished with 19 first downs.
➤➤ Western Michigan drew just two penalties totaling 10 yards.
➤➤ Hayden Wolff completed 17-of-25 passes, good for 191 yards with two TDs.
➤➤ Malique Dieudonne and Kenneth Womack combined for seven receptions, 94 yards and one TD.
➤➤ WMU totaled 196 yards on 39 run. Sophomore Jalen Buckley (5-11, 210) led Bronco rushers with seven carries totaling 103 yards (14.7 ypc).
➤➤ Isaiah Paul recorded an interception.
➤➤ The Broncos rank fourth among MAC teams
BUFFALO (4-2, 2-0 MAC) . . . took advantage of a bye week, shaking off a lopsided 47-3 loss at UConn Sept. 28 to upset Toledo 30-15 last Saturday.
The Bulls led 7-0 at intermission and expanded their advantage to 21-0 before UT got on the board. By then John Alan Richter had replaced an injured Tucker Gleason as Toledo QB.
Ten more Buffalo points early in the fourth stanza put the game out of reach before a final Toledo TD.
➤➤ UT actually outgained the Bulls 418-357, but the Bulls played turnover-free football while forcing two Rocket turnovers.
➤➤ Most of the Bulls offense came on the ground, with the Bulls rushing 52 times for a total of 230 yards (4.4 ypc) and three touchdowns. Al-Jay Henderson led the attack with 18 rushes totaling 142 yards (7.9 ypc). He was the first UB player to eclipse the 100-yard mark in nearly two seasons.
➤➤ Quarterback C.J. Obbonna ran 14 times, picking up 26 yards while scoring two touchdowns.
He also completed 11-of-20 tosses, good for 127 yards and one TD.
➤➤ Victor Snow (4) and JJ Jenkins (2) were the only Bulls receivers with more than one catch.
➤➤ Buffalo has made a living in the opponents’ backfields this season. The Bulls rank second in the MAC and 12th in the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 7.8 TFLs per game. Linebackers Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock are one-two in the MAC. In fact, Dolac ranks second in the nation with 11.5 tackles (1.9 per game) for loss while Murdock ranks seventh with 10 (1.7 per game). Dolac and Murdock have combined for 21.5 tackles for loss. The pair has combined for more TFLs than four FBS programs.
➤➤ Upton Bellenfant earned the starting kicker job in week three and all he has done since is make every one of his kicks. On the year, the redshirt-sophomore is 7-for-7 on field goals and 8-for-8 on extra points.
➤ New punter Ethan Duane has been a nice addition to the Bulls’ special teams unit. The Old Dominion transfer is averaging 43.6 yards per punt to rank second in the Mid-American Conference.
UB Stadium -- Buffalo, NY
Three MAC teams remain undefeated in conference play; two of them will meet Saturday when Buffalo hosts Western Michigan
The Bulls are fresh off an upset of Toledo -- also on UB’s home turf, where Buffalo is undefeated in three 2024 outings. Western Michigan, meanwhile, is riding a two-game win streak after going 2-4 in a tough non-conference schedule.
Three of the last seven meetings between Buffalo and Western Michigan went to overtime, including a seven-overtime game won by the Broncos, 71-68, at UB Stadium in 2017. WMU recorded a 24-17 victory in the last meeting (2017) between the two programs.
WESTERN MICHIGAN (3-3, 2-0 MAC) . . . fell behind visiting Akron early last week as the Zips went up 17-0 early in the second quarter. However, by intermission, WMU owned a 24-17 lead.
Each team scored a third quarter TD before a fourth quarter in which the only score was a Bronco field goal. That finished a 34-24 WMU win.
➤➤ Storms in the Kalamazoo area force a five-hour weather delay in the second half.
➤➤ Akron out-gained WMU 501-387 overall, but the Broncos forced four turnovers (3 fumbles, 1 INT) and both teams finished with 19 first downs.
➤➤ Western Michigan drew just two penalties totaling 10 yards.
➤➤ Hayden Wolff completed 17-of-25 passes, good for 191 yards with two TDs.
➤➤ Malique Dieudonne and Kenneth Womack combined for seven receptions, 94 yards and one TD.
➤➤ WMU totaled 196 yards on 39 run. Sophomore Jalen Buckley (5-11, 210) led Bronco rushers with seven carries totaling 103 yards (14.7 ypc).
