UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 28
Northern Illinois at NC State
12 pm ET (The CW)
SERIES HISTORY:
Saturday’s game is the second all-time between NIU and North Carolina State. On Saturday, September 20, 1997, the Wolfpack jumped out to a 27-7 halftime lead en route to a dominating 41-14 win. The Huskies were in their second season under Hall of Fame head coach Joe Novak and the loss was NIU’s 11th straight in what would become a 23-game losing streak. Running back Ivory Bryant provided the bright spot for NU with 138 rushing yards on 27 carries with a seven-yard touchdown run. Deon Mitchell scored the Huskies’ first touchdown on a 35-yard pass from Frisman Jackson after a Duane Hawthorne interception.
Northern Illinois Notes
DOG TREATS
• The NIU Huskies meet an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent on the road for the third time in the last four seasons when NIU takes on N.C. State Saturday in Raleigh. • NIU is coming off a 23-20 overtime loss to Buffalo in its 2024 Mid-American Conference opener, despite holding the Bulls to 184 yards of total offense. Leading 14-3 at halftime, NIU was held to a pair of field goals in the second half while Buffalo scored on a pair of explosive plays and took advantage of a Huskie turnover before blocking the NIU field goal attempt in overtime and converting on its own. • Senior running back Antario Brown surpassed the 3,000-yard mark in career all-purpose yards last week versus Buffalo and his 2,764 career rushing yards on 455 carries rank eighth among active players. At Notre Dame, Brown became the first NIU running back in 18 seasons to record a 100-yard receiving game with a pair of catches for 126 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown, at Notre Dame. • Junior defensive end Neveah Sanders led the Huskie defensive effort versus Buffalo with three quarterback sacks, becoming the first NIU player since Sutton Smith in 2018 to record three sacks in a game. • NIU has held 12 of its last 16 opponents over the last two seasons to 24 points or less, including all three of its 2024 foes. The Huskies had 10 games allowing 24 points or less in the previous four seasons combined. • Three men who have led the NIU football program are expected to be in attendance Saturday in Raleigh. In addition to Thomas Hammock and Dave Doeren, Huskie legend and Hammock’s coach at NIU, Joe Novak, who lives in North Carolina, has said he will be at the game. • NIU’s 2024 roster includes 32 seniors, sixth-most in the FBS. Twenty of those seniors have spent their entire careers as Huskies, which is the third highest total in the country. • Since the start of the 2016 season, NIU leads the FBS in one-score games played with 57. NIU is 28-29 in those games. • With its win at Notre Dame, NIU earned its 19th “Boneyard Win”, which are defined as wins over teams from “power” leagues and national independents. NIU has recorded three boneyard wins in the last four seasons under head coach Thomas Hammock , adding to a legacy that dates back to 1983. • NIU’s win at fifth-ranked Notre Dame marked the first time a Mid-American Conference team defeated a team ranked in the top five of a national poll.
NOTING NIU
GOING TO CAROLINA:
NIU returns to non-conference play Saturday when the Huskies take on Atlantic Coast Conference foe N.C. State at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Huskies play in the state of North Carolina for just the fourth time in school history and for the first time since 2001.
BONEYARD OPPORTUNITY:
NIU has its second opportunity this season to add to its “Boneyard Wins” collection with this game at N.C. State. Earlier this month, Notre Dame became the 19th Boneyard Win in school history. “Boneyard Wins” date back to 1983 and are defined as wins over teams from “power” leagues, as well as independents like Notre Dame and (formerly) BYU. NIU has added three bones to the yard in the last four seasons under Thomas Hammock. The last time NIU earned two Boneyard Wins in one season was 2013 when the Huskies defeated Iowa and Purdue.
AGAINST THE ACC:
The Huskies are 4-8 all-time versus teams who were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference at the time the game was played. Most recently, NIU earned season-opening wins at Boston College (27-24 in OT) in 2023 and at Georgia Tech (22-21) in 2021. In addition to those victories, NIU defeated Wake Forest, 42-41, in Huskie Stadium in 2002 and 15th-ranked Maryland, 20-13, in overtime in 2003 at home.
INFREQUENT VISITOR:
NIU plays a football game in North Carolina for the fourth time in school history and for the first time since the 2001 season. NIU is 1-4 all-time against teams from North Carolina. NIU is 0-1 all-time versus East Carolina (1990), N.C. State (1997) and Duke (2017) and is 1-1 versus Wake Forest with the Huskies’ win coming at home in 2002. NIU played Duke in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit in 2017.
LAST WEEK:
NIU saw its five-game winning streak snapped in a 23-20 overtime loss at home to Buffalo to open Mid-American Conference play. The Huskies led 14-3 at halftime on a pair of Antario Brown touchdown runs, but a pair of long plays (46-yard pass, 36-yard run) and three points off an an interception gave the Bulls a 20-17 lead with 3:28 to play. NIU’s potential game-winning drive stalled at the 10 where Kanon Woodill converted from 27 yards away to tie the game. The Huskies’ field goal attempt in overtime was blocked, while UB converted for the win.
IN OT:
Last week’s overtime game was the 16th in NIU history and the Huskies are now 10-6 in those games. NIU has now played an overtime game in each of four consecutive seasons. Prior to Saturday, the Huskies had won five of their last six overtime contests. The Buffalo game was NIU’s first overtime game at home since 2017 and its first home overtime loss since Oct. 15, 2016 in a three OT affair versus Central Michigan. The Huskies’ overtime history includes three wins over ACC teams (2002 Wake Forest, 2003 Maryland, 2023 Boston College).
NC State Notes
THE GAME
• NC State and Northern Illinois have played just one time: a 41- 14 Wolfpack victory in 1997. • The Wolfpack rushed for four touchdowns in that win (two by Tremayne Stephens and two by Rashon Spikes). WR Torry Holt also scored in that contest, which was played at Carter-Finley Stadium. • NC State head coach Dave Doeren’s first stint as a head coach was at Northern Illinois in 2011 and 2012. He led the Huskies to two MAC titles (including the first one in school history) and never lost a home game in his two seasons as head coach.
QUICK HITTERS
• NC State is one of just five programs in the Power 4 that has won eight or more games in each of the last four seasons (2020-23). • Head coach Dave Doeren is in his 12th season at NC State – tied for the sixth longest tenure among current FBS coaches. • The Wolfpack has sold out 16 straight games (including this week’s game vs. Northern Illinois) – the longest sellout streak in school history. The Duke contest on Nov. 9 is also sold out. • Ten Wolfpack players were on the preseason watch lists for 15 national awards. • Each of the Wolfpack’s position coaches returned for the 2024 season. The defensive staff is now entering its fifth season together. • Four players on the Wolfpack offense who have seen their first action for the Wolfpack this season have all played against NC State previously in their careers. • Since the beginning of the 2021 season, only one other P4 school has picked off more passes than the Wolfpack. NC State has tallied 54 interceptions in the 2021, ‘22, ‘23 and ‘24 seasons combined. • NC State leads the nation in consecutive PATs made. The Wolfpack hasn’t missed an extra point since the regular season finalé of the 2017 season – 262 straight. • NC State has won 25 of its last 29 games in Carter-Finley Stadium. • Receiver KC Concepcion crossed the 1,000 receiving yards mark for his career on 9/7 vs. Tennessee – his 15th career game. Only Koren Robinson made it to that mark quicker in his career for the Wolfpack (13 games, 1999-2000).
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
To gauge the importance of Wolfpack Nation on the NC State football team’s success, you only need to check the records. NC State has won 25 of its last 29 games in Carter-Finley Stadium. In 2022, NC State tied the school record for the longest home winning streak at 16 before falling in the last home game of the season. That streak, which tied the mark set under head coach Lou Holtz from 1972-75, was the sixth-best active home winning streak in the FBS at the time. Since the beginning of the 2017 season, the Wolfpack has posted a 39-9 mark in games played at Carter-Finley Stadium. As far as ACC games go, the Pack has won 14 of its last 17 at home.
