2020 Buffalo Bulls football team

The 2020 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulls were led by sixth-year head coach Lance Leipold and played their home games at the University at Buffalo Stadium as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. In a limited season, which was initially canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being reinstated, the Bulls finished the season 6–1, 5–0 in MAC play to win the East Division. They lost to Ball State in the MAC Championship. They received an invite to the Camellia Bowl where they defeated Marshall.

2020 Buffalo 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	Lance Leipold (6th season)
Offensive coordinator	Andy Kotelnicki (6th season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Jim Zebrowski (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Brian Borland (6th season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Chris Simpson (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	University at Buffalo Stadium
Uniform
Seasons ← 2019 2021 →

2020 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
No. 25 Buffalo 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. 23 Ball 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
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Note: Due to COVID-19, the Mid-American suspended the season on August 8, but later decided to begin play on November 4.^[1] Rankings from AP Poll.

Following the season, Leipold left the team to coach at Kansas on April 30, 2021.^[2] A few days later, the school named Michigan co-defensive coordinator Maurice Linguist the team's new head coach.^[3]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award	Player	Position	Year
Chuck Bednarik Award^[4]	Taylor Riggins	DE	SR
Doak Walker Award^[5]	Kevin Marks Jr.	RB	JR
	Jaret Patterson	RB	JR
Jim Thorpe Award^[6]	Tyrone Hill	S	SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy^[7]	Malcolm Koonce	DE	SR
	Taylor Riggins	DE	SR
Outland Trophy^[8]	Kayode Awosika	OL	SR
Wuerffel Trophy^[9]	Max Michel	DE	SO
Maxwell Award^[10]	Jaret Patterson	RB	JR

East Division
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Ohio	144 (24)
2	Miami	107
3	Buffalo	100
4	Kent State	62
5	Akron	54
6	Bowling Green	37

Season recap

The Bulls played their first game of 2020 against Northern Illinois in Dekalb, Illinois, on November 4 after a delayed start to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jaret Patterson ran for 137 yards including for two touchdowns. Quarterback Kyle 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.^[11]

The Bulls home opener at UB Stadium occurred six days later against the Miami 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's AP Poll, their first vote received in the poll of the season.^[12]

A week later Buffalo went back on the road traveling to Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio, to take on the Bowling 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's AP Poll.^[13]

The Bulls played their first Saturday game of the season on November 28 against Kent 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 the Heisman 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.^[14]

The following week, Buffalo was slated to play the Ohio 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.^[15]

Buffalo finished off their regular season on December 12 against Akron 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.^[16]

Roster

2020 Buffalo Bulls football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Antonio Nunn Sr WR 3 Daniel Lee Sr QB 4 Trevor Bycznski   Fr RB 5 Kevin Marks Jr QB 6 Casey Case Fr QB 7 Kyle Vantrease   Jr RB 8 Dylan McDuffie   So QB 9 Dominic Johnson Sr QB 10 Matt Myers   So QB 12 Aaron Chase   Fr WR 14 Jelani Foster   Fr WR 16 Lemaro Smith Jr. So WR 17 Bernard Porter So WR 18 Trevor Wilson   Fr WR 19 Javien Cuff   Fr RB 23 Ron Cook Jr. So RB 25 Tajay Ahmed   Fr RB 26 Jaret Patterson Jr RB 28 Caron Robinson Fr RB 30 Ryan Razzano   Fr TE 34 Trevor Borland Fr TE 36 Cole Burniston   So WR 38 Jackson Westfall   Fr TE 44 Jake Molinich Sr TE 47 Wyatt Molinich   Fr OL 58 Alain Schaerer   So OL 59 Jake Fuzak Sr OL 60 Trevor Cahill   So OL 61 Dom Polizzi So OL 62 Mike Novitsky   So OL 63 Austin Kunick Sr OL 66 Jacob Gall Jr OL 69 Gabe Wallace So OL 70 Nick Zikuski   Fr OL 72 Deondre Doiron Fr OL 73 Kayode Awosika Sr OL 74 Bence Polgar So OL 76 Anthony Laudicina   Fr OL 77 Caelan Shepard   Fr OL 78 Tyler Doty Fr OL 79 Jack Klenk Sr TE 80 Tyler Stephens   Fr TE 81 Mike Dempsey   Fr WR 82 Tyree O'Neill Jr WR 83 Marlyn Johnson   Fr TE 85 Julien Bourassa Jr WR 86 Carlton Todd Sr WR 87 Jovany Ruiz Sr WR 88 Dajuan Hudson Sr TE 89 Zac Lefebvre Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB 3 Aapri Washington   Jr CB 4 Isaiah King Jr LB 5 Tim Terry Jr.   Jr LB 6 Max Michel So S 8 Marcus Fuqua   Fr CB 10 Trey Franklin   Fr CB 11 Wankeith Akin Jr. Jr LB 13 Sean Colgan Sr CB 15 Ali Abbas Sr CB 17 Jahkeel Reef   Fr LB 18 Roy Baker Sr CB 19 Shemar Hayes Jr LB 20 James Patterson Jr LB 21 Justin Mulbah   Sr CB 22 Mark Davis   Fr S 24 Corey Gross Jr.   So LB 25 Caleb Tate   Fr S 27 E. J. Brown Sr CB 29 Larry Robbins   Fr LB 30 Rich Miller So LB 31 Kadofi Wright Sr S 32 Owen Chambers   So S 33 Tyrone Hill Sr LB 35 Logic Hudgens Fr CB 39 Dylan Powell   Jr LB 43 Jason McCarthy Fr S 45 Evan Gantley   Jr LB 48 Fabian Weitz   So DE 49 Taylor Riggins Sr DE 50 Malcolm Koonce Sr DE 51 Zander Heim   Jr LB 52 Mike McGoey Fr DE 53 C. J. Bazile   Fr DT 54 DeShondrick Foxworth Sr DE 55 Kyler Laing   Fr LB 56 Jake Zimmer   So DT 91 Eddie Wilson Jr DT 92 Ronald McGee Jr DE 94 Eric Black   Jr DT 95 Tyrece Woods Jr. So DE 96 Jordan Avissey   Fr DT 98 Georell Kidd   Fr DE 99 Frendy Darelus   Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K,P 14 Jackson Baltar So K 16 Alex McNulty So LS 37 Evan Davis So P 40 Evan Finegan   Jr LS 57 Jeremiah Riordan Sr K 95 Garrett Selover   Fr	Head coach Lance Leipold Coordinators/assistant coaches Rob Ianello (Associate head coach / recruiting coordinator / wide receivers) Brian Borland (defensive coordinator / cornerbacks) Andy Kotelnicki (offensive coordinator / running backs) Scott Fuchs (offensive line) Alan Hensell (tight ends) Chris Simpson (Linebackers / defensive run game coordinator) Brad McCaslin (defensive tackles) Jim Zebrowski (Quarterbacks / Co-offensive coordinator / passing game coordinator) Taiwo Onatolu (defensive ends / special teams coordinator) Jeff Burrow (safeties) Matt Gildersleeve (head strength and conditioning coach) Ryan Wilson (graduate assistant) Daniel Allen (graduate assistant) James Daniels (graduate assistant) Isaac Reed (graduate assistant) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible   Injured   Redshirt Roster Last update: April 24, 2019