➤➤ Isaiah Paul recorded an interception.
➤➤ The Broncos rank fourth among MAC teams
BUFFALO (4-2, 2-0 MAC) . . . took advantage of a bye week, shaking off a lopsided 47-3 loss at UConn Sept. 28 to upset Toledo 30-15 last Saturday.
The Bulls led 7-0 at intermission and expanded their advantage to 21-0 before UT got on the board. By then John Alan Richter had replaced an injured Tucker Gleason as Toledo QB.
Ten more Buffalo points early in the fourth stanza put the game out of reach before a final Toledo TD.
➤➤ UT actually outgained the Bulls 418-357, but the Bulls played turnover-free football while forcing two Rocket turnovers.
➤➤ Most of the Bulls offense came on the ground, with the Bulls rushing 52 times for a total of 230 yards (4.4 ypc) and three touchdowns. Al-Jay Henderson led the attack with 18 rushes totaling 142 yards (7.9 ypc). He was the first UB player to eclipse the 100-yard mark in nearly two seasons.
➤➤ Quarterback C.J. Obbonna ran 14 times, picking up 26 yards while scoring two touchdowns.
He also completed 11-of-20 tosses, good for 127 yards and one TD.
➤➤ Victor Snow (4) and JJ Jenkins (2) were the only Bulls receivers with more than one catch.
➤➤ Buffalo has made a living in the opponents’ backfields this season. The Bulls rank second in the MAC and 12th in the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 7.8 TFLs per game. Linebackers Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock are one-two in the MAC. In fact, Dolac ranks second in the nation with 11.5 tackles (1.9 per game) for loss while Murdock ranks seventh with 10 (1.7 per game). Dolac and Murdock have combined for 21.5 tackles for loss. The pair has combined for more TFLs than four FBS programs.
➤➤ Upton Bellenfant earned the starting kicker job in week three and all he has done since is make every one of his kicks. On the year, the redshirt-sophomore is 7-for-7 on field goals and 8-for-8 on extra points.
➤ New punter Ethan Duane has been a nice addition to the Bulls’ special teams unit. The Old Dominion transfer is averaging 43.6 yards per punt to rank second in the Mid-American Conference.
Kent State at Bowling Green -- 3:30 p.m.
Doyt L. Perry Stadium -- Bowling Green, OH
Averaging 23 points per Mid-American Conference game, Kent State continues its quest for a 2024 victory -- of any kind -- this week when it visits Bowling Green. The Flashes came close last Saturday, eventually falling to Ball State 37-35.
Bowling Green, meanwhile, fell to 1-1 in MAC play when Northern Illinois limited the Falcons to a single TD in a 17-7 Huskies win.
Saturday marks the 92nd all-time meeting between Bowling Green and Kent State. The Falcons 49-19 win at Kent State last year snapped a five-game losing streak to the Golden Flashes, which was Kent State’s longest winning streak in the series. Bowling Green has not defeated Kent State at Doyt Perry Stadium since a 42-7 victory in 2016.
KENT STATE (0-6, 0-2 MAC) . . . trailed 20-7 and intermission and 27-7 before mounting a late comeback against Ball State last Saturday.
The Flashes outscored BSU 28-10 after a Ky Thomas TD run with 5:47 left in the third quarter. Kent State’s final score was a 57-yard TD pass to Chrishon McCray with 30 seconds remaining, but the Flashes could not recover an onside kick.
➤➤ KSU outgained Ball State 461-406 overall. However, BSU owned a 24-20 edge in first downs.
➤➤ The Flashes netted just 67 yards rushing. Thomas led the way with 17 carries totaling 67 yards with one score.
➤➤ Quarterback Tommy Ulatowski connected on 17-of-35 passes, good for 384 yards with four TDs and one pick.
➤➤ McCray led all receivers, recording eight catches totaling 213 yards with three TDs. Luke Floriea added six catches for 130 yards and a TD.
➤➤ Dashawn Martin returned four kicks for a total of 95 yards with a long of 36.
➤➤ Although the Flashes have averaged 34 ppg in MAC play, they are 10th among MAC teams in all games (18.2 ppg) They are last in total offense (258.8 ypg) on the year but first in MAC games (441.5 ypg).