Buffalo at UConn
12 pm ET CBSSN)
Buffalo Notes
STORYLINES
• This is the first meeting between Buffalo and UConn since 2013 – a game the Bulls won 41-12 at UB Stadium. • This will be the 14th meeting between UB and UConn since the Bulls joined the FBS ranks in 1999. The Huskies have a 10-3 record over that span. • The Bulls are looking for their first win at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. They are 0-4 all-time there. Their last win at UConn came in 2001 in a game played at UConn’s Memorial Stadium. • The last time UB played on grass was in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl. • The Bulls are looking to start the season 4-1 for the first time since 2020 and just the second time as an FBS program (since 1999). • The Bulls are looking to go 3-1 in non-conference play for just the second time as an FBS program. The Bulls went 4-0 in 2018. • Linebacker Shaun Dolac leads the nation in tackles (62) and tackles for loss (9.5). • Buffalo leads the MAC and ranks fourth in the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 9.5 per game. Shaun Dolac (9.5) and Red Murdock (8) are first and second in the MAC, respectively, in tackles for loss. • The Bulls defense has recorded at least one interception in every game this season and leads the MAC with five picks on the year. • Pete Lembo is the first UB head coach to start his career 3-1 since Frank Clair in 1948
Bulls Close Out Non-Conference Play at UConn on Saturday
The University at Buffalo football team will travel to Connecticut to face the Huskies for their final non-conference game on Saturday afternoon. Buffalo is 3-1 on the season and is coming off a 23-20 overtime victory over #23 Northern Illinois last Saturday. Linebacker Shaun Dolac led the Bulls with 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and an interception. Connecticut is 2-2 on the season following a 48-14 win over Florida Atlantic last Saturday. The Huskies are led by quarterback Joe Fagnano who has thrown for 510 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. Connecticut leads the all-time series, 16-5. The Bulls won the last meeting, 41-12, at UB Stadium in 2013.
TFLs
Buffalo has made a living in the opponent’s backfields this season. The Bulls lead the MAC and rank fourth in the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 9.5 TFLs per game. Linebackers Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock are one-two in the MAC. In fact, Dolac leads the nation with 9.5 tackles for loss while Murdock ranks 11th with eight.
UConn Notes
QUICK HITS—
• The UConn Huskies welcome the Buffalo Bulls to Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field on Saturday afternoon looking to improve to 3-0 at home this season. Kick-off is slated for 12:02 pm on CBS Sports Network.
• Saturday’s match-up marks the 22nd meeting all-time between the Huskies and Bulls but first since the 2013 season, a 41-12 win for Buffalo at home. This is the Bulls fifth trip to Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field and first visit since the 2012 season. The Huskies are 4-0 against the Bulls in their East Hartford home. UConn and Buffalo have a postseason history as well having met in the International Bowl in Toronto in 2009, a Husky win. Another series notable is when UConn was beginning the transition to FBS status, their 23-0 win over the Bulls at Memorial Stadium in Storrs in 1999 marked the program’s first-ever victory over a Division I-A (FBS) team.
• The Huskies improved to 2-0 at home thanks to last Saturday’s 48-12 record setting win over Florida Atlantic. The UConn offense ran wild for a school FBS record 421 yards with running backs Durell Robinson and Mel Brown each going for 156 yards in the win. The 421 yards was the second most rushing total in program history (437 – vs UMass, 1956). Quarterback Nick Evers finished with a career-high 78 yards rushing on 18 carries and two touchdowns and completed nine-of-14 for 88 yards and a touchdown.
• UConn Head Coach Mora returns for his third season leading the Huskies. Mora guided UConn to a 6-7 record in year one and brought the Huskies back to a postseason bowl game for the first time since the 2015 season. After a 1-4 start to the season, Mora led UConn to a 5-2 run through the rest of the regular season to become bowl eligible. Mora was hired as the 32nd head coach in program history in November of 2021. He returned to the sidelines for the first time since 2017 after a six-year stint as the head coach at UCLA. Mora led UCLA to a 46-30 record and four bowl appearances. His 31 years of coaching experience also included head coaching stints with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.
THE STADIUM:
The Huskies moved into Rentschler Field in East Hartford for the 2003 season and begin their 21st season of play at their off-campus home in 2024. The stadium officially became known as Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in 2015. UConn has an all-time record of 72-58 at Rentschler Field and a 35-18 mark in non-conference games prior to re-classifying as an independent in 2020. UConn set a new all-time single-game attendance record at Rentschler Field on Sept. 21, 2013 against Michigan with a crowd of 42,704. That capacity was achieved with extra bleachers brought in for that game.
UConn vs. the Mid-American Conference…
The Huskies are 20-11 all-time against teams in the MAC. The Huskies have faced Buffalo more than any other team in the league, posting a 10-2 mark against the Bulls since 1999 when they joined the MAC. UConn is 3-0 against Akron, 2-0 vs. Ohio, 1-0 vs. Toledo, 2-2 vs. Kent State, 1-1 vs. Eastern Michigan, 1-2 vs. Western Michigan, and 0-4 vs. Ball State. The Huskies have never faced Bowling Green, Central Michigan or Northern Illinois. UConn also faced Temple (2-1) and UMass (1-0) when both schools were members of the conference. The Huskies have a future date schedule with Ball State in 2025 (home) and three game with Buffalo in 2025 (away), 2028 (home) and 2029 (away).
Ball State at James Madison
1:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
INSIDE THE SERIES:
JAMES MADISON
The Cardinals and Dukes meet for the first time as FBS opponents on Saturday. When the programs clashed in 1997, JMU was still in the I-AA ranks.
LeAndre Moore scored on first-half runs of 1 and 85 yards to stake Ball State to a 14-0 halftime lead, and the Cardinals coasted to a 24-6 win over James Madison in 1997, in the only meeting between the schools.
Ball State Notes
CARDINALS VISIT VIRGINIA TO BATTLE SUN BELT FOE JAMES MADISON
• Ball State steps away from the MAC this week while traveling to Harrisonburg, Virginia, to face James Madison out of the Sun Belt Conference. It is just the second time the schools have ever met on the gridiron, and the first as FBS opponents.
• Ball State enters the contest at 1-2 following a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching road defeat at Central Michigan last week, in which a five-play, 97-yard two-minute drill touchdown and near victory was snatched from the Cardinals’ hands in the final seconds. JMU, meanwhile, welcomes Ball State to Bridgeforth Stadium following the Dukes’ rousing 70-50 win at North Carolina.
• The Cardinals got career-high performances in the passing game last weekend, with redshirt freshman Kadin Semonza finishing a lateral-play shy of the first 300-yard pass game of his career; and tight end Tanner Koziol finishing with nine catches for 112 yards and the first 100-yard receiving game of his career.
• At Central Michigan, Ball State proved adept at managing clock and sustaining long drives, but fell victim to big plays on defense. Ball State won the turnover battle for the second time in three games and even blocked two kicks — a punt and an extra point.
• The 100th anniversary of Ball State’s first season in 1924 coincides with the 100th season on the field, given that the Cardinals didn’t field a team in 1943 due to World War II. Season-long celebrations of the 100th season will be displayed at Scheumann Stadium this season. Similarly, it is the program’s 50th season in the MAC — formally joining the league in 1973 and playing its first football games in 1975.
WHAT A WIN MEANS:
• The Cardinals will capture their first road win this season, and their first since beating Northern Illinois last season.
• Ball State will snap a two-game skid against Sun Belt Conference opponents and get their first win against the SBC since beating Georgia State in 2016.
• The fifth winningest coach in Ball State football history, Mike Neu will capture his 39th victory as head coach of his alma mater to move within one victory of tying Dwight Wallace (40) with the fourth-most wins in Cardinals history.
AGAINST THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE
• Ball State is 3-8 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference, with a pair of wins over Appalachian State and one against Georgia State in 2016: Appalachian State (2-0), Arkansas State (0-1), Georgia Southern (0-2), Georgia State (1-2) and Marshall (0-3).
James Madison Notes
DUKES BACK HOME FOR FAMILY WEEKEND
• JMU returns home for Family Weekend, as it hosts Ball State out of the Mid-American Conference. • This will be the second all-time meeting between the teams and the first since a 24-6 BSU win back on Sept. 6, 1997, in Muncie, Ind. • The Dukes are seeking their first victory against a MAC squad in three tries, as they also fell just short at Akron, 35-33, back on Sept. 7, 2013. • Saturday’s game is sponsored by Sentara, and the 2024 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.
DUKES DROP 70 IN WIN AT UNC
• JMU produced points in all three phases and set multiple records en route to a 70-50 win at North Carolina. • Alonza Barnett III set a school record with seven total touchdowns, as he became the first Sun Belt player to throw for five touchdowns passes and rush for two more in the same game. • Barnett III finished 22-of-34 for 388 yards with no interceptions, while rushing for a career-best 99 yards on 13 carries (7.6 avg.). His 487 total yards ranked third in JMU single-game history, while his 388 passing total was tied for seventh. • The Dukes set multiple team records, recording their most points in a game against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent and as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. It nearly doubled the previous record of points scored against an autonomy five team, besting the 36 they scored at Virginia last season. • JMU lit up the scoreboard early, scoring a school-record 53 points in the first half, as the 70 it scored matched the most UNC had ever given up in a game and a Kenan Stadium record for a road team. • It was also the most points a Group of Five team has ever scored on the road at a power-conference program. • In a game featuring over 1,200 combined total yards, the 120 points was the most points scored by both teams in a single game in JMU history, besting the 108 JMU and Richmond scored at Bridgeforth Stadium in 2015.
