Buffalo 2018 Roster | Buffalo 2018 Media Guide | Buffalo 2018 Schedule
Expectations are running high in Buffalo as the team is eager to hit the gridiron and build on a successful finish to the 2017 campaign. The Bulls won the final three games of the season to finish with a 6-6 overall record, 4-4 in the MAC, and gain bowl eligibility for just the third time as an FBS program. Even the Bulls loses were by a close margin, losing six games by a combined 29 points, with their worst loss by only 10 points.
Buffalo head coach Lance Leipold is entering his fourth season leading the Bulls program. Buffalo returns 51 letterwinners from last year’s squad, including 16 starters (8 offense, 7 defense, 1 special teams). Buffalo returns eight starters to an offense that rolled up a school-record 5,183 yards of total offense on the season and led the MAC in passing offense, averaging 291 yards per game. A key component returning to the offense is Anthony Johnson, as the senior wide receiver is the top returning receiver in the nation after averaging 113 receiving yards per game and 14 touchdowns in 2017.
Junior Tyree Jackson will likely return to his starting role in 2018. The Bulls’ dual-threat quarterback started eight games in 2017 and threw for 2,096 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 197 yards and four more scores. After suffering an injury in week four and missing the next four games, he returned to put up huge numbers over the final four games of the season. Jackson averaged 341 yards passing and threw nine touchdowns to help the Bulls win three of their final four games.
The Bulls will feature equal fire power on the defensive side of the ball. Senior middle linebacker Khalil Hodge ranked second in the nation in tackles with an FBS-era school-record 154 stops in 2017. In just two seasons with the Bulls, Hodge has already totaled an astounding 277 tackles, more than any other player in college football over the past two seasons.
The defensive line will be led by All-MAC defensive end Chuck Harris, who ranked third on the team in tackles with 73 and second on the team with seven tackles for loss and four sacks in 2017. The secondary is an area of strength led by four seniors including Cameron Lewis (34 tackles, 3 forced fumbles), Brandon Williams (43 tackles), Tatum Slack (29 tackles, 9 passes defensed) and Devon Russell (14 tackles).
September
1 Delaware State, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN3)
8 at Temple, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN3)
15 *Eastern Michigan, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
22 at Rutgers
29 Army
October
6 *at Central Michigan
13 *Akron
20 *at Toledo, Noon ET (ESPN+)
30 *Miami, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
November
6 *Kent State, 7:30 pm ET (ESPNU)
14 *at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET or 8:00 pm ET (ESPN2/ESPNU)
23 *at Bowling Green, TBA