BOWLING GREEN . . . was held to seven points by the MAC’s top defense last week. Northern Illinois is allowing 17.2 ppg overall and surrendering just 253.7 ypg. The latter is nearly 80 yards better than Ohio at No. 7.
➤➤ BGSU took a 7-3 lead over the Huskies when Harold Fannin Jr. scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Northern Illinois hit a field goal before intermission and added 10 fourth quarter points to secure the win.
➤➤ NIU outgained the Falcons 278-205 in the defensive battle.
➤➤ Bowling Green converted just 1-of-13 third downs but went 2-of-3 on fourth down.
➤➤ BGSU committed the game’s only two turnovers.
➤➤ Bowling Green rushed for 98 yards. Terion Stewart led the way, logging 13 carries for 64 yards.
➤➤ Connor Bazelak (8-of-14, 88 yards, 1 TD) and Lucian Anderson III 2-of-9, 10 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) combined for 98 yards passing.
➤➤ Jamal Johnson led receivers with three catches totaling 43 yards. Fannin Jr. grabbed four receptions (25 yards, 1 TD).
➤➤ Heading into Week No. 8, Fannin is No. 1 in the nation among tight ends in receptions (50) receiving yards (701), first downs (33), YAC (406) and tackles broken (18). He is tied for No. 1 in receiving touchdowns by a tight end with five. • The 701 receiving yards ranks No. 5 in the nation among all receivers, the 50 receptions are tied for No. 5 among all receivers, the 406 YAC is No. 2 among all receivers and the 18 broken tackles are No. 1 among all receivers. • Per Pro Football Focus, Fannin has the No. 2 overall grade in FBS at 95.0 and No. 1 among all receivers with a grade of 95.1 for pass routes.
➤➤ QB Connor Bazelak is ranked No. 4 among all active FBS quarterbacks with 10,637 career passing yards. • His 1,001 completions rank No. 3 among active players and last time out he became the 41st player in FBS history to reach 1,000 career completions.
Doyt L. Perry Stadium -- Bowling Green, OH
Averaging 23 points per Mid-American Conference game, Kent State continues its quest for a 2024 victory -- of any kind -- this week when it visits Bowling Green. The Flashes came close last Saturday, eventually falling to Ball State 37-35.
Bowling Green, meanwhile, fell to 1-1 in MAC play when Northern Illinois limited the Falcons to a single TD in a 17-7 Huskies win.
Saturday marks the 92nd all-time meeting between Bowling Green and Kent State. The Falcons 49-19 win at Kent State last year snapped a five-game losing streak to the Golden Flashes, which was Kent State’s longest winning streak in the series. Bowling Green has not defeated Kent State at Doyt Perry Stadium since a 42-7 victory in 2016.
KENT STATE (0-6, 0-2 MAC) . . . trailed 20-7 and intermission and 27-7 before mounting a late comeback against Ball State last Saturday.
The Flashes outscored BSU 28-10 after a Ky Thomas TD run with 5:47 left in the third quarter. Kent State’s final score was a 57-yard TD pass to Chrishon McCray with 30 seconds remaining, but the Flashes could not recover an onside kick.
➤➤ KSU outgained Ball State 461-406 overall. However, BSU owned a 24-20 edge in first downs.
➤➤ The Flashes netted just 67 yards rushing. Thomas led the way with 17 carries totaling 67 yards with one score.
➤➤ Quarterback Tommy Ulatowski connected on 17-of-35 passes, good for 384 yards with four TDs and one pick.
➤➤ McCray led all receivers, recording eight catches totaling 213 yards with three TDs. Luke Floriea added six catches for 130 yards and a TD.
➤➤ Dashawn Martin returned four kicks for a total of 95 yards with a long of 36.
➤➤ Although the Flashes have averaged 34 ppg in MAC play, they are 10th among MAC teams in all games (18.2 ppg) They are last in total offense (258.8 ypg) on the year but first in MAC games (441.5 ypg).
BOWLING GREEN . . . was held to seven points by the MAC’s top defense last week. Northern Illinois is allowing 17.2 ppg overall and surrendering just 253.7 ypg. The latter is nearly 80 yards better than Ohio at No. 7.