BACK-TO-BACK VERSUS THE ACC
• JMU has now won games against Atlantic Coast Conference teams in back-to-back seasons. • Both wins were also the two highest-scoring games for the Dukes versus a power-conference team. • Before winning 70-50 at North Carolina on Sept. 21, the Dukes captured a 36-35 victory at Virginia back on Sept. 9, 2023, in Charlottesville. • JMU also had a punt block for a touchdown in both games, as Terrence Spence had the block and Jayden Mines the return at UNC, while former Dukes Aiden Fisher and D’Angelo Ponds blocked it and scored in the UVA win. • JMU is now 4-10 all-time against the ACC, with two wins over Virginia and one each over UNC and Virginia Tech.
ROAD WARRIORS
• JMU has a strong track record on the road since moving up to FBS, going 11-2 in true road games. • The Dukes have won nine consecutive true road matchups, going 2-0 this season, 6-0 in 2023 and winning their road finale in 2022. • During the nine-game streak on the road, JMU has won the past five games by double digits and the past four by 20 points or more. • JMU’s two highest scoring games as a member of the FBS have occurred on the road, as it produced 70 at North Carolina on Sept. 21, 2024 and 56 at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 25, 2023.
TURNOVER MARGIN IS KEY
JMU is off to a 3-0 start and has won the turnover battle in each of those games. • The Dukes won the opener at Charlotte, 3-2, taking advantage of two interceptions. • JMU also produced a pair of interceptions against Gardner-Webb and didn’t turn it over once to hold on for the home-opening win. • Most recently at North Carolina, JMU dominated the category by a 5-1 margin, which included two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. • After an interception at Charlotte, JMU has gone without throwing a pick in each of the last two games.
WELCOME TO THE 5-2 TD CLUB
• Alonza Barnett III etched his name in JMU and Sun Belt history with his seven-touchdown performance at UNC. • Entering week five of the college football season, he is one of just two players with seven touchdowns, with the other also turning in a five pass-TD, two rush-TD outing. • Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik threw for five and ran in for two more on Sept. 7 in a 66-20 win against Sun Belt foe App State.
22 STRAIGHT IN HOME OPENERS
• With week two’s win over Gardner-Webb, JMU has now won 22 straight home openers at Bridgeforth Stadium, dating back to 2003. • During the current stretch, JMU has outscored opponents by an average of 47.3 to 8.5. • It’s also 42-11 all-time in home openers, going back to the inaugural 1972 campaign. • Over their past 10 home openers, no team has scored more than 10 points against the Dukes. • The last opposing team to win a JMU home opener was Hampton, 31-28, back on Aug. 31, 2002.
SUCCESS IN THE TAR HEEL STATE
• JMU has seen its fair share of success in the state of North Carolina over the past decade, posting an 8-2 record in games played in the state since the 2015 season. • The Dukes have won five in a row since 2019, including both road trips to the state this season, beating Charlotte (30-7) in the opener and UNC this past week (70-50). • JMU also captured a 32-28 victory at App State in the program’s first Sun Belt game in 2022. • The only two teams to claim wins in the state since 2015 are NC State (24-13) in 2018 and North Carolina (56-28) in 2016. • While an FCS member, JMU opened the 2017 season with a dominant victory over ECU (34- 14) for its largest win over an FBS team while a member of the lower division.
*Akron at Ohio
3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting Ohio for the 41st time in program history with the Bobcats owning a 26-13-1 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools (2023), Akron held a 14-3 advantage at halftime, but the Bobcats held the Zips scoreless in the second half and claimed a 25-14 win at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. In 2022, Ohio registered a 55-34 triumph past the Zips in Athens. Akron and Ohio last met at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium on Oct. 8, 2022 as the Bobcats posted a 55-34 victory. The series between the two schools dates back to the 1912 campaign when Akron earned a 27-0 home victory over Ohio. The Zips and Bobcats have met every season since 1992.
*Akron Notes
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters league play at 2-2 overall and 2-0 at home, defeating South Alabama (27-20) and Morgan State (21-6). The Bobcats dropped the season opener to Syracuse (38-22) and fell to Kentucky 41-6 last week. Ohio averages 19.0 points per game on 351.3 total yards per game. The Bobcats balanced attack averages 180.8 yards on the ground and 170.5 yards through the air. Defensively, Opponents average 26.25 points on 380.3 yards per game, allowing 250.0 yards in the air and 130.3 on the ground. Parker Navarro is the primary passer, completing 50 of 73 attempts with four INT’s for 547 yards (182.33 avg) and two touchdowns. He is also the third leading rusher on the squad with 107 yards on 31 carries (3.5 yds/c – 35.67 yds/g) with two touchdowns. Anthony Tyus III does the bulk of the work on the ground, averaging 6.9 yards per carry for 391 total yards (97.5 yds/g) with four TDs. Coleman Owen leads the receiving corps with 25 targets for 336 yards (84.0 yds/g), followed by Chase Hendricks (10-131 yds32.75 yds/g-1 TD) and Rodney Harris II (6-61 yds-15.25 yds/g-1 TD). Blake Leake paces the defense with 29 tackles and 1.5 TFL, while Austin Brawley follows with 28 tackles and two tackles for loss of two yards. Kyle Kennard leads in the sack category with five for 38 yards of loss and seven total tackles for loss of 44 yards.
ZIP TIDBITS
• The Zips recorded a season-high 75 tackles at South Carolina. • Senior Antavious Fish and junior Bryan McCoy led the defense with 16 combined tackles with eight each at South Carolina. • McCoy is 72nd in the NCAA for tackles per game with 7.8. • McCoy is sixth in the MAC with 31 total tackles. • Fish is eighth in the MAC with 28 total tackles. • Redshirt juniors Justin Anderson and Darrian Lewis combined for 12 tackles with six each at South Carolina. • The Blue and Gold have recorded 60 or more tackles in three straight games. Akron has recorded 70 or more tackles twice this season (75 at South Carolina, 71 at Rutgers) • The Blue and Gold have recorded 60 or more tackles in three straight games. Fish, CJ Nunnally IV and Bennett Adler all recorded a sack against South Carolina. • Nunnally is tied for seventh in the MAC with two sacks. • Senior Avery Book recorded his longest punt of the season with a 61-yard kick. His previous high was 60 yards at Ohio State. • Book punted nine times for the Zips with an average of 49.8 yards. He had five punts of 50 or more yards against South Carolina and pinned the Gamecocks in their own 20 three times. • Book leads the MAC with 46.9 yards per punt. He’s 8th in the NCAA for Punting Yards per game. • Book is first in the MAC with 13 punts of 50 or more yards. • Sophomore Adrian Norton recorded the longest catch of his career with a 42-yard TD reception in the second half from Finley. • Norton is 39th in the NCAA in yards per reception with 19.67. Bobby Golden is 48th with 18.67. • Finley has thrown at least one touchdown in the past three games. • Finley has thrown a 40+ yard touchdown in consecutive games. • Back-to-back games that have seen have seen a player record 10+ tackles (Bryan McCoy (11), Antavious Fish (10) at Rutgers, Darrian Lewis (12) vs Colgate) • Back-to-back games with 60+ tackles (74 at Rutgers, 61 vs Colgate) • Three players (D. Lewis 12, McCoy (9), Paul Lewis III (9) had at least nine tackles against Colgate • Finley began the first Zip to throw for over 300 yards since Jeff Undercuffler threw for 312 at Northern Illinois on November 26, 2022. • Finley set career highs in passing yards, touchdowns thrown and longest pass thrown. •Finley was the first Zip to throw for at least four touchdowns since Kato Nelson threw four TDs at Ohio on November 23, 2018. • Akron recorded 416 yards on offense while holding Colgate to 243. • Golden set a career-high for longest reception with a 56-yard catch for a TD from Finley. • Golden’s 56-yard reception was the longest since Alex Adams had a 54-yard and 61-yard reception against Eastern Michigan on November 8, 2022. • Akron featured a pair of 100-yard receivers as Norton (125) and Golden (119) both hauled in over 100 yards. The pair were the first Zips to both have a 100-yard game since November 1, 2023, when the Zips defeated Kent State for the Wagon Wheel. • Akron saw 31 of its 61 tackles come from D. Lewis (12), McCoy (9) and P. Lewis (9). • Zips recorded the first two sacks of the season as Lama Lavea recorded Akron’s first Sack and CJ Nunnally IV had a strip sack to close the game. Nathan Kapongo recovered the fumble. • Akron converted 7 of 14 third downs vs Rutgers • Jordon Simmons recorded the TD longest run from scrimmage (73 yds) since 2015 • Jordon Simmons collected 109 yards rushing, averaging 12.1 yards per carry • Daymon David INT marked the Zips first takeaway and appearance of the turnover tire in 2024 • Adrain Norton scored the Zips first TD in 2024 32 yd pass from Ben Finley • McCoy (11) and Fish (10) combined for 21 tackles vs Rutgers •Garrison Smith converted on two field goals of 48 and 49 yards, marking longest since 2015 for Akron (Robert Stein, 50 yards (11-14-15) • Akron converted 4 of 16 third downs while Ohio State was successful on 9 of 14. • Avery Book punted six times with an average of 48.2 yards per punt • Akron went 2-for-3 on fourth down, converting on 66.7 percent of attempts. •Bullock completed 69.2% of his passes on the day, going 9-for-13. • Akron returns five offensive starters and eight defensive starters from a year ago • Akron returns its top four tacklers in; Antavious Fish (95 tackles, 38 solo, 57 assists, 4 TFL) Bryan McCoy (94 tackles, 33 solo, 61 assists, 6 TFL) Darrian Lewis (75 tackles, 26 solo, 49 assists, 4 TFL) CJ Nunnally (65 tackles, 35 solo, 30 assists, 15.5 TFL, 7 Sacks)
Ohio Notes
THE OPENING KICK
The Ohio football team (2-2) returns to Athens to host the Akron Zips (1-3) for their Homecoming game on Sept. 28. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Frank Solich Field and can be seen on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Marcus Ray on the call.
