Central New York’s finest remain undefeated while New Jersey’s couldn’t keep the magic alive in Piscataway.
Buffalo: Bulls Open MACtion in Style
The University at Buffalo made up for a brutal non-conference stretch by opening Mid-American Conference play on a perfect note: behind a 498-yard offensive showing, the Bulls charged to a 50-31 road win over Eastern Michigan. It was their first offensive performance besting 400 yard since last October and first 50-point showing against an FBS opponent since December 2020.
Saturday’s visit to Ypsilanti was a roller-coaster affair: each team visited the end zone twice in the first quarter, though Eastern Michigan prevailed 14-13 after blocking the extra point on the Bulls’ latter score. Two short Mike Washington rushing scores were enough to afford Buffalo (1-3, 1-0 MAC) a halftime lead at 30-24, but EMU’s 69-yard drive to open the latter half put them back ahead. That advantage lasted only three plays before Buffalo permanently took it back with a 69-yard hook-up between Jamari Gassett and Cole Snyder, one of four total touchdowns for the latter. The Rutgers transfer Snyder sandwiched the Bulls’ scoring efforts with short rushing tallies in the first and final frames and also found Quian Williams for a 13-yard aerial score in the first.
Buffalo returns home next weekend, welcoming in Miami University on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
Connecticut: Huskies Bitten By Another Ranked Foe
The University of Connecticut faced another tall task against nationally-recognized competition on Saturday, following up a blowout loss at No. 4 Michigan with a 41-10 defeat at the hands of the 12th-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack in Raleigh.
Unlike last weekend’s visit to Ann Arbor, the Huskies (1-4) were able to visit the end zone this time around, as freshman Victor Rosa was able to salvage the trip with an 11-yard scoring run on the team’s fina offensivel possession. Other small silver linings among the carnage (which featured a 75-yard scoring toss from Devin Leary to Thayer Thomas on the first play from scrimmage) included a Brandon Bouyer-Randle interception and a 1.5-sack night for Eric Watts. UConn was outgained 492-160 and mustered only eight first downs in defeat.
The Huskies will return home next weekend, battling the Mountain West’s Fresno State on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network).
Rutgers: B1G Loss Brings Knights Back to Reality
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights perfect season fell with a thud in Piscataway, as costly turnovers sealed their fate in a 27-10 defeat to the Iowa Hawkeyes. It was the Big Ten opener for both sides and denied Rutgers its first 4-0 start since 2012.
Wasted in defeat was a strong defensive effort that allowed only 277 yards and 15 first downs. Defensive efforts on the other side wound up spelling doom for the Scarlet Knights: two of their first three turnovers became Iowa’s opening scores as Cooper DeJean took back Evan Simon’s interception back 49 yards before Kaevon Merriweather ran back a Joshua Youngblood fumble 30, which erased Rutgers’ early 3-0 lead earned on a short Jude McAtamney field goal. A futile comeback effort was staged when Aron Cruickshank earned an 18-yard scoring reception from Simon, the capper of a five-play, 63-yard, 62-second drive, but they were unable to push things any further.
The road gets no easier for the Scarlet Knights (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten), who now travel to Columbus to battle No. 3 Ohio State next Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, BTN).
Syracuse: Friday Night Fight Leaves Orange Among ACC Unbeatens
A breeze turned into a battle, but the Syracuse Orange kept their good early fortunes alive in a Friday night conference showdown. Andre Szmyt kicked five field goals, including the game-winner of a 22-20 triumph over the Virginia Cavaliers at the JMA Wireless Dome.
The Orange (4-0, 2-0 ACC) jumped out to a 16-0 lead at halftime, the bulk of scoring coming on quarterback Garrett Schrader’s 17-yard scoring run. Virginia got back into the game with consecutive touchdown drives to open the second half, the latter set up by a fumble the kickoff between scores, one of four Syracuse turnovers. Granted control of their own destiny in the final five minutes, the Orange set Szmyt up with a winning field goal from 31 yards away. Running back Sean Tucker picked up 35 of the 62 yards necessary to get into position, while 15 more came from a facemask penalty (part of an evenly split 24-flag effort for both sides) that erased a potential sealing sack for the Cavaliers. Syracuse’s defense, responsible for two takeaways of its own, then forced a turnover on downs to escape from Central New York.
The Orange will face winless Wagner at home next Saturday evening (5 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
Baseline Sports NY is on Twitter @Baseline_NY