➤➤ BGSU took a 7-3 lead over the Huskies when Harold Fannin Jr. scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Northern Illinois hit a field goal before intermission and added 10 fourth quarter points to secure the win.
➤➤ NIU outgained the Falcons 278-205 in the defensive battle.
➤➤ Bowling Green converted just 1-of-13 third downs but went 2-of-3 on fourth down.
➤➤ BGSU committed the game’s only two turnovers.
➤➤ Bowling Green rushed for 98 yards. Terion Stewart led the way, logging 13 carries for 64 yards.
➤➤ Connor Bazelak (8-of-14, 88 yards, 1 TD) and Lucian Anderson III 2-of-9, 10 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) combined for 98 yards passing.
➤➤ Jamal Johnson led receivers with three catches totaling 43 yards. Fannin Jr. grabbed four receptions (25 yards, 1 TD).
➤➤ Heading into Week No. 8, Fannin is No. 1 in the nation among tight ends in receptions (50) receiving yards (701), first downs (33), YAC (406) and tackles broken (18). He is tied for No. 1 in receiving touchdowns by a tight end with five. • The 701 receiving yards ranks No. 5 in the nation among all receivers, the 50 receptions are tied for No. 5 among all receivers, the 406 YAC is No. 2 among all receivers and the 18 broken tackles are No. 1 among all receivers. • Per Pro Football Focus, Fannin has the No. 2 overall grade in FBS at 95.0 and No. 1 among all receivers with a grade of 95.1 for pass routes.
➤➤ QB Connor Bazelak is ranked No. 4 among all active FBS quarterbacks with 10,637 career passing yards. • His 1,001 completions rank No. 3 among active players and last time out he became the 41st player in FBS history to reach 1,000 career completions.
Ohio at Miami -- 3:30 p.m.
Yager Stadium -- Oxford, OH
By MIKE SMITH
RedHawks vs Bobcats!
Saturday marks the 100th gridiron meeting between Miami and Ohio. Typically, the Battle of the Bricks tends to be a hard-fought contest regardless of records. However, in most recent years, the matchup has also been a critical hurdle for reaching the MAC title game. Miami (twice) and Ohio (once) have represented the MAC East in three of the last five seasons, with the RedHawks winning both of their appearances.
With the elimination of divisions this year, it now comes down to two teams (out of 12) with the best records. Both programs still have hopes of reaching the championship tilt. Ohio (2-0 MAC) is one of three MAC teams that are still undefeated. Buffalo and Western Michigan also have 2-0 MAC marks. Miami is 1-1, including a tough 30-20 loss at Toledo Oct. 5.
The RedHawks . . . CONTINUE READING . . . CLICK HERE
Yager Stadium -- Oxford, OH
By MIKE SMITH
RedHawks vs Bobcats!
Saturday marks the 100th gridiron meeting between Miami and Ohio. Typically, the Battle of the Bricks tends to be a hard-fought contest regardless of records. However, in most recent years, the matchup has also been a critical hurdle for reaching the MAC title game. Miami (twice) and Ohio (once) have represented the MAC East in three of the last five seasons, with the RedHawks winning both of their appearances.
With the elimination of divisions this year, it now comes down to two teams (out of 12) with the best records. Both programs still have hopes of reaching the championship tilt. Ohio (2-0 MAC) is one of three MAC teams that are still undefeated. Buffalo and Western Michigan also have 2-0 MAC marks. Miami is 1-1, including a tough 30-20 loss at Toledo Oct. 5.
The RedHawks . . . CONTINUE READING . . . CLICK HERE
Toledo at Northern Illinois -- 3:30 p.m.
Huskie Stadium -- DeKalb, IL
The Rockets need a bounce-back win, while Northern Illinois looks for its third straight victory Saturday.
Fresh off a big home win over Miami Oct. 5, Toledo stumbled last Saturday at Buffalo. While UT out-gained the hosts 417-357, Buffalo forced two turnovers and pulled away in the second half to post a 30-15 win.
Northern Illinois, meanwhile, leaned on its MAC-best defense to edge Bowling Green 17-7.
Toledo leads the series with NIU, 34-17, and has won three of the last four meetings. UT quarterback Dequan Finn threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in Toledo’s 35-33 win over Northern Illinois at the Glass Bowl last season.