The Bobcats’ matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Veteran Ohio radio personality Marty Bannister is stepping into the 2024 play-by-play role and will be joined by Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades.
SERIES HISTORY VS. AKRON
The Bobcats and the Zips have met 40 times since 1919, posting a 24-14- 1 record.
The two teams last met on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio. After a tough first two quarters, Ohio entered halftime down, 14-3. The Bobcats entered the third quarter on a mission, claiming an 18-14 lead that quarter with two touchdowns, a two-point conversion and a PAT. They held Akron to 14 points the rest of the game, extending their lead with one more touchdown in the 4th quarter to put the final score at 25-14.
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips are entering conference play with a 1-3 record, falling 50-7 to South Carolina last Saturday (Sept. 21).
As a team, Akron averages 15.25 points per game on 72.8 rushing yards and 190.75 passing yards.
Redshirt junior quarterback Ben Finley is 64-for-115 on 659 yards over four games, throwing six passing touchdowns. His longest pass clocks in at 56 yards. Finley isn’t afraid to use his legs, recording 27 carries as well. The Zips have utilized two additional quarterbacks so far this season: redshirt junior Tahj Bullock and freshman Brayden Roggow. Bullock has contributed to all four games, going 15-for-20 on 95 yards while Roggow has appeared in one game so far this season, making his collegiate debut against Ohio State on Aug. 31.
Redshirt junior running back Jordon Simmons leads the Zips on the ground with 179 yards on 31 attempts and one touchdown. Simmons recorded his longs rush against Rutgers on Sept. 7, converting a 73-yard run into Akron’s second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter. Redshirt sophomore running back Charles Kellom made appearances in all four games as well, netting 77 yards on 26 attempts while Bullock has proven he’s not afraid to use his legs, recording 21 carries on 43 rushing yards
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are currently 2-2. They average 19 points per game on 180.8 rushing yards and 170.5 passing yards per game.
In the air, graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro is 50-for-73 on 547 yards with four interceptions. Navarro is also a threat on the ground, recording 31 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt junior Nick Poulos made his Bobcat debut against Morgan State (Sept. 14) and his first start against Kentucky (Sept. 21). He is currently 10-for-23 with one interception on 135 yards in the air while recording 62 rushing yards on 13 attempts. Graduate student running back Anthony Tyus III solidified himself as a force to be reckoned with, finishing the game against Syracuse with 203 rushing yards, marking the first time since 2021 a Bobcat passed the 200-rushingyards-mark in a single game. On the season, Tyus has 57 carries on a team-leading 391 yards and four touchdowns. Redshirt freshman running back Rickey Hunt Jr. has made appearances in all four games for the Bobcats, recording 138 yards on 33 attempts. Freshman running back Duncan Brune net 33 rushing yards on six carries against Kentucky (Sept. 21).
Graduate student wide receiver Coleman Owen leads the team with 336 yards on 25 catches. Chase Hendricks has accumulated 131 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown so far this season while redshirt sophomore wide receiver Rodney Harris II, redshirt junior wide receiver Caleb Gossett and redshirt freshman tight end Mason Williams have contributed as well. Running backs Rickey Hunt Jr. and Anthony Tyus III have made themselves known as dual threats; both have multiple receptions under their belt this season, and Tyus’s first touchdown against Morgan State (Sept. 14) was the result of a 19-yard pass from Navarro.
On the defensive side of the ball, graduate student linebacker Blake Leake leads the team with 29 tackles—including 10 solo stops—and two quarterback hurries. Junior safety Austin Brawley is just behind Leake with 28 total tackles, 19 of which were solo, and one pass breakup, while graduate student safety Dustin Johnson has 26 tackles on the season. Senior cornerback Tank Pearson and graduate student defensive end Marcel Walker-Burgess each snagged one pick apiece for the Bobcats.
Kicker Gianni Spetic is 5-for-5 on field goals and 7-for-7 on PATs. Spetic has also accumulated 964 yards on 15 kickoffs. Punter Jack Wilson has 12 punts on the season for 501 total yards, with his longest clocking in at 50 yards.
Western Michigan at Marshall
3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
SERIES
Saturday is the 35th meeting all time between the Broncos and the Thundering Herd, with the two teams having last met in 2004. Western Michigan leads the all-time series at 22-12-0, but are just 1-6 since Marshall moved up to the Division I level in 1997.
Western Michigan Notes
WE ARE…. TAKING A LOOK AT MARSHALL
The Thundering Herd opened up the season with a 45-3 win at home over Stony Brook, but have since dropped two straight games on the road to Virginia Tech and No. 3 Ohio State.
– NATION’S LEADER:
Defensive lineman Mike Green leads the nation with 4.5 sacks, averaging 1.5 per game.
– A DIFFICULT PAIR:
Marshall’s top-two receivers are Elijah Metcalf and Christian Fitzpatrick. Metcalf, a transfer from Middle Tennessee State, has a team-best 15 catches for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Fitzpatrick, a transfer from Michigan State, has 10 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns. One reason they have been difficult to deal with? Their height. Metcalf is 5-foot-6 and Fitzpatrick is 6-foot-4.
– QB SHUFFLE:
Marshall has used three quarterbacks so far this season, with North Texas transfer Stone Earle seeing the bulk of the playing time. Earle has 360 yards passing with four touchdowns and just one interception. He’s also a threat to run, rushing for 109 yards so far. Braylon Braxton has thrown for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and sophomore Cole Pennington (son of Marshall legend Chad Pennington) has 57 yards and one touchdown through the air.
BETHUNE BREAKDOWN – TWICE IS NICE:
Western Michigan running backs Jaden Nixon and Zahir Abdus-Salaam both eclipsed 100 yards on the ground for the first time in their careers. It was the first time a pair of Broncos reached 100 in a game since WMU’s win over Nevada in the Quicklane Bowl on Dec. 27, 2021. In that game, both Sean Tyler and Jaxson Kincaide rushed for over 100 each.
– FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME:
Nixon, tight end Chris Toudle and wide receiver Bugs Mortimer all recorded their first career touchdowns as a Bronco. Running back Jamal Hailey also had his first collegiate touchdown.
– OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION:
Western Michigan posted 677 total yards of offense in the win, the most since a 2019 win over Georgia State (694) and the third-most in program history. The 59 points were also the most since a 64-point
NEAR THE TOP OF THE MAC
After 268 all-purpose yards in the win over Bethune-Cookman, junior running back Jaden Nixon has moved up to second in the MAC in all-purpose yards, now averaging 119.67 per game. His output also bumped him up to 33rd in the nation.
Marshall Notes
Got Bucked…Gettin’ Back On!
When the two teams meet on Saturday, they will each be looking to get back into the win column after coming off of losses to No. 3 Ohio State at “The Horseshoe.” Western Michigan lost to Ohio State, 52-6, on Sept. 14. The Broncos had last week off to lick their wounds after a game in which they had just 99 yards of total offense. Marshall comes in off a 49-14 loss to the Buckeyes on Saturday – one in which the Herd dominated possession time.
San Diego State at Central Michigan
3:30 pm ET (CBSSN)
San Diego State Notes
SAN DIEGO STATE CONTINUES ROAD TRIP AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Following a week off from competition, San Diego State returns to action Saturday with a road game at Central Michigan. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT).
