The 2024 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Pete Lembo, the Bulls compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, tying for third place in the MAC. Buffalo was invited to the Bahamas Bowl, where the Bulls defeated Liberty. The team played home games at University at Buffalo Stadium in Amherst, New York.
On September 21, Buffalo beat No. 23 Northern Illinois for program's second win over a ranked NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent and first since 2008.
Schedule
Preseason Preseason poll On July 19, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Buffalo was picked to finish tenth in the conference. The Bulls received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.
Game summaries No. 17 (FCS) Lafayette
Statistics LAFUB First downs 14 23 Plays–yards 63–225 69–403 Rushing yards 28–45 45–208 Passing yards 180 195 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–35–2 14–24–0 Time of possession 28:47 31:13 Team Category Player StatisticsLafayette Passing Dean DeNobile 23/33, 162 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Troy Bruce 4 carries, 29 yards Receiving Chris Carasia 8 receptions, 83 yards, TD Buffalo Passing C. J. Ogbonna 14/24, 195 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jacqez Barksdale 14 carries, 99 yards, TD Receiving Nik McMillan 5 receptions, 76 yards, TD
at No. 9 Missouri
Statistics UBMIZZ First downs 9 28 Plays–yards 52–169 83–518 Rushing yards 114 255 Passing yards 55 263 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–20–1 34–42–1 Time of possession 21:39 38:21 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing C.J. Ogbonna 6/20, 55 yards, INT Rushing Jacqez Barksdale 15 carries, 67 yards Receiving Victor Snow 4 receptions, 41 yardsMissouri Passing Brady Cook 28/36, 228 yards, INT Rushing Nate Noel 12 carries, 73 yards, TD Receiving Theo Wease 13 receptions, 149 yards
UMass
Statistics UMASSUB First downs 11 15 Plays–yards 66–193 60–314 Rushing yards 37–72 38–129 Passing yards 121 185 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–29–1 14–22–0 Time of possession 44:00 27:56 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Taisun Phommachanh 14/29, 121 yards, INT Rushing Brandon Campbell 8 carries, 36 yards Receiving Jacquon Gibson 4 receptions, 58 yardsBuffalo Passing C.J. Ogbonna 14/22, 185 yards, TD Rushing Lamar Sperling 16 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving JJ Jenkins 2 receptions, 44 yards, TD
at No. 23 Northern Illinois
Statistics UBNIU First downs 9 24 Plays–yards 54–184 85–359 Rushing yards 37–77 42–165 Passing yards 107 194 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–17–0 23–43–1 Time of possession 23:47 36:13 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing C. J. Ogbonna 10/17, 107 yards, TD Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 11 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Victor Snow 3 receptions, 72 yards, TDNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 23/43, 194 yards, INT Rushing Antario Brown 24 carries, 73 yards, 2 TD Receiving Cam Thompson 3 receptions, 49 yards
at UConn
Statistics UBCONN First downs 12 28 Plays–yards 63–198 79–537 Rushing yards 27–75 46–257 Passing yards 123 280 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–36–1 19–33–0 Time of possession 25:40 34:20 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing CJ Ogbonna 12/25, 82 yards Rushing CJ Ogbonna 14 carries, 38 yards Receiving JJ Jenkins 5 receptions, 32 yardsUConn Passing Joe Fagnano 11/19, 217 yards, 3 TD Rushing Cam Edwards 10 carries, 97 yards, TD Receiving Skyler Bell 6 receptions, 153 yards, 3 TD
Toledo
Statistics TOLUB First downs 21 19 Plays–yards 75–418 72–357 Rushing yards 46 230 Passing yards 372 127 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 30–49–0 11–20–0 Time of possession 26:08 33:52 Team Category Player StatisticsToledo Passing John Richter 16/23, 227 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tucker Gleason 6 carries, 20 yards Receiving Jurjuan Newton 7 receptions, 159 yards, 2 TD Buffalo Passing CJ Ogbonna 11/20, 127 yards, TD Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 18 carries, 142 yards Receiving JJ Jenkins 2 receptions, 43 yards
Western Michigan
Statistics WMUUB First downs 26 23 Plays–yards 74–489 73–551 Rushing yards 209 242 Passing yards 280 309 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–31–0 22–34–0 Time of possession 33:22 26:38 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Michigan Passing Hayden Wolff 20/31, 280 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jaden Nixon 14 carries, 112 yards, 3 TD Receiving Blake Bosma 6 receptions, 85 yards, 3 TDBuffalo Passing C.J. Ogbonna 22/34, 309 yards, 2 TD Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 12 carries, 97 yards, TD Receiving Victor Snow 7 receptions, 84 yards, TD
at Ohio
Statistics UBOHIO First downs 22 22 Plays–yards 72–383 60–489 Rushing yards 33–126 41–258 Passing yards 257 231 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–39–1 14–19–1 Time of possession 29:29 30:31 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing C. J. Ