2017 Buffalo Bulls football team

Last updated

2017 Buffalo Bulls football
Buffalo Bulls logo.svg
Conference Mid-American Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record6–6 (4–4 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki (3rd season)
Offensive scheme Multiple pro-style
Defensive coordinator Brian Borland (3rd season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium University at Buffalo Stadium
Uniform
Buffalo bullfs football unif.png
Seasons
  2016
2018  
2017 Mid-American Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Akron xy  6 2   7 7  
Ohio  5 3   9 4  
Miami (OH)  4 4   5 7  
Buffalo  4 4   6 6  
Bowling Green  2 6   2 10  
Kent State  1 7   2 10  
West Division
Toledo xy$  7 1   11 3  
Central Michigan  6 2   8 5  
Northern Illinois  6 2   8 5  
Western Michigan  4 4   6 6  
Eastern Michigan  3 5   5 7  
Ball State  0 8   2 10  
Championship: Toledo 45, Akron 28
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant

The 2017 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulls were led by third-year head coach Lance Leipold and played their home games at University at Buffalo Stadium as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls finished the season 6–6, 4–4 in MAC play to finish in a tie for third place in the East Division. Despite being bowl-eligible, the Bulls did not receive an invitation to a bowl game.

Contents

Coaching staff

NameTitle
Lance Leipold Head coach
Rob Ianello Associate head coach/wide receivers coach
Brian Borland Defensive coordinator/safeties coach
Andy Kotelnicki Offensive coordinator/running backs coach
Daryl AgpalsaOffensive line coach
Alan Hensell Tight ends coach
Chris SimpsonLinebackers coach
Tim EdwardsDefensive line coach
Jim Zebrowski Quarterbacks coach
Taiwo OnatoluCornerbacks coach

Source: [1]

Season notes

Record setting game

On October 7, 2017, the Bulls and Western Michigan to score 139 points in a game that took a record-tying seven overtimes to settle. Buffalo lost 71–68. [2] The game marked the highest-scoring FBS game, breaking the previous record set in 2016. [3]

Bowl snub

On November 24, 2017, Buffalo gained bowl eligibility for just the third time in school history. [4] The Bulls had previously made appearances in the now-defunct International Bowl in 2008 and the Potato Bowl in 2013, then were denied bowl eligibility after a game the Bulls were likely to win was canceled due to a snowstorm and never rescheduled in 2014. The loss of one bowl game compared to the 2016 season and the distribution of wins and losses across the Bowl Subdivision meant that, unlike previous years, there were three fewer openings than there were teams to fill them, and the Bulls were one of the three teams snubbed by all of the bowls.

Schedule

Buffalo announced their 2017 football schedule on January 23, 2017. [5] In out-of-conference play, the Bulls will meet former Western Michigan head coach P. J. Fleck's Minnesota team, as well as the Lane Kiffin-led FAU Owls.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 317:00 p.m.at Minnesota * BTN L 7–1743,224
September 912:00 p.m.at Army * CBSSN L 17–2124,017
September 166:00 p.m. Colgate * ESPN3 W 33–1011,546
September 237:00 p.m. Florida Atlantic *
  • UB Stadium
  • Amherst, NY
ESPN3W 34–3114,246
September 303:30 p.m.at Kent State ESPN3W 27–1312,355
October 73:30 p.m. Western Michigan Dagger-14-plain.png
  • UB Stadium
  • Amherst, NY
ESPNU L 68–71 7OT17,048
October 143:30 p.m. Northern Illinois
  • UB Stadium
  • Amherst, NY
ESPN3L 13–1412,784
October 212:30 p.m.at Miami (OH) ESPN3L 14–2413,803
October 2811:30 a.m.at Akron CBSSNL 20–2117,427
November 77:30 p.m. Bowling Green
  • UB Stadium
  • Amherst, NY
ESPNUW 38–2812,205
November 167:00 p.m.at Ball State CBSSNW 40–245,248
November 241:00 p.m. Ohio
  • UB Stadium
  • Amherst, NY
ESPN3W 31–2412,273
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • All times are in Eastern time