TOLEDO (4-2, 1-1 MAC) . . . trailed 7-0 at intermission and was down 21-0 before finally getting on the scoreboard with 2:29 remaining in the third quarter. After UB added 10 more points early in the final stanza, the Rockets managed one more TD with 5:08 remaining.
➤➤ Toledo out-gained the Bulls 418-357 overall and had two more first downs. However, UT committed the game’s only two turnovers.
➤➤ Quarterback Tucker Gleason was injured in the second half. Before leaving, he connected on 14-of-26 tosses, good for 145 yards. John Alan Richter replaced Gleason and completed 16-of-23 passes totaling 227 yards with two TDs.
➤➤ Jerjuan Newton caught seven passes totaling 159 yards with two TDs.
Junior Vandeross III had eight receptions for 74 yards.
➤➤ Newton’s 159 receiving yards vs. Buffalo gives 2,411 for this career, good for eighth place on Toledo all-time list and passing current Carolina Panther Diontae Johnson (2,276 from 2015-18).
➤➤ Newton is first in the MAC and tied for fourth in the country with seven TD receptions
➤➤ Toledo rushed 25 times for just 46 yards (1.8 ypc).
➤➤ Maxen Hook recorded 15 tackles, including 12 solos.
➤➤ After missing his first two field goal attempts, freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan has made six straight. He had kicks of 47 and 48 yards in the win over Miami on Oct. 5. He has made 23-of-23 extra points.
➤➤ The Rockets offense averages a MAC-best 32.3 ppg and is third in total offense (382.8 ypg).
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (4-2, 2-1 MAC) . . . trailed 7-6 at halftime last week at Bowling Green but scored 11 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 17-7 victory.
➤➤ NIU not only held Bowling Green to 205 yards of total offense last week, the Huskies surrendered just one Falcon first down on 13 third down conversion opportunities. The NIU defense is ranked first in the country in third down defense.
➤➤ The Huskies played turnover-free football while forcing two Falcon turnovers.
➤➤ NIU’s Ethen Hampton (5-of-7, 108 yards) and Josh Holst (10-of-14, 89 yards) combined for 108 passing yards. Holst stepped in for Ethan Hampton in the second quarter after the NIU starter went out of the game due to injury.
➤➤ Andrew McElroy topped NIU receivers with five catches totaling 47 yards.
➤➤ Northern Illinois rushed for 170 yards against BGSU. Gavin Williams led the way with 29 carries for 102 yards. Josh Holst averaged 5.9 yards on eight carries (47 yards) and scored one TD.
➤➤ Northern Illinois leads the MAC in scoring defense (17.2 ppg) and total defense (243.7 ypg).
➤➤ Nate Valcarcel picked off a Falcon pass and returned it 22 yards.
➤➤ Kanon Woodill hit three-of-four field goals with a long of 46. He is 9-of-13 on the season (long of 50)
➤➤ NIU now has held 15 of its last 19 opponents over the last two seasons to 24 points or less, including all six of its 2024 foes with Bowling Green held to a season low seven points.
➤➤ Defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard was named the MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after leading NIU with two sacks, three tackles for loss and seven tackles - six solo - at Bowling Green.
➤➤ NIU pulled off an uncommon feat on Saturday at Bowling Green when long snapper Isaac Hatfield scored the first points of his career by catching a pass from tight end Grayson Barnes on a twopoint conversion attempt, giving the Huskies a 14-7 lead to start the fourth quarter. Hatfield joins Hunter Higham of Hawai’i, who caught a two-point conversion pass versus Northern Iowa on September 21, as the only FBS long snappers to score this season.
Huskie Stadium -- DeKalb, IL
The Rockets need a bounce-back win, while Northern Illinois looks for its third straight victory Saturday.
Fresh off a big home win over Miami Oct. 5, Toledo stumbled last Saturday at Buffalo. While UT out-gained the hosts 417-357, Buffalo forced two turnovers and pulled away in the second half to post a 30-15 win.
Northern Illinois, meanwhile, leaned on its MAC-best defense to edge Bowling Green 17-7.
Toledo leads the series with NIU, 34-17, and has won three of the last four meetings. UT quarterback Dequan Finn threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in Toledo’s 35-33 win over Northern Illinois at the Glass Bowl last season.