After playing five consecutive games in the state of California dating back to last season, the Aztecs (1-2) are playing a game in the Eastern Time Zone for the first time since Sept. 26, 2015 at Penn State. n SDSU is coming off a 31-10 loss at California on Sept. 14. San Diego State trailed just, 7-3, at the half, but the Bears scored on their first four possessions of the second half to take command of the game.
The two teams combined for 27 penalties for 237 yards, including 15 penalties for 120 yards for the Aztecs. SDSU’s 13 penalties in the first half were tied for the most in any half for an FBS team in the last 10 seasons.
One of the the crucial penalties on San Diego State was an illegal block in the back on Marlem Louis after Tano Letuli intercepted a pass and returned it 65 yards for the score. Instead of taking a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter, SDSU started on its own 45-yard line and failed to score.
Redshirt freshman Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson earned his first career start at quarterback for an injured true freshman Danny O’Neil, marking the first time in San Diego State’s Division I history (since 1969) that the Aztecs started a pair of freshmen quarterbacks in the same season.
Tupou’ata-Johnson was 13 for 29 for 156 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions in place of O’Neil. n Marquez Cooper, the FBS active leader in both rushing yards (4,129) and all-purpose yards (4,859), ran for 87 yards on 22 carries.
Cooper has three straight 1,000-yard seasons (2023 at Ball State, and 2021-22 at Kent State under Sean Lewis). n Cooper enters the weekend ranked eighth in the country with 121.0 rushing yards per game. n The SDSU defense had a season-high six sacks, including 2.5 by sophomore EDGE Trey White.
San Diego State is meeting the Chippewas (2-2) for the second time after winning the 2019 New Mexico Bowl, 48-11, in Albuquerque. Ryan Agnew passed for 287 yards and three touchdowns in that bowl game, and Jordan Byrd ran for a career-high 139 yards and a score. Jesse Matthews, who shared co-offensive MVP honors with Byrd, caught three passes for 111 yards and his first two touchdowns for the Aztecs, who finished 10-3 with their fourth double-digit win season since 2015.
SDSU is 16-1-1 against current members of the Mid-American Conference, including a 20-13 win over Ohio last August.
San Diego State is 11-1-1 against teams that were members of the MAC at the time of the game. Only eight times since 1976 have the Aztecs encountered a school from the MAC.
SDSU is in the midst of a streak of playing a school from the MAC in six straight seasons. The streak started with a 17-14 San Diego State win vs. Toledo on Sept. 4, 2022 and continued with a 20-13 victory over Ohio on Aug. 26, 2023. The streak continues Saturday in the first of four straight seasons of the Aztecs playing a road game at a MAC school, including Saturday at Central Michigan, Sept. 27, 2025 at Northern Illinois, Sept. 26, 2026 at Toledo and Sept. 3, 2027 at Eastern Michigan.
SDSU is playing a true road game at a MAC school for the first time since beating Northern Illinois, 42-28, on Sept. 17, 2016. In between that game and Saturday’s game at CMU, the Aztecs have played six games against MAC schools, including four home games and two bowl games on neutral sites. n One of the most innovative minds in college football over the past decade, Sean Lewis was named the 19th head coach in the history of the San Diego State football program, as announced on Nov. 29, 2023. Lewis, 38, brings an extensive résumé to The Mesa, serving as head coach at Kent State from 2018-22 before spending the 2023 campaign as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Colorado under head coach Deion Sanders. He has also witnessed great success as a coordinator/ assistant coach in stops at Syracuse (2016- 17), Bowling Green (2014-15) and Eastern Illinois (2012-13).
Last season at Colorado, the Buffaloes were ranked sixth in the country in passing yards per game (330.0) and 39th in scoring (32.1) with Lewis calling the plays. When Lewis stopped calling plays, Colorado dropped to 59th in passing (224.0) and 100th in scoring (20.3).
In 2021, Kent State set program records in plays (1,052), yards (6,907), first downs (364), rushing yards (3,482) and passing yards (3,425). Additionally, the Golden Flashes ranked third in the country that year in rushing (248.6) and first downs (364), fourth in total offense (495.2) and 30th in scoring (33.0).
In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Kent State led the country in scoring (49.8) and total offense (606.5), ranked second in in pass efficiency rating (191.2) and third down conversion percentage (56.1), third in rushing (283.0) and fourth down conversion percentage (87.5), and 10th in passing (323.5).
While at Syracuse, his 2016 offense set or tied 40 program records, including passing yards (3,855), while the 5,290 yards were the second most in school history.
Lewis also had the fourth-ranked offense (546.8) at Bowling Green in 2015 and the sixth-ranked scoring offense (42.2). n The Aztecs have posted a .500 or better overall record and a winning record in Mountain West action in 13 of the past 14 seasons, only failing to do so last year (4-8 overall, 2-6 in MW).
San Diego State once again plays one of the toughest schedules in the country with seven of its 11 FBS games against teams that made a bowl game in 2023 and three against former Pac-12 teams (hosting Oregon State on Sept. 7, at California on Sept. 14 and hosting Washington State on Oct. 26).
SDSU returns only two all-Mountain West players from a year ago in Mekhi Shaw (honorable mention at both wide receiver and punt returner) and Kenan Christon (honorable mention at kick returner).
Gone from San Diego State are second-team honorees TE Mark Redman, OL Cade Bennett, CB Noah Tumblin and P Jack Browning, including the latter two which are vying for spots in NFL camps. Other all-conference performers gone from SDSU are QB Jalen Mayden, LB Zyrus Fiaseu and CB Dez Malone. In all, 18 starters are gone from the 2023 squad. n Joining first-year head coach Sean Lewis are 55 total newcomers (combining scholarships and walk-ons).
The Aztecs do not have a single player in his final year of eligibility who began his career at San Diego State. SDSU and Troy are the only teams in the country without a player in his final year of eligibility who began his career at his current school (see chart on right).
Overall, the Aztecs have 15 players in their final year of eligibility, which is the fifth fewest in the country. Only Illinois (12), Troy (12), Iowa State (14) and San Jose State (14) have fewer.
Additionally, SDSU returns only 54 players from a year ago, which ranks as the fourth fewest in the country.
San Diego State has 44 scholarship newcomers, the sixth most in the nation. The 40 scholarship returnees are tied for the sixth fewest in the country. n Lewis has brought along an impressive coaching staff to The Mesa, including six full-time coaches with previous coordinator experience. Three assistant coaches on the Aztec offensive staff have previous offensive coordinator experience, including pass game coordinator Lanear Sampson (2023 co-offensive coordinator/2022 pass game coordinator at Austin Peay), run game coordinator Mike Schmidt (2023 run game coordinator at Mississippi State, 2022 run game coordinator at Syracuse) and quarterbacks coach Matt Johnson (2023 offensive coordinator at Kent State). Additionally, senior offensive analyst Ryan Lindley was SDSU’s offensive coordinator last season. n Defensively, Eric Schmidt is in his first season as SDSU’s defensive coordinator. Schmidt previously spent two seasons at Washington as its special teams coordinator and coach of the EDGE position on defense. Defensive edges coach Rob Aurich (2022-23 defensive coordinator at Idaho, 2018-21 special teams coordinator at South Dakota, 2015-17 defensive coordinator at Bemidji State) also has previous coordinator experience.
Finally, associate head coach Zac Barton is in his first season as SDSU’s special teams coordinator after spending last season at Kansas, where he served as the Jayhawks’ special teams analyst. Prior to Kansas, Barton coached the special teams at Kent State from 2018- 22 under Lewis.
San Diego State opens Mountain West play the following week against Hawai’i at home on Oct. 5. It will be the first Aztec home game since Sept. 7 against Oregon State.
TRENDING
Searching for the formula to a San Diego State victory? Look no further.
OFFENSIVE KEYS
San Diego State is 57-2 the last 59 times it has rushed for 200 yards. The Aztecs surpassed 200 in the opener against Texas A&M-Commerce.
The Aztecs are 86-22 since 2011 when committing one turnover or less, something SDSU has done in 45 of its last 63 games. n SDSU has an advantage in time of possession in 39 of the last 62 games. Since 2011, the Aztecs are 36-8 when possessing the football for at least 35 minutes.
DEFENSIVE KEYS
The Aztecs are 72-5 since 2011 when holding the opposition to 17 points or less. SDSU has held 29 of its last 59 opponents to 17 points or less.
San Diego State has won 24 of its last 28 games when forcing at least two turnovers (SDSU’s 17-game winning streak came to an end on Sept. 3, 2022 vs. Arizona) and 34 straight games when forcing at least three turnovers (1-0 this season).