Source: [6]

Game summaries

At Minnesota

1234Total
Bulls70007
Golden Gophers1400317

At Army

1234Total
Bulls3140017
Black Knights7001421

Colgate

1234Total
Raiders307010
Bulls20100333

Florida Atlantic

1234Total
Owls71001431
Bulls14371034

At Kent State

1234Total
Bulls7137027
Golden Flashes0130013

Western Michigan

1234OT2OT3OT4OT5OT6OT7OTTotal
Broncos10777770866671
Bulls140017770866368

Northern Illinois

1234Total
Huskies0140014
Bulls3100013

At Miami (OH)

1234Total
Bulls070714
RedHawks10014024

At Akron

1234Total
Bulls760720
Zips770721

Bowling Green

1234Total
Falcons777728
Bulls21071038

At Ball State

1234Total
Bulls101314340
Cardinals0107724

Ohio

1234Total
Bobcats7314024
Bulls2400731

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turner Gill</span> American football coach and former player

Turner Hillery Gill is an American college athletic administrator and former football player and coach. He is the Executive Director of Student-Athlete and Staff Development at the University of Arkansas, a position he assumed in 2019. Gill has served as head football coach at the University at Buffalo (2006–09), the University of Kansas (2010–11) and Liberty University (2012–18), compiling a career college football coaching record of 72–84. He was one of 11 black head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring at Kansas.

The South Florida Bulls football team represents the University of South Florida (USF). The Bulls began playing in 1997 and compete in the American Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The team plays its home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida until 2027, where the Bulls will then host its games on the proposed $340 Million on-campus stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron Zips football</span> Football team of the University of Akron

The Akron Zips football team is a college football program representing the University of Akron in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Akron plays its home games on InfoCision Stadium on the campus of the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The Zips compete in the Mid-American Conference as a member of the East Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appalachian State Mountaineers football</span> College football program for Appalachian State University

The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the intercollegiate American football team representing Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Sun Belt Conference since 2014. Appalachian plays its home games in Kidd Brewer Stadium, named after former head coach Kidd Brewer, whose 1937 squad was unbeaten and unscored upon during the regular season, outscoring opponents 206–0.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Bulls football</span> Football team for the State University of New York at Buffalo

The Buffalo Bulls football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University at Buffalo located in the U.S. state of New York. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo's first football team was fielded in 1894. The team plays its home games at the 31,000 seat UB Stadium on University at Buffalo's north campus in Amherst, New York. The Bulls are coached by Pete Lembo.

The 2009 International Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Connecticut Huskies (UConn) and the Buffalo Bulls at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on January 3, 2009. The game was the final contest of the 2008 NCAA Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision football season for both teams, and ended in a 38–20 victory for Connecticut. UConn represented the Big East Conference in the game; Buffalo entered as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Western Michigan Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 2009 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University in the 2009 NCAA football season. The WMU football team was coached by Bill Cubit and played their home games in Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. WMU finished the season 5–7, defeating fellow Mid-American Conference (MAC) members Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami and Toledo, Football Championship Subdivision team Hofstra and losing to rival Central Michigan, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Ball State, Big Ten Conference members Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State.

The 2009 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Their head coach was George O'Leary, in his sixth season with the team. Coaching changes included new offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe. For the third season, the UCF Knights played all of their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium on the school's main campus in Orlando, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Mid-American Conference football season</span> Sports season

The 2010 Mid-American Conference football season was the 65th season for the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The season began on Thursday, September 2, with five games: Ball State hosted Southeast Missouri State, Central Michigan hosted Hampton, Kent State hosted Murray State, Buffalo hosted Rhode Island, and Northern Illinois traveled to Ames, Iowa to face Iowa State. The conference's other eight teams began their respective 2010 seasons of NCAA Division I FBS competition on Friday, September 3, and Saturday, September 4. The first in-conference game was September 9, with Temple hosting Central Michigan.

