| 2020Buffalo Bulls football | |
|---|---|
 | |
Camellia Bowl champion MAC East Division champion | |
MAC Championship Game, L 28–38 vs.Ball State | |
Camellia Bowl, W 17–10 vs.Marshall | |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Division | East Division |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 25 |
| AP | No. 25 |
| Record | 6–1 (5–0 MAC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Andy Kotelnicki (6th season) |
| Co-offensive coordinator | Jim Zebrowski (4th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiplepro-style |
| Defensive coordinator | Brian Borland (6th season) |
| Co-defensive coordinator | Chris Simpson (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Captains |
|
| Home stadium | University at Buffalo Stadium |
Uniform | |
 | |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 25Buffalo xy | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent State | 3 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miami (OH) | 2 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Akron | 1 | – | 5 | 1 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23Ball State xy$ | 5 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan | 4 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toledo | 4 | – | 2 | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Michigan | 3 | – | 3 | 3 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Michigan | 2 | – | 4 | 2 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship:Ball State 38, Buffalo 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rankings fromAP Poll. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The2020 Buffalo Bulls football team represented theUniversity at Buffalo as a member of theMid-American Conference (MAC) during the2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led byLance Leipold in his sixth and final year as head coach in a limited season, which was initially canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic before being reinstated, the Bulls compiled an overall record of 6–1 with a mark of 5–0 in conference play, winning the MAC's East Division title. Buffalo advanced to theMAC Championship Game, where the Bulls lost toBall State. They concluded the season with a win overMarshall in theCamellia Bowl. The team played home games atUniversity at Buffalo Stadium inAmherst, New York.
Following the season, on April 30, 2021, Leipold left the team become the head football coach at theUniversity of Kansas.[2] A few days later, the school namedMichigan co-defensive coordinatorMaurice Linguist the team's new head coach.[3]
Buffalo originally had a game scheduled againstOhio State, but it was canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[4] Buffalo played a regular season consisting of games against only MAC teams.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4 | 7:00 p.m. | atNorthern Illinois | ESPN2 | W 49–30 | 449 | |||
| November 10 | 8:00 p.m. | Miami (OH) | ESPN | W 42–10 | 0 | |||
| November 17 | 7:00 p.m. | atBowling Green | CBSSN | W 42–17 | 1,500 | |||
| November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | Kent State |
| CBSSN | W 70–41 | |||
| December 5 | 3:30 p.m. | atOhio | CBSSN | Cancelled | [5] | |||
| December 12 | 2:30 p.m. | Akron | No. 24 |
| CBSSN | W 56–7 | ||
| December 18 | 7:30 p.m. | vs.Ball State | No. 23 | ESPN | L 28–38 | 0 | ||
| December 25 | 2:30 p.m. | vs.Marshall* | ESPN | W 17–10 | 2,512 | |||
| ||||||||
In week 12, Buffalo received votes in theAP Poll for the first time since the2018 season. They were nationally ranked for the first time in program history when the week 15 poll was released, ranked at No.24 in the AP Poll. The following week they were raised to No. 23.
| Week | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | 24 | 23 | RV | 25 |
| Coaches | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | 25 |
| CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | Not released | |||||||||||
Listed in the order that they were released
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chuck Bednarik Award[9] | Taylor Riggins | DE | SR |
| Doak Walker Award[10] | Kevin Marks Jr. | RB | JR |
| Jaret Patterson | RB | JR | |
| Jim Thorpe Award[11] | Tyrone Hill | S | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy[12] | Malcolm Koonce | DE | SR |
| Taylor Riggins | DE | SR | |
| Outland Trophy[13] | Kayode Awosika | OL | SR |
| Wuerffel Trophy[14] | Max Michel | DE | SO |
| Maxwell Award[15] | Jaret Patterson | RB | JR |
The Bulls played their first game of 2020 againstNorthern Illinois inDekalb, Illinois, on November 4 after a delayed start to the season due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.Jaret Patterson ran for 137 yards including for two touchdowns. QuarterbackKyle Vantrease recorded his first two touchdowns of the season with a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown to Antonio Nunn. The Buffalo defense scored 3 touchdowns on their own with 2 fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns by Tim Terry Jr. and Isaiah King and an interception returned for a touchdown by Kadofi Wright en route to the Bulls 49–30 win.[16]
The Bulls home opener atUB Stadium occurred six days later against theMiami Redhawks. Kevin Marks Jr. ran for 109 yards compared to Jaret Patterson's 73, but with Patterson rushing for 2 touchdowns. Kyle Vantrease completed 4 touchdown passes as Buffalo defeated Miami 42–10. Buffalo received 1 vote in week 12'sAP Poll, their first vote received in the poll of the season.[17]
A week later Buffalo went back on the road traveling toDoyt L. Perry Stadium inBowling Green, Ohio, to take on theBowling Green Falcons. Jaret Patterson erupted for 301 yards while scoring 4 touchdowns on 31 carries with fellow Buffalo running back Kevin Marks Jr. and quarterback Kyle Vantrease also recording a rushing touchdown each in Buffalo's 42–17 win in Bowling Green. Buffalo received 3 votes in week 13'sAP Poll.[18]
The Bulls played their first Saturday game of the season on November 28 againstKent State at UB Stadium.Jaret Patterson rushed for over 400 yards, coming within striking distance of breaking the FBS record for most yards rushed for in a game. He scored 8 touchdowns which tied the record for most FBS touchdowns by one player in a single game. Patterson's massive performance was done on only 36 carries throughout the game, with teammate Kevin Marks Jr. also getting 16 carries and recording 2 rushing touchdowns on his own. Patterson's impressive performance against Kent State earned him national attention and calls for him to be added to the watchlist for theHeisman Trophy. Buffalo defeated Kent State 70–41 and received 56 votes in week 14's AP Poll, coming within striking distance of a national ranking.[19]
The following week, Buffalo was slated to play theOhio Bobcats, but because of a COVID-19 outbreak on the Ohio football team, the game was canceled. Nevertheless, Buffalo increased their share of the vote in the AP Poll to 145, good for a No. 24 ranking in the poll. This was the first national ranking in Buffalo football program history.[20]
Buffalo finished off their regular season on December 12 againstAkron at UB Stadium. Jaret Patterson was sparsely used against Akron, receiving the entire second half of the game off. Patterson and Marks Jr. each recorded 2 rushing touchdowns each as Buffalo defeated Akron 56–7 and finished the regular season undefeated at 5–0. The Bulls once again increased their share of the vote in the AP Poll up to 186, good to jump up a position in the poll to No. 23.[21]
| 2020 Buffalo Bulls football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
| Defense
| Special teams
|
Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following Bull was selected in the2021 NFL draft following the season.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 79 | Malcolm Koonce | Defensive end | Las Vegas Raiders |