San Diego State is 77-6 in its Division I history when owning at least a plus-3 turnover advantage, something it did in the opener on Aug. 31 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce.
The Aztecs are 34-10 since 2011 when allowing less than 150 passing yards. n San Diego State is 62-8 the last 70 times it has held the opposition to a 33.3 percent or less mark on third down.
Since 2009, San Diego State’s record broken down by opponent passing efficency: less than 110: 69-11; between 110-150: 45-30; greater than 150: 8-31.
Since the start of the 2015 campaign, SDSU is 47-5 when holding its opponent to a passing efficiency rating of below 110.
SPECIAL TEAMS / OVERALL TRENDS
The Aztecs are 51-3 the last 54 times when owning a turnover advantage. n San Diego State had won 17 straight games when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent before falling at No. 16/17 Oregon State on Sept. 16, 2023 with a plus-1 advantage (streak started on Nov. 30, 2019 vs. Brigham Young). The Aztecs have now won 26 of the last 29 games when winning the turnover battle. n San Diego State is 34-9 the last 43 times it has an advantage in field position.
Since the start of the 2015 season, San Diego State has 14 kickoff returns for touchdowns, the most in FBS play over that time. To put that stat into perspective, nine other teams have played at least 60 games over that span and do not have a single kick return touchdown.
Since the start of the 2020 season, San Diego State has 17 non-offensive touchdowns, tied with Baylor, Middle Tennessee and Mississippi State for the eighth most in the country over that span, trailing only Pittsburgh (20), Notre Dame (19), Alabama (18), Houston (18), Iowa (18), Kentucky (18) and Ohio State (18).
The Aztecs have 13 non-offensive touchdowns since the start of the 2021 season. Only nine schools have more non-offensive touchdowns over that span, including Pittsburgh (18), Notre Dame (16), Iowa (15), Kentucky (15), Middle Tennessee (15), Ohio State (15), Arkansas State (14), Houston (14) and SMU (14). Over that span, SDSU has four blocked punt returns for touchdowns, four interception returns for touchdowns, two kickoff returns for a touchdown, two fumble recoveries for a touchdown and one punt return for a touchdown.
SDSU has won 37 of its last 39 games leading after three quarters (30-game winning streak was snapped at Fresno State on Oct. 29, 2022).
Central Michigan Notes
Top Storylines
• Central Michigan concludes its nonconference portion of the season by hosting San Diego State on Saturday. • Central Michigan is hard to beat at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as it has won two straight home games and six of its last seven matchups. The Chippewas are a combined 20-8 under Head Coach Jim McElwain with a .714 win percentage in games played at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. • McElwain is in search of his third bowl appearance and third winning season at Central Michigan in the last five full years (2019 New Mexico Bowl and 2021 Sun Bowl).
GAME NOTES
THE ESSENTIALS
Central Michigan (2-2, 1-0) plays its final non-conference game and second straight home contest when it hosts San Diego State (1-2, 0-0 MWC) on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. It is the second of three consecutive home games for the Chippewas.
ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan (2-2, 1-0 MAC) plays the final non-conference game of its 123rd season of college football on Saturday, Sept. 28 when it hosts San Diego State (1-2, 0-0 MWC) at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas will spend the next month in Mount Pleasant for three consecutive home games as they host Ball State (Sept. 21) and San Diego State (Sept. 28) on consecutive Saturdays, have a bye week on Oct. 5, then host Ohio for the 2024 Homecoming Game on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Central Michigan enters the matchup after an exciting 37-34 victory over Ball State in its MAC opener last Saturday. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Chippewas rallied from behind and scored the go-ahead and game-winning touchdown with 16 seconds to play when quarterback Joe Labas found Chris Parker in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. CMU rushed for 335 yards and 527 total yards of offense. It marked the most rushing yards since CMU rolled up 352 in a 42-28 win over New Mexico State on Oct. 12, 2019. The 527 total yards are the most since the Chippewas finished with 529 in a 41-0 win over Bucknell on Sept. 17, 2022.
B.J. Harris, who earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, rushed for a career-high 151 yards on only eight carries (18.9 yards per carry), led CMU in all-purpose yards (156), Chris Parker caught two touchdown passes, Labas completed 14 of 20 passes for 185 yards, and quarterback Bert Emanuel, Jr. saw his first game action of the season and was responsible for three touchdowns, including touchdown runs of 20 and 16 yards, and a 7-yard touchdown pass. Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski paced the defense with 15 tackles (nine solo) and Elijah Rikard had a career-high eight tackles. CMU trailed 10-0 in the first quarter but scored 20 unanswered points to get back into it.
Ball State took the lead back in the third quarter, but the Chippewas answered with an Emanuel 16-yard TD run with 5:02 to play. The Cardinals regained the lead with 53 seconds to play on a 97-yard scoring drive spanning five plays which culminated on a 16-yard pass. But CMU was not finished as the Chippewas marched 75 yards in five plays for the game-winning pass with 16 seconds play. B.J. Harris rambled 25 yards, Labas hit Evan Boyd down the middle of the field for a 34 yards, then Labas found Parker for the 20-yard strike.
UMass at Miami
3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
SERIES HISTORY
In a series dating back to 2012, Massachusetts and Miami (Ohio) have met five times, with the RedHawks holding the all-time series edge 4-1-0. UMass is 0-2 all-time at Miami. The teams most recently met on September 9, 2023 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium with Miami Ohio prevailing 41-28 in a game that took nearly six-hours due to a pair of severe weather delays. In his first career FBS start, quarterback Carlos Davis was 22- for-32 in the passing game, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Deshaun Jerkins pulled down a pick six, Gerrell Johnson added a team-high eight tackles and Billy Wooden added a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Massachusetts’ last win in the series came on October 12, 2013, when the Minutemen posted a 17-10 victory against the RedHawks in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Quarterback A.J. Doyle led the team with 249 passing yards and two touchdowns in the win over Miami Ohio.
UMass Notes
QUICK HITS
The Minutemen are one of 20 FBS teams without a fumble (lost) this season.
UMass ranks 39th in FBS (39 of 133) in total defense, allowing 298.5 yards against per game. Oregon (Big Ten) ranks 38th at 298.3 and UAB (AAC) ranks 40th at 300.00.
The Minutemen (79.7), rank fifth in the NCAA in plays per game, trailing Wake Forest (83.5), USF (83.3), Arkansas (82.3) and Texas Tech (81.3).
Jacquon Gibson (4.0) and Jakobie Keeney-James (4.0) are tied for 110th in the FBS in receptions per game rankings. That mark is also good for second among the Independent ranks (Notre Dame, UConn, UMass, Oregon State and Washington State).
Keeney-James also ranks 75th in FBS in Receiving Yards with 256.
Last week against Central Connecticut State, Jackson Paradis (1-yard run), T.Y. Harding (57-yard catch) and Owen Anderson (2-yard catch) recorded the first touchdowns of their careers, while Ryan Barnes recorded his first career interception.
Against CCSU the Massachusetts offense recorded eight plays of 15 yards or more.
The Minutemen posted four pass breakups against CCSU, marking their third game of the season with at least four pass breakups (4 vs. Eastern Michigan and 9 at Toledo). Tyler Rudolph leads the team with three pass breakups.
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK
Massachusetts ranks third in FBS in average time of possession (36:53), trailing only fellow independent Oregon State (37:56) and Army West Point (36:56).
In overall time of possession, UMass also ranks third (147:34), also trailing Oregon State (151:43) and Army West Point (110:48).
Miami Notes
REDHAWKS HOST UMASS ON HOMECOMING
The Miami University football team closes out non-conference action with a Saturday, Sept. 28 contest with the UMass Minutemen. The 3:30 p.m. kickoff is Miami’s annual Homecoming/Hall of Fame Game.
ABOUT MIAMI
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (724), conference wins (317), MAC Championships (17) and bowl wins (8). • Historically, Miami’s 724 career wins are third all-time among Group-of-Five programs, behind just Navy (741) and Army (730). • Miami was 4-14 in Coach Martin’s first 18 Mid-American Conference games. Since then, the RedHawks are 42-17 in their last 59 games versus schools from the MAC. • Miami captured its second MAC Championship in the last five years, defeating Toledo 23-14 last season. Chuck Martin won his first MAC Championship back in 2019. • The RedHawks have been bowl-eligible seven of the last eight seasons. From 2006-15, Miami was bowl-eligible just twice. • The 11 wins last season were tied for the second-most in program history. The last time Miami won 11 games in a season, NFL future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was taking snaps for Miami back in 2003 (13- 1).