TOLEDO (4-2, 1-1 MAC) . . . trailed 7-0 at intermission and was down 21-0 before finally getting on the scoreboard with 2:29 remaining in the third quarter. After UB added 10 more points early in the final stanza, the Rockets managed one more TD with 5:08 remaining.
➤➤ Toledo out-gained the Bulls 418-357 overall and had two more first downs. However, UT committed the game’s only two turnovers.
➤➤ Quarterback Tucker Gleason was injured in the second half. Before leaving, he connected on 14-of-26 tosses, good for 145 yards. John Alan Richter replaced Gleason and completed 16-of-23 passes totaling 227 yards with two TDs.
➤➤ Jerjuan Newton caught seven passes totaling 159 yards with two TDs.
Junior Vandeross III had eight receptions for 74 yards.
➤➤ Newton’s 159 receiving yards vs. Buffalo gives 2,411 for this career, good for eighth place on Toledo all-time list and passing current Carolina Panther Diontae Johnson (2,276 from 2015-18).
➤➤ Newton is first in the MAC and tied for fourth in the country with seven TD receptions
➤➤ Toledo rushed 25 times for just 46 yards (1.8 ypc).
➤➤ Maxen Hook recorded 15 tackles, including 12 solos.
➤➤ After missing his first two field goal attempts, freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan has made six straight. He had kicks of 47 and 48 yards in the win over Miami on Oct. 5. He has made 23-of-23 extra points.
➤➤ The Rockets offense averages a MAC-best 32.3 ppg and is third in total offense (382.8 ypg).
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (4-2, 2-1 MAC) . . . trailed 7-6 at halftime last week at Bowling Green but scored 11 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 17-7 victory.
➤➤ NIU not only held Bowling Green to 205 yards of total offense last week, the Huskies surrendered just one Falcon first down on 13 third down conversion opportunities. The NIU defense is ranked first in the country in third down defense.
➤➤ The Huskies played turnover-free football while forcing two Falcon turnovers.
➤➤ NIU’s Ethen Hampton (5-of-7, 108 yards) and Josh Holst (10-of-14, 89 yards) combined for 108 passing yards. Holst stepped in for Ethan Hampton in the second quarter after the NIU starter went out of the game due to injury.
➤➤ Andrew McElroy topped NIU receivers with five catches totaling 47 yards.
➤➤ Northern Illinois rushed for 170 yards against BGSU. Gavin Williams led the way with 29 carries for 102 yards. Josh Holst averaged 5.9 yards on eight carries (47 yards) and scored one TD.
➤➤ Northern Illinois leads the MAC in scoring defense (17.2 ppg) and total defense (243.7 ypg).
➤➤ Nate Valcarcel picked off a Falcon pass and returned it 22 yards.
➤➤ Kanon Woodill hit three-of-four field goals with a long of 46. He is 9-of-13 on the season (long of 50)
➤➤ NIU now has held 15 of its last 19 opponents over the last two seasons to 24 points or less, including all six of its 2024 foes with Bowling Green held to a season low seven points.
➤➤ Defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard was named the MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after leading NIU with two sacks, three tackles for loss and seven tackles - six solo - at Bowling Green.
➤➤ NIU pulled off an uncommon feat on Saturday at Bowling Green when long snapper Isaac Hatfield scored the first points of his career by catching a pass from tight end Grayson Barnes on a twopoint conversion attempt, giving the Huskies a 14-7 lead to start the fourth quarter. Hatfield joins Hunter Higham of Hawai’i, who caught a two-point conversion pass versus Northern Iowa on September 21, as the only FBS long snappers to score this season.
Ball State at Vanderbilt -- 7 p.m.
First Bank Stadium -- Nashville, TN
Ball State finishes its non-conference slate this week with a tall task -- defeat a Vanderbilt team that beat then-No. 1 Alabama Oct. 5 and then backed that up with a 20-13 victory at Kentucky last week. It’s the second consecutive week that Ball State has faced a team that earned “national team of the week” honors this year.
The Cardinals got back in the win column last week, breaking a four-game losing streak by edging Kent State 37-35. That broke a four-game losing streak as BSU had not won a game since Week One prior to Saturday’s victory. Ball State played at James Madison the week after they beat North Carolina, 70-50.
