The University at Buffalo football team had a great chance to earn their first ever victory over a nationally ranked team as they dropped the game 28-25 to No. 16 Coastal Carolina. It was yet another big game that the Bulls could arguably have won, but failed to make the timely plays necessary to do so(I’ll dig deeper on this next week because they’ve NEVER won a big game; name one, you can’t).
The team must quickly put that defeat behind them as they have a great opportunity to get their team up to full gear heading into conference play. UB will travel to Norfolk with a chance to get back to .500 versus an Old Dominion team who has yet to have been competitive against an FBS opponent this season after taking 2020 off.
What He Said
“You can ask my wife: I’ll say when I’m wrong. She doesn’t like to admit that I admit that I’m wrong, but I do. That’s a little pro tip for everybody: You need to, in a marriage, say it when you’re wrong. Don’t ever say when you’re right.”
Old Dominion’s Rookie Head Coach Ricky Rahne
Ricky Rahne is in his first season as a head coach and is learning on the fly like many of his players. ODU’s roster features 52 freshman plus another 16 redshirt freshman. The young head coach has a good head on his shoulders as illustrated by the above quote, but it likely will be tough sledding against a veteran-laden Bulls teams.
DMV
The UB Bulls have a ton of players that are familiar with the Norfolk, VA area, so it’ll be a bit of a homecoming. There are 14 current players from the DMV area with three having gone to high school right in Norfolk. Running back Kevin Marks and cornerback Isaiah King were teammates at Norview High School while Marks’ cousin, wide receiver Khamron Laborn attended Maury High School where he put up 44 touchdowns.
Marks will have an opportunity to continue to climb the UB record books with many family members in the crowd Saturday. The senior running back is just 158 yards away from 3,000 rushing yards and is only two touchdowns behind Brandon Oliver for third in school history at 33.
21 Gun
All three of Old Dominion’s games have been settled before the fourth quarter. The Monarchs trailed 28-3 at halftime in their season opener against Wake Forest before blowing out FCS opponent Hampton 34-0 in the first half the next week. ODU’s most recent game was their closest with it being just an 11-point game at half before Liberty broke out for a 45-17 victory.
The first team to reach 21 points in each of UB and ODU’s first three games has won the game.
Big Time Taylor Riggins
Photo via Joe Croom 
Photo via Joe Croom 
Photo via Joe Croom
UB fans have been blessed with a continuous flow of NFL-caliber pass rushers over the past decade. Guys like Khalil Mack, Steven Means, and Demone Harris have paved the way to the league for guys like Malcolm Koonce and now Taylor Riggins.
Riggins missed all of 2020 with an injury after an All-MAC performance in 2019 that included 8.5 sacks and 50 tackles. It looks like the senior defensive end is on track for another All-MAC season as he is currently tied for the lead in the MAC with four sacks. Two of those sacks came last week against nationally ranked Coastal Carolina on national television. Not a bad day to have seven total tackles and force two fumbles as well.
Rankings
| Team Statistics | UB | ODU |
| Points per game | 32.3 (56th) | 24.7 (95th) |
| Points allowed per game | 21.0 (58th) | 31.3 (104th) |
| Rushing yards per game | 223.5 (22nd) | 190.0 (41st) |
| Passing yards per game | 240.5 (64th) | 158.3 (114th) |
| Total offense | 445.3 (36th) | 348.3 (100th) |
| 3rd down pct | 55% (14th) | 36% (97th) |
| Rushing yards allowed per game | 119.0 (54th) | 150.0 (76th) |
| Passing yards allowed per game | 187.5 (44th) | 171.0 (26th) |
| Total defense | 356.0 (71st) | 321.0 (48th) |
| Opposing 3rd down pct | 36% (61st) | 45% (105th) |
Preview
Degenerate Danger Zone
UB -13.5
Over/Under 50.5
Tune In
When:
Saturday at 6 p.m.
S.B Ballard Stadium
Norfolk, VA
TV:
ESPN+
Radio:
WNY: ESPN1520 (1520 AM)
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