Lance Leipold is an American college football coach who is the head football coach at the University of Kansas, a position he has held since 2021. He was the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater from 2007 to 2014 and the University at Buffalo from 2015 to 2020. During his tenure at Wisconsin–Whitewater, the team won six NCAA Division III Football Championships: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 and were runners-up in 2008. During his time at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Leipold led the Warhawks to 5 undefeated seasons.

The 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the 16th edition of the game, was a post-season American college football bowl game that was held on December 26, 2012 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan as part of the 2012–13 NCAA football bowl season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Western Michigan Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 2013 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University (WMU) in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach P. J. Fleck and played their home games at Waldo Stadium as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). In 2013, the Broncos finished at 1–11, and last place in the MAC West division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season</span> American college football season

The 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Bulls football statistical leaders</span>

The Buffalo Bulls football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Buffalo Bulls football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Bulls represent the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (UB) in the Mid-American Conference of NCAA Division I FBS.

The 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The regular season began on August 26, 2016, and ended on December 10, 2016. The postseason concluded on January 9, 2017, with the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship, where the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide to claim their second national title in school history. The championship game was a rematch of the 2016 edition won by Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Western Michigan Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 2016 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University (WMU) in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach P. J. Fleck and played their home games at Waldo Stadium as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Broncos completed their regular season undefeated and won the MAC West Division title. The Broncos finished conference play defeating the Ohio Bobcats 29–23 in the 2016 MAC Championship Game, winning the school's first MAC championship title since 1988. WMU received an invitation to the 2017 Cotton Bowl as the highest rated Group of Five team in the College Football Playoff (CFP). It was the first major-bowl appearance in school history. The Broncos also won 10 games in a season for the first time in their 111-year football history. They lost to the No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers in the New Years Six bowl game, 24–16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Western Michigan Broncos football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 Western Michigan Broncos football team represented Western Michigan University (WMU) in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Tim Lester and played their home games at Waldo Stadium as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos finished the season 6–6, 4–4 to finish in fourth place in the West Division. Despite being bowl eligible, the Broncos did not receive an invite to a bowl game.

The 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the 149th season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at its highest level of competition, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The regular season began on August 25, 2018, and ended on December 8, 2018. The postseason began on December 15, and aside from any all-star games that were scheduled, concluded on January 7, 2019, with the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Clemson Tigers won the title game over the Alabama Crimson Tide, the school's third national title and second in three years, and also becoming the first team since the 1897 Penn Quakers to have a perfect 15-0 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 LSU vs. Texas A&M football game</span> 2018 American college football game

The 2018 LSU vs. Texas A&M football game was a regular-season college football game played between the LSU Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies. The game was played on November 24, 2018, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, and was the final regular-season game for both teams. The game set multiple National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) records, including the most combined points scored (146) in a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football game. The record was previously held by a game played between Western Michigan and Buffalo on October 7, 2017, which had 139 combined points over seven overtimes. The 2018 LSU–Texas A&M game went likewise to seven overtimes and lasted nearly five hours, tying the NCAA record for longest football game with four others. The 146 combined points are currently the second most in college football history since the NCAA started keeping records in 1937, behind the 161 points scored in a 2008 NCAA Division II game between Abilene Christian and West Texas A&M of the Lone Star Conference. The game also holds the record for most points scored in a Southeastern Conference game.

The 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the 154th season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at its highest level of competition, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The regular season began on August 26 and ended on December 9. The postseason began on December 15, and, aside from any all-star games that are scheduled, ended on January 8, 2024, with the College Football Playoff National Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

References

  1. Buffalo Football coaches Archived 2017-05-13 at the Wayback Machine . University at Buffalo Athletics. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  2. "Western Michigan vs. Buffalo - Game Recap - October 7, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  3. "Seven OTs, 139 points: WMU edges Buffalo in highest-scoring, longest FBS game". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  4. "Bulls Become Bowl Eligible with Win over Ohio on Senior Day". Buffalo. November 24, 2017. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  5. UB Announces 2017 Football Opponents Archived 2017-04-22 at the Wayback Machine . January 23, 2017. UBBulls.com. University at Buffalo Athletics. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  6. 2017 Buffalo Bulls football schedule. FBSchedules.com. Retrieved April 29, 2017.