Ball State and Vanderbilt have never met on the gridiron, but this is the Cardinals’ third outing against an SEC opponent in two seasons. They faced Kentucky and Georgia last year. BSU is 0-14 against teams currently in the SEC.
VANDERBILT (4-2, 2-1 SEC) . . . has already played in two overtime games this year. It defeated Virginia Tech 34-27 to open 2024 and fell to then-No. 7 Missouri (30-27) Sept. 21. The only other Commodore loss was to Georgia State (36-32) one week earlier.
➤➤ Vandy pulled off a generational upset Oct. 5 when the Commodores nipped then-No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in Nashville.The historic win over was the program's first victory over a No. 1-ranked team and the first top-five win in program history. It was also Vanderbilt’s first win over ‘Bama since 1984. Vanderbilt held Alabama to 35 points, the fewest points scored by the Crimson Tide this season entering the contest.
➤➤ The Commodores never trailed in last week’s 20-13 win at Kentucky. Vanderbilt led 14-7 at intermission and added two second half field goals before UK scored a final touchdown with 7:02 remaining.
➤➤ Kentucky outgained Vandy 322-288 overall and had a 23-19 edge in first downs.
➤➤ The Commodores converted 8-of-13 third down opportunities.
➤➤ Vandy had a very balanced attack, passing for 143 yards and running for 145 yards.
➤➤ Senior QB Diego Pavia completed 15-of-18 pass attempts, good for 143 yards with two TDs and one interception. Pavia has been a key part of Vandy’s success this season. Through six games, he has completed 69.1 percent of his passes, good for 1,116 yards with 10 TDs and just one interception.
➤➤ The Commodores rushed for 145 yards against Kentucky. Sedrick Alexander led the way with 11 carries for 58 yards (5.3 ypc), while Pavia logged 14 carries totaling 53 yards.
➤➤ Richie Hoskins and AJ Newberry combined for five receptions, 70 yards and two touchdowns.
➤➤ Brock Taylor hit both field goal tries against UK, with a long of 50 yards. Jesse Mirco averaged 44.5 yards per punt.
➤➤ Pavia’s 388 rushing yards this year are already the 14th-most in a season by a Vanderbilt quarterback (since 1965) and eighth-most since 1996. At his current pace of 64.7 rushing yards per game, the best mark by a Commodore QB since at least 1996, he would finish the regular season with a quarterback school-record 776 rushing yards.
In the 2024 season-opening win over Virginia Tech, Pavia forced eight broken or missed tackles en route to 104 rushing yards.
➤➤ Vanderbilt is second in the SEC and seventh in FBS with 18.7 yards per punt return. Vanderbilt’s special teams efficiency of 69.9 ranks 14th among FBS programs according to ESPN’s FPI.
BALL STATE (2-4, 1-2 MAC) . . . used seven sacks and a strong run defense to get past Kent State last Saturday. The Cardinals led 27-7 in the third period, but big plays kept Kent State in the game, cutting the lead to 27-21 early in the fourth. Even after Jackson Courville’s third field goal of the contest staked the Cardinals to a 30-21 lead with 3:19 to play, the Golden Flashes got two more touchdowns to pressure the Ball State lead. Vaughn Pemberton’s 41- yard burst with 1:13 was the difference-maker in the 37-35 victory.
➤➤ Brandon Berger had a career-high three sacks and the total defensive effort limited Kent State to just 67 rushing yards. Riley Tolsma and Joey Stemler each had eight tackles, and Stemler added 1.5 sacks. The Cardinals totaled nine stops in the Flashes’ backfield.
➤➤ Both Ball State (406) and Kent State (461) registered over 400 yards of total offense.
➤➤ Freshman QB Kadin Semonza completed 21-of-34 attempts totaling 215 yards with one TD.
➤➤ Braden Sloan (22 carries, 76 yards, 2 TDs) and Vaughn Pemberton (5 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD led the Cardinals rushing attack, which totaled 191 yards.
First Bank Stadium -- Nashville, TN
Ball State finishes its non-conference slate this week with a tall task -- defeat a Vanderbilt team that beat then-No. 1 Alabama Oct. 5 and then backed that up with a 20-13 victory at Kentucky last week. It’s the second consecutive week that Ball State has faced a team that earned “national team of the week” honors this year.
