2024 Buffalo Bulls football team

2024 Buffalo Bulls football
2024 Buffalo Bulls football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	3–1 (1–0 MAC)
Head coach	Pete Lembo (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Dave Patenaude (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Joe Bowen (1st season)
Home stadium	University at Buffalo Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Mid-American Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Buffalo	1	–	0	3	–	1
Central Michigan	1	–	0	2	–	2
Eastern Michigan	0	–	0	3	–	1
Toledo	0	–	0	3	–	1
Ohio	0	–	0	2	–	2
Bowling Green	0	–	0	1	–	2
Western Michigan	0	–	0	1	–	2
Akron	0	–	0	1	–	3
Miami (OH)	0	–	0	0	–	3
Kent State	0	–	0	0	–	4
Ball State	0	–	1	1	–	2
Northern Illinois	0	–	1	2	–	1
Championship: December 7, 2024
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant As of September 27, 2024 Rankings from AP Poll

The 2024 Buffalo Bulls football team will represent the University at Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulls are led by Pete Lembo in his first year as head coach. The Bulls will play their home games at University at Buffalo Stadium, located in Amherst, New York.^[1]

Preseason

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Buffalo was picked to finish tenth in the conference. They received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.^[2]^[3]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
MAC Coaches poll
1	Miami	119 (9)
2	Toledo	109 (3)
T3	Bowling Green	92
T3	Northern Illinois	92
5	Ohio	81
6	Eastern Michigan	64
7	Western Michigan	60
8	Central Michigan	59
9	Ball State	42
10	Buffalo	37
11	Akron	24
12	Kent State	13

Predicted finish	Team	Votes
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
1	Miami	10
2	Toledo	2

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	7:00 p.m.	No. 17 (FCS) Lafayette*	UB Stadium Amherst, NY	ESPN+	W 30–13	16,400
September 7	7:00 p.m.	at No. 9 Missouri*	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	SECN+/ESPN+	L 0–38	62,621
September 14	1:00 p.m.	UMass*	UB Stadium Amherst, NY	CBSSN	W 34–3	15,204
September 21	3:30 p.m.	at No. 23 Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPN+	W 23–20 ^OT	18,688
September 28	12:00 p.m.	at UConn*	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	CBSSN
October 12		Toledo	UB Stadium Amherst, NY
October 19		Western Michigan	UB Stadium Amherst, NY
October 26		at Ohio	Peden Stadium Athens, OH
November 2		at Akron	InfoCision Stadium Akron, OH
November 12	7:00 p.m.	Ball State	UB Stadium Amherst, NY	ESPN2/ESPNU/CBSSN
November 20	7:00 p.m.	at Eastern Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN2/ESPNU
November 26	7:00 p.m.	Kent State	UB Stadium Amherst, NY	ESPN2/ESPN+
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[4]

Game summaries

No. 17 (FCS) Lafayette

Game One – No. 17 (FCS) Lafayette Leopards (0–0) at Buffalo Bulls (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 17 Lafayette (FCS)	0	0	6	7	13
Buffalo	13	3	7	7	30

at UB Stadium • Amherst, New York

Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024
Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C); Sunny
Game attendance: 16,400
Referee: Jeremy Valentine
TV announcers (ESPN+): Anthony Lima (play-by-play) and Jordan Reid (analyst)
Boxscore

Game information

First quarter

(9:02) UB – Al-Jay Henderson 11-yard run (run failed) (Drive: 10 plays, 60 yards, 2:59; Buffalo 6-0)
(3:17) UB – Nik McMillan 31-yard pass from C.J. Ogbonna (Nick Reed kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 2:04; Buffalo 13-0)

Second quarter

(9:23) UB – Nick Reed 22-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 49 yards, 2:55; Buffalo 16-0)

Third quarter

(10:09) LAF – Dallas Holmes 18-yard pass from Carson Persing (pass failed) (Drive: 2 plays, 18 yards, 0:06; Buffalo 16-6)
(6:10) UB – Taji Johnson 32-yard pass from C.J. Ogbonna (Nick Reed kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:23; Buffalo 23-6)