LAST MEETING VERSUS MINUTEMEN
Brett Gabbert threw for 302 yards and Gage Larvadain finished with eight catches for 273 yards and three touchdowns as Miami downed UMass 41- 28 on Sept. 9 (and into Sept. 10), 2023. Due to several weather delays, the contest lasted nearly nine hours.
SERIES VS. UMASS
The two teams have met on five previous occasions (all since 2012), with Miami claiming four of the five contests. Miami is 2-0 all-time at home and have won each of the past three contests.
*Eastern Michigan at Kent State
3:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
IN THE SERIES: KENT STATE
Eastern trails KSU, 16-19, in the all-time series despite posting a 28-14 triumph last season in Ypsilanti, Oct. 14. Eastern also won the last meeting in Kent, 31-24, Nov. 16, 2022. EMU has not won three consecutive contests in the series since 1993-96 when it notched four straight victories. Overall, EMU is 4-6 in the last 10 meetings with Kent State after going 6-4 in the previous 10.
*Eastern Michigan Notes
OPENING THE MAC AWAY FROM HOME
When EMU and KSU meet, it will mark the fourth time the Eagles have opened their MAC slate against the Golden Flashes. Eastern is 1-2 in those games, including a 27-23 loss, Nov. 4, 2020, in the last such instance. The lone win came at home, Sept. 2, 1989, in a 30-7 decision.
TRYING TO STOP A STREAK
The Eagles have dropped their last seven conference openers and are 13-35 all-time in MAC openers. EMU fell last year at Central Michigan, 26-23, Sept. 30, 2023.Overall, EMU is 7-19 when its first MAC game of the season is played on the road. A win at Kent State would be the first in a MAC opener since the 28-25 victory at Bowling Green, Oct. 1, 2016, and would snap a seven-game slide. Eastern has been close to halting the skid with one-score losses at Central Michigan, 26-23, Sept. 30, 2023, at Northern Illinois, 27-20, Oct. 2, 2021, and at Kent State, 27-23, Nov. 2, 2020.
QUICK RECAP: MULTIPLE WAYS TO SCORE
Eastern downed visiting St. Francis, 36-0, Sept. 21, with the Eagles scoring four touchdowns in four different ways. David Carter Jr. got things started when he scooped up a fumble and ran it back 99 yards for the score in the first. Late in the third, Joey Mattord blocked a punt and Kendrick Nowling fell on the ball in the end zone for a score on special teams. Delbert Mimms III punched one in from 1-yard out for a rushing score before Jeremiah Salem connected with Zyell Griffin for a school-record 89-yard touchdown pass. Additionally, Jesús Gómez added a trio of field goals for the third consecutive game to help EMU to the win.
QUICK HITTERS
• Since 2016, Eastern Michigan has posted the fourth most victories of any team in the Mid-American Conference. • In total, the EMU has brought in 53 new student-athletes with 28 of them coming via the transfer portal. • In his 11th season in Ypsilanti, Chris Creighton is the 11th-longest-tenured FBS head coach. While they are both in their 11th season, respectively, Creighton is technically the second-longest tenured head coach in the conference by hiring date, falling just three days short of Miami’s Chuck Martin. • Chris Creighton has 55 wins during his time in Ypsilanti, which makes him the 20th coach in the history of the MAC to record 50+ wins at a MAC school. • A total of 15 EMU football student-athletes were named Preseason All-MAC by Athlon Sports. The total is tied for third-most in the MAC, and it is the most honorees for EMU since the magazine began releasing the list in 2014. • Since the 2016 season, Chris Creighton has led Eastern to a 17-14 record in the month of September. From 2013-15, EMU posted a cumulative September record of 0-9. • After a generous $1 million donation from former Eagle standout and current Las Vegas Raider/NFL All-Pro, Maxx Crosby and his wife Rachel Crosby to the EMU Athletics Department, Eastern’s new gray turf was dubbed “Crosby Field” and was unveiled to the public with Maxx and Rachel back in Ypsilanti, June 21. • Eastern Michigan is currently tied for the national lead in blocked kicks this year with three after adding a blocked punt against St. Francis. The Eagles and TCU are the only two schools in the FBS that have blocked 3+ kicks while not allowing a blocked kick.
LAST TIME AT KENT STATE
The Eagles used a dominant second half to lift itself to a 31-24 victory over Kent State, Nov. 16, 2022, inside Dix Stadium. Down 17-7 at half, Eastern used a 24-0 second-half spurt to take control of the game and seal the victory. The Eagles were led by an incredible passing effort from senior quarterback Taylor Powell, who tossed for a career-high 315 yards on 30-of-39 passing and three touchdowns. He was aided by a 94-yard rushing effort from Samson Evans. Defensively, Jose Ramirez finished with a team-high seven tackles, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss.
Kent State Notes
The Opening Kick
• Kenni Burns and the Flashes enter year two of the Kent GRIT era, taking on Tennessee for the first time in program history • This is the annual homecoming game for the Flashes with festivities beginning on Saturday morning with the homecoming parade • Kent State went to Happy Valley to face #8 Penn State last week • Nine starters on offense are back for 2024 while six starters return to the defensive side of the ball, all three specialists also return • Chrishon McCray returns to headline the offense, a consensus firstteam All-Conference receiver led the MAC in yards per game last year but missed the last month of the season with an injury • McCray had a highlight-reel touchdowns against Pitt and SFU while Luke Floriea had a td in both games as well and a career-best 106 yards receiving vs Pitt and had 90 vs SFU • Floriea leads the MAC in return yards and in the top-10 in receptions and yards • Returning to help lead the defense is Rocco Nicholl, the linebacker is building off a solid spring and summer, he leads the Flashes and is 22nd in the FBS, averaging nearly 10 tackles per game • The Flashes welcome in 23 transfers to the squad this year as well as Kansas running back transfer Ky Thomas. The running back sat out last year after his second transfer and played for Kenni Burns at Minnesota. • One transfer that has stood out is Kam Olds, the Buffalo transfer has three sacks this season, tops in the MAC • Seven Golden Flashes are seniors or graduate students who have played their entire career at Kent State. Leading that group is Matt Harmon who is in his seventh season as a Flash thanks to a redshirt season (2018), covid season (2020) and an injury redshirt season (2023) • Kenni Burns named junior quarterback Devin Kargman his starting quarterback for the season Kargman started all four games this season before suffering an injury against Penn State • Andrew Glass is knocking on the door for the most field goals in program history, entering the season with 53, three behind Freddy Cortez (2009-12), Glass is 2-4 this season on field goals, giving him 55 for his career • Glass went 3-3 on xps vs Pitt and is the third Flash to hit 100+ xps, joining Cortez and Travis Mayle (2002-05)
Old Dominion at Bowling Green
5 pm ET (ESPN+)
The Meeting – First Meeting
Old Dominion Notes
• Old Dominion comes off the week four bye making its first visit to the state of Ohio for a college football game as the Monarchs travel to Bowling Green to take on the Falcons. • Old Dominion fell to Virginia Tech 37-17 the week prior to the bye. Colton Joseph made it first career start at quarterback and true freshman Quinn Henicle galloped for a 65-yard touchdown in his first career action. • For just the third time in its last 17 games, ODU did not play a one-score game. Virginia Tech has beaten ODU in two of those games, including the 2023 opener, 36-17. • ODU played a Division I record 11 one-score games in 2023, going 6-5 in those games. Of the 11 one-score games, six came down to the final play of the game. ODU went 3-3 in those games. • Bowling Green lost at Bowling Green last Saturday, 26- 20. Connor Bazelak completed 20-of-36 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown and interception. Harold Fannin Jr. caught eight passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. Brock Horne led the Falcons with eight tackles. • Jahron Manning had a career-high 11 tackles for the Monarchs. Defensive tackle Denzel Lowry also set a new career-best with nine stops against Virginia Tech. • Running back Bryce Duke had four carries for 85 yards against his former school. A Virgina Tech transfer, Duke had runs of 48 and 32 yards against the Hokies • Old Dominion’s 57 newcomers are the 15th most in the country and the 28 transfers (JUCO and Four-Year) are tied for 15th most in the country.
The Outcome
An ODU win would mean: • Snap ODU’s four-game losing streak • Give ODU its first win over a current MAC member for the first time since the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl win over Eastern Michigan • Move ODU to 11-7 all-time following a bye. ODU is 3-0 after a bye under Ricky Rahne
Bowling Green Notes
OPENING KICK
FALCONS RETURN HOME FOR HOMECOMING
• Bowling Green State University returns to the cozy confines of Doyt Perry Stadium to host the Old Dominion Monarchs on Saturday for Homecoming. • There will be postgame fireworks as part of the celebration.
JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE
• As part of BGSU’s 2024 Homecoming celebration, award-winning country singer Phil Vassar will perform a free concert in Tailgate Park prior to the game at 2:30 p.m. Vassar’s repertoire includes 10 No. 1 singles and 27 Top-40 hits.
