UB Football Releases 2013 Schedule

The UB Bulls have to take advantage of a soft underbelly in their 2013 schedule if they’re to overcome a brutal start and challenging finish to their 2013 schedule. The Bulls total of 16 returning starters is tied for 17th in the nation with six other teams.

Aug. 31 at Ohio State (2012: 12-0, returning starters: 13)
The Buckeyes have not lost under Urban Meyer and have not lost to a non-conference opponent at The Shoe since Sept. 2, 2009 against Southern Cal.

Sept. 7 at Baylor (2012: 8-5, returning starters: 13)
Of the Bears five losses, four were to ranked teams inside of Big 12 play.

Sept. 14 Stony Brook (2012: 10-3 FCS)
Even at FCS level, their football team is no pushover but an expected win.

Sept. 28 UConn (2012: 5-7, returning starters: 13)
Former Syracuse boss Paul Pasqualoni has gone 5-7 in each of his first two seasons and barely escaped both match-ups against UB. He also faces key losses to the NFL.

Oct. 5 *Eastern Michigan (2012: 2-10, returning starters: 13)
Ron English’s fifth year in charge looks destined to resemble the mode of his four in charge, as he’s won 0, 2, 6 and 2 games.

Oct. 12 *at Western Michigan (2012: 4-8, returning starters: 10)
New Western coach PJ Fleck is 32 years old and comes from the Greg Schiano tree, having spent two years as his WR coach at Rutgers and one in the NFL with Tampa Bay. He’s never had a job higher than WRs coach in any league, but he’s an energetic personality.

Oct. 19 *UMass (2012: 1-11, returning starters: 9)
The Minutemen gave UB a scare in the first half of their late season matchup in 2012 before the Bulls thoroughly outclassed them down the stretch. UMass head coach Charley Molnar coached under Jeff Quinn for four seasons before landing Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator position when Quinn left South Bend for Buffalo.

Oct. 26 *at Kent State (2012: 11-3, returning starters: 11)
Paul Haynes is the new man in charge for Kent, having served as defensive coordinator for Arkansas in 2012 and co-DC at Ohio State in 2011. Reliable QB Spencer Keith graduated, but tandem running backs Dri Archer and Trayion Durham both return.

Nov. 5 #*Ohio, 8:00 pm ET (2012: 9-4, returning starters: 11)
(ESPN2/ESPNU)
There’s a nice little rivalry across most sports with Ohio, but the Bobcats barely dodged UB’s bullet in 2012. Tyler Tettleton is back as Ohio’s signal caller.

Nov. 12 #*at Toledo, TBA (2012: 9-4, returning starters: 13)
(ESPNU/ESPN3)
The Bulls dropped a 5-point decision to the Rockets at home in 2012. The Rockets have significant weapons returning in QB Terrance Owens and WR Bernard Reedy.

Nov. 19 #*at Miami, TBA (2012: 4-8, returning starters: 13)
(ESPN2/ESPNU)
UB scored a dramatic win over the Redhawks to propel them to a 3-game win streak late in 2012 and that was with a recently-healed Zac Dysert under center for Miami.

Nov. 29 #*Bowling Green, TBA (2012: 8-5, returning starters: 19)
(ESPNU/ESPN3)
BG returns nearly all comers from a brutally-effective defense that handed the Bulls a 21-7 post-Thanksgiving beating to end 2012. Fortunately for UB, one of the two graduating players is monster defensive tackle Chris Jones.