Fourth quarter

(10:12) LAF – Chris Carasia 13-yard pass from Dean DeNobile (Jack Simonetta kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:02; Buffalo 23-13)
(5:25) UB – Jacqez Barksdale 19-yard run (Nick Reed kick) (Drive: 1 play, 19 yards, 0:06; Buffalo 30-13)

Statistics	LAF	UB
First downs	14	23
Plays–yards	63–225	69–403
Rushing yards	28–45	45–208
Passing yards	180	195
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–35–2	14–24–0
Time of possession	28:47	31:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lafayette	Passing	Dean DeNobile	23/33, 162 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Troy Bruce	4 carries, 29 yards
	Receiving	Chris Carasia	8 receptions, 83 yards, TD
Buffalo	Passing	C.J. Ogbonna	14/24, 195 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Jacqez Barksdale	14 carries, 99 yards, TD
	Receiving	Nik McMillan	5 receptions, 76 yards, TD

at No. 9 Missouri

Game Two – Buffalo Bulls (1–0) at No. 9 Missouri Tigers (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Buffalo	0	0	0	0	0
No. 9 Missouri	3	21	7	7	38

at Faurot Field • Columbia, Missouri

Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Game time: 6 p.m. CDT
Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C); Sunny; Wind at NE9 MPH
Game attendance: 62,621
Referee: Kyle Olson
TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play) and Fozzy Whittaker (analyst)
Pregame line: MIZZ −34.5 Over/Under: 53.5 · Boxscore

Game information

First quarter

(10:47) MIZZ: Blake Craig 51 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 26 yards, 3:21; Missouri 3-0)

Second quarter

(12:13) MIZZ: Luther Burden III 3 yard run (Blake Craig Kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 64 yards, 5:09; Missouri 10-0)
(6:12) MIZZ: Brady Cook 3 yard run (Blake Craig Kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 3:55; Missouri 17-0)
(1:51) MIZZ: Brady Cook 31 yard run (Blake Craig Kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:12; Missouri 24-0)

Third quarter

(1:00) MIZZ: Nate Noel 4 yard run (Blake Craig Kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 4:17; Missouri 31-0)

Fourth quarter

(0:31) MIZZ: Jamal Roberts yard run (Blake Craig Kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards, 3:08; Missouri 38-0)

Statistics	UB	MIZZ
First downs	9	28
Plays–yards	52–169	83–518
Rushing yards	114	255
Passing yards	55	263
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	6–20–1	34–42–1
Time of possession	21:39	38:21

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Buffalo	Passing	C.J. Ogbonna	6/20, 55 yards, INT
	Rushing	Jacqez Barksdale	15 carries, 67 yards
	Receiving	Victor Snow	4 receptions, 41 yards
Missouri	Passing	Brady Cook	28/36, 228 yards, INT
	Rushing	Nate Noel	12 carries, 73 yards, TD
	Receiving	Theo Wease	13 receptions, 149 yards

UMass

Game Three – UMass Minutemen (0–2) at Buffalo Bulls (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
UMass	0	3	0	0	3
Buffalo	7	3	17	7	34

at UB Stadium • Amherst, New York

Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C); Sunny
Game attendance: 15,204
Referee: Andrew Speciale
TV announcers (CBSSN): Jordan Kent (play-by-play) and Logan Ryan (analyst)
Boxscore

Game information

First quarter

(10:06) UB – JJ Jenkins 40-yard pass from C. J. Ogbonna, Upton Bellenfant kick (Drive: 6 plays, 85 yards, 2:01; Buffalo 7-0)

Second quarter

(11:52) UB – Upton Bellenfant 37-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:14; Buffalo 10-0)
(1:50) UMASS – Jacob Lurie 34-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 39 yards, 6:20; Buffalo 10-3)