Schedule

Buffalo originally had a game scheduled against Ohio State, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[17] Buffalo played a regular season consisting of games against MAC teams only.

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
November 4	7:00 p.m.	at Northern Illinois		Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPN2	W 49–30	449
November 10	8:00 p.m.	Miami (OH)		UB Stadium Buffalo, NY	ESPN	W 42–10	0
November 17	7:00 p.m.	at Bowling Green		Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH	CBSSN	W 42–17	1,500
November 28	12:00 p.m.	Kent State		UB Stadium Buffalo, NY	CBSSN	W 70–41
December 5	3:30 p.m.	at Ohio		Peden Stadium Athens, OH	CBSSN	No contest		^[18]
December 12	2:30 p.m.	Akron	No. 24	UB Stadium Buffalo, NY	CBSSN	W 56–7
December 18	7:30 p.m.	vs. Ball State	No. 23	Ford Field Detroit, MI (MAC Championship Game)	ESPN	L 28–38	0
December 25	2:30 p.m.	vs. Marshall*		Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL (Camellia Bowl)	ESPN	W 17–10	0
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings (after November 24) released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[19]

Rankings

Further information: 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

In week 12, Buffalo received votes in the AP Poll for the first time since the 2018 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.

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	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

After the season

NFL draft

Main article: 2021 NFL Draft

The following Bull was selected in the National Football League draft following the season.^[20]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL club
3	79	Malcolm Koonce	Defensive end	Las Vegas Raiders

References

1. Wells, Adam (September 25, 2020). "MAC Approves 6-Game College Football Schedule Beginning November 4". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
2. "Kansas hires Buffalo's Leipold to replace Miles". ESPN.com. April 30, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
3. "Buffalo hires Michigan co-defensive coordinator Maurice Linguist as coach to replace Lance Leipold". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
4. "2020 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List". July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
5. "2019 finalist Chuba Hubbard, 2018 finalist Travis Etienne two of the 76 Doak Walker Award watch listers". July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
6. "The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association are proud to reveal The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award 2020 Preseason Watch List". July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
7. "2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List Unveiled". July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
8. "2020 Outland Trophy Watch List Unveiled". July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
9. "The Wuerffel Trophy 2020 Watch List (Non AP)". July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
10. "2020 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
11. "Bulls vs Huskies". November 4, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
12. "Bulls vs Redhawks". November 10, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
13. "Bulls vs Falcons". November 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
14. "Bulls vs Golden Flashes". November 28, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
15. "Bulls vs Bobcats". December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
16. "Bulls vs Zips". December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
17. Myerberg, Paul. "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
18. "UB at Ohio football game canceled; game declared a no contest". December 4, 2020.
19. "2020 Buffalo Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
20. "2017 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 31, 2023.