The Cardinals got back in the win column last week, breaking a four-game losing streak by edging Kent State 37-35. That broke a four-game losing streak as BSU had not won a game since Week One prior to Saturday’s victory. Ball State played at James Madison the week after they beat North Carolina, 70-50.
Ball State and Vanderbilt have never met on the gridiron, but this is the Cardinals’ third outing against an SEC opponent in two seasons. They faced Kentucky and Georgia last year. BSU is 0-14 against teams currently in the SEC.
VANDERBILT (4-2, 2-1 SEC) . . . has already played in two overtime games this year. It defeated Virginia Tech 34-27 to open 2024 and fell to then-No. 7 Missouri (30-27) Sept. 21. The only other Commodore loss was to Georgia State (36-32) one week earlier.
➤➤ Vandy pulled off a generational upset Oct. 5 when the Commodores nipped then-No. 1 Alabama 40-35 in Nashville.The historic win over was the program's first victory over a No. 1-ranked team and the first top-five win in program history. It was also Vanderbilt’s first win over ‘Bama since 1984. Vanderbilt held Alabama to 35 points, the fewest points scored by the Crimson Tide this season entering the contest.
➤➤ The Commodores never trailed in last week’s 20-13 win at Kentucky. Vanderbilt led 14-7 at intermission and added two second half field goals before UK scored a final touchdown with 7:02 remaining.
➤➤ Kentucky outgained Vandy 322-288 overall and had a 23-19 edge in first downs.
➤➤ The Commodores converted 8-of-13 third down opportunities.
➤➤ Vandy had a very balanced attack, passing for 143 yards and running for 145 yards.
➤➤ Senior QB Diego Pavia completed 15-of-18 pass attempts, good for 143 yards with two TDs and one interception. Pavia has been a key part of Vandy’s success this season. Through six games, he has completed 69.1 percent of his passes, good for 1,116 yards with 10 TDs and just one interception.
➤➤ The Commodores rushed for 145 yards against Kentucky. Sedrick Alexander led the way with 11 carries for 58 yards (5.3 ypc), while Pavia logged 14 carries totaling 53 yards.
➤➤ Richie Hoskins and AJ Newberry combined for five receptions, 70 yards and two touchdowns.
➤➤ Brock Taylor hit both field goal tries against UK, with a long of 50 yards. Jesse Mirco averaged 44.5 yards per punt.
➤➤ Pavia’s 388 rushing yards this year are already the 14th-most in a season by a Vanderbilt quarterback (since 1965) and eighth-most since 1996. At his current pace of 64.7 rushing yards per game, the best mark by a Commodore QB since at least 1996, he would finish the regular season with a quarterback school-record 776 rushing yards.
In the 2024 season-opening win over Virginia Tech, Pavia forced eight broken or missed tackles en route to 104 rushing yards.
➤➤ Vanderbilt is second in the SEC and seventh in FBS with 18.7 yards per punt return. Vanderbilt’s special teams efficiency of 69.9 ranks 14th among FBS programs according to ESPN’s FPI.
BALL STATE (2-4, 1-2 MAC) . . . used seven sacks and a strong run defense to get past Kent State last Saturday. The Cardinals led 27-7 in the third period, but big plays kept Kent State in the game, cutting the lead to 27-21 early in the fourth. Even after Jackson Courville’s third field goal of the contest staked the Cardinals to a 30-21 lead with 3:19 to play, the Golden Flashes got two more touchdowns to pressure the Ball State lead. Vaughn Pemberton’s 41- yard burst with 1:13 was the difference-maker in the 37-35 victory.
➤➤ Brandon Berger had a career-high three sacks and the total defensive effort limited Kent State to just 67 rushing yards. Riley Tolsma and Joey Stemler each had eight tackles, and Stemler added 1.5 sacks. The Cardinals totaled nine stops in the Flashes’ backfield.
➤➤ Both Ball State (406) and Kent State (461) registered over 400 yards of total offense.
➤➤ Freshman QB Kadin Semonza completed 21-of-34 attempts totaling 215 yards with one TD.
➤➤ Braden Sloan (22 carries, 76 yards, 2 TDs) and Vaughn Pemberton (5 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD led the Cardinals rushing attack, which totaled 191 yards.
RSS Feed