Third quarter

(11:24) UB – Upton Bellenfant 34-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 55 yards, 3:22; Buffalo 13-3)
(4:38) UB – C. J. Ogbonna 8-yard run, Upton Bellenfant kick (Drive: 2 plays, 20 yards, 0:35; Buffalo 20-3)
(0:00) UB – Marquis Cooper 100-yard interception, Upton Bellenfant kick (Buffalo 27-3)

Fourth quarter

(4:54) UB – Lamar Sperling 1-yard run, Upton Bellenfant kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 8:07; Buffalo 34-3)

Statistics	UMASS	UB
First downs	11	15
Plays–yards	66–193	60–314
Rushing yards	37–72	38–129
Passing yards	121	185
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14–29–1	14–22–0
Time of possession	44:00	27:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UMass	Passing	Taisun Phommachanh	14/29, 121 yards, INT
	Rushing	Brandon Campbell	8 carries, 36 yards
	Receiving	Jacquon Gibson	4 receptions, 58 yards
Buffalo	Passing	C.J. Ogbonna	14/22, 185 yards, TD
	Rushing	Lamar Sperling	16 carries, 86 yards, TD
	Receiving	JJ Jenkins	2 receptions, 44 yards, TD

at No. 23 Northern Illinois

Game Four – Buffalo Bulls (2–1) at No. 23 Northern Illinois Huskies (2–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Buffalo	0	3	7	10	3	23
No. 23 Northern Illinois	7	7	0	6	0	20

at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois

Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 88 °F (31 °C) • Wind: N 9 mph
Game attendance: 18,688
Referee: David Siegle
TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
Boxscore

Game information

First quarter

(5:14) NIU – Antario Brown 5-yard run, Kanon Woodill kick (Drive: 13 plays, 66 yards, 6:36; Northern Illinois 7-0)

Second quarter

(7:18) UB – Upton Bellenfant 42-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards, 5:26; Northern Illinois 7-3)
(1:55) NIU – Antario Brown 14-yard run, Kanon Woodill kick (Drive: 2 plays, 36 yards, 0:16; Northern Illinois 14-3)

Third quarter

(10:59) UB – Victor Snow 46-yard pass from C. J. Ogbonna, Upton Bellenfant kick (Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 2:32; Northern Illinois 14-10)

Fourth quarter

(14:51) NIU – Kanon Woodill 30-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 5:44; Northern Illinois 17-10)
(12:02) UB – Al-Jay Henderson 36-yard run, Upton Bellenfant kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:49; Tied 17-17)
(3:28) UB – Upton Bellenfant 42-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, -4 yards, 2:11; Buffalo 20-17)
(0:24) NIU – Kanon Woodill 27-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 66 yards, 3:04; Tied 20-20)

Overtime

(0:00) UB – Upton Bellenfant 37-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 0:00; Buffalo 23-20)

Statistics	UB	NIU
First downs	9	24
Plays–yards	54–184	85–359
Rushing yards	37–77	42–165
Passing yards	107	194
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	10–17–0	23–43–1
Time of possession	23:47	36:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Buffalo	Passing	C. J. Ogbonna	10/17, 107 yards, TD
	Rushing	Al-Jay Henderson	11 carries, 56 yards, TD
	Receiving	Victor Snow	3 receptions, 72 yards, TD
Northern Illinois	Passing	Ethan Hampton	23/43, 194 yards, INT
	Rushing	Antario Brown	24 carries, 73 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Cam Thompson	3 receptions, 49 yards

at UConn

Game Five – Buffalo Bulls (3–1) at UConn Huskies (2–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Buffalo	0	0	0	0	0
UConn	0	0	0	0	0

at Rentschler Field, DeKalb, Illinois

Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
TV: CBSSN

Statistics	UB	CONN
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Buffalo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UConn	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "2024 Football Coaching Staff". ubbulls.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
^ "2024 Buffalo Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.

[1] "2024 Football Coaching Staff". ubbulls.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.

[2] "Miami Selected as Favorites in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.

[3] "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked 2nd, BGSU 3rd". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.

[4] "2024 Buffalo Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]