BOWLING GREEN VS. OLD DOMINION
• Bowling Green is facing Old Dominion for the first time in program history. • The Monarchs are the seventh different program the Falcons have faced from the Commonwealth of Virginia. BGSU has also faced Liberty, Richmond, Virginia Tech, VMI, and William & Mary. Virginia Tech and William & Mary are the only programs on that list that have not played at Doyt Perry Stadium.
FIVE TOP STORYLINES
• TE Harold Fannin Jr. is No. 1 in the nation among tight ends in receiving yards (349), YAC (227), first downs (19), and broken tackles (10). His 25 receptions are tied for No. 1 among tight ends with LSU’s Mason Taylor, who has played one more game. Per Pro Football Focus, Fannin has the highest receiving grade in the nation (94.7) and ranks No. 2 for his pass routes grade (94.6), both of which are tops for tight ends. • QB Connor Bazelak enters Saturday with 942 career completions, ranking No. 3 among active players (behind Washington’s Will Rogers and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel). He needs 58 more completions to become the 41st player in FBS history to reach 1,000 career completions. He also needs 22 passing yards to reach 10,000 for his career. • Bowling Green blocked its first punt of the season at then-No. 25 Texas A&M last time out. BGSU has eight punt blocks since the start of the 2022 season, which is tied for the most in FBS during that span, sharing the spot with Rutgers and South Carolina. • ILB Brock Horne is tied for No. 2 in the nation with 0.67 forced fumbles per game. • Bowling Green recorded five sacks in its season opener against Fordham, two at then-No. 8 Penn State, and one at then-No. 25 Texas A&M. Since the start of the 2022 season, BGSU has accumulated 79 team sacks, ranking 19th in the nation.
BOWLING GREEN VS. SUN BELT
• Bowling Green is 28-12 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt, with games against Arkansas State (1-0), Georgia Southern (0-1), Marshall (22-8), South Alabama (1-1), Southern Miss (3-1), and Troy (1-1). • Bowling Green is scheduled to travel to ODU on Sept. 13, 2031. BGSU will also visit Marshall on Sept. 25, 2027, and South Alabama on Sept. 16, 2028.
WEEK 4 RESULTS
Saturday, September 21
*Central Michigan 37, Ball State 34
*Buffalo 23, No. 23 Northern Illinois 20 (OT)
Eastern Michigan 36, Saint Francis 0
Kentucky 41, Ohio 6
Notre Dame 28, Miami 3
Penn State 56, Kent State 0
Texas A&M 26, Bowling Green 20
South Carolina 50, Akron 7
Western Kentucky 26, Toledo 21
2 MINUTE DRILL
• Buffalo went on the road and defeated 23rd-ranked Northern Illinois, 23-20, in overtime on Saturday afternoon to open Mid-American Conference play. It was the Bulls’ second win over a ranked opponent in program history. Led by linebacker Shaun Dolac, the defense kept the Bulls in the game early until the offense got its footing. Dolac had one of the greatest games in program history, finishing with a career-high 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a game-changing interception. In overtime, Marquis Cooper blocked a NIU field goal attempt before Upton Bellenfant connected on a 37-yard field goal to secure the walk-off win for the Bulls. Overall, Buffalo improved to 3-1 for the first time since 2020 and just the third time in their FBS era.
• Joe Labas found Chris Parker for a 20-yard touchdown pass with just 16 seconds remaining to lift Central Michigan to a 37-34 win over Ball State on Saturday. This marked the second-straight season the Chippewas opened MAC play with a victory. Bert Emanuel was responsible for three touchdowns (two rushing and one passing) while B.J. Harris rushed for a career-high 151 yards on eight carries, including a 71-yard run, 41-yard run and 25-yard run to set up the game-winning touchdown pass.
• Eastern Michigan defeated Saint Francis, 36-0, in its non-conference finale on Saturday. The Eagles improved to 3-1 on the season and closed their non-conference slate with their first shutout victory since 2008 as EMU scored one touchdown each on the ground, through the air, on a defensive fumble return and on a blocked punt.
• Heading into Week 5 action, the MAC has defeated seven non-conference FBS opponents this year. The MAC has now defeated at least seven non-conference FBS opponents in the same season 23 times since 2000 and is currently on a 19-year streak with at least seven victories against FBS foes (minus 2020 due to COVID).
• The MAC has established a new football scheduling model that will go into effect starting this season. The new scheduling model will eliminate the MAC East and West Divisions. The top two teams based on conference winning percentage will compete in the MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MAC Football Co-Offensive Players of the Week
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green, TE Junior, Canton, Ohio (McKinley)
Harold Fannin had an outstanding performance this weekend leading all MAC receivers with 145 yards. He recorded eight receptions, including a 65-yard touchdown reception on BGSU’s first play from scrimmage in the second half. The TD was the longest offensive score allowed by Texas A&M’s defense since October 2022. Notably, 97 of his 145 receiving yards came after the catch. This game marked his third career 100-yard receiving game (and second this season). Of the six instances in BGSU history where a tight end has surpassed 100 yards receiving in a game, he owns three, with two of his top performances this year coming against then-No. 8 Penn State and then-No. 25 Texas A&M.
MAC Football Co-Offensive Players of the Week
B.J. Harris, Central Michigan, RB Senior, Chattanooga, Tenn. (McCallie School)
B.J. Harris rushed for a career-high 151 yards on eight carries, including a 71-yard run, 41-yard run and 25-yard run to setup the game-winning touchdown pass. Averaged 18.9 yards per carry. Also caught two passes for five years. Led the Chippewas in all-purpose yards with a career-high 156 yards.
MAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Shaun Dolac, Buffalo, LB Graduate, West Seneca, NY (West Seneca East)
Shaun Dolac had a career-high 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a game-changing interception in Buffalo’s 23-20 win over Northern Illinois. Of his 19 tackles, 15 were solo. With the game tied, 17-17, in the fourth quarter and the Huskies driving, Dolac picked off Ethan Hampton’s pass and returned it 53 yards to the NIU 20-yard line, setting up the go-ahead field goal.
MAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Jesús Gómez, Eastern Michigan, K Senior, Puebla, Mexico (Prepa Tec Puebla)
Jesús Gómez continued his outstanding form as the lefty kicker accounted for 12 points with three field goals and three extra points recorded on the day. Gómez, who was good from 49, 40, and 37-yards, has now scored at least eight points in all four games this year after scoring eight at UMass (Aug. 31), nine at Washington (Sept. 7), 13 against Jacksonville State (Sept. 14), and 12 against SFU. He has connected on multiple field goals in all four games, including three makes in each of the last three games for the Eagles with his 11 makes rank him one of just two players nationally to have made 10+ field goals already this season. Overall, Gómez leads the MAC with 42 points scored this year with the next closest player having scored 30.
MAC NOTES
• Fly The Flag:
Toledo Dismantles Mississippi State Toledo overpowered Mississippi State in Starkville, defeating the Bulldogs by a final score of 41-17 on Saturday, Sept. 14 for the MAC’s second Fly the Flag win in as many weeks. Toledo received nine points in last week’s AP Top 25 and one vote in the coaches poll, while being named the Cheez-It National Team of the Week by the FWAA. The victory over the Bulldogs was Toledo’s first win against a Power Four opponent in nine years and just its second ever versus an SEC opponent (Arkansas, 2015). It was also Toledo’s first win over a Power Four opponent since a 30-23 win over Iowa State in 2015, a week after the Arkansas win. Toledo defeatd Brigham Young in 2019, which was an indepen- dent at the time. Additionally, the 24-margin of victory is the largest for Toledo against a Power Four opponent.
• NIU Makes History in South Bend
Northern Illinois knocked off No. 5 Notre Dame by a final score of 16-14 on Saturday, Sept. 7 for the first win over a top five opponent in MAC history as well as the MAC’s first Fly the Flag victory of the 2024 campaign.
Thanks to the historic victory, the Huskies were ranked No. 25 AP Poll, its first top-25 ranking since 2013, before moving up to No. 23 in last week’s poll. Additionally, NIU was named the Cheez-It National Team of the Week by the FWAA.
NIU’s win over Notre Dame was the Huskies’ seventh win over a Top 25 opponent. Previously, the highest ranked opponent the Huskies defeated was No. 15 Maryland on August 28, 2003 at Huskie Stadium, a 20-13 win in overtime.
NIU’s last Fly the Flag Win was last season over Boston College in the season opener. Since 2021, NIU has three Fly the Flag victories under head coach Thomas Hammock.
Prior to NIU’s historic win, all of the MAC’s previous wins against top-10 opponents happened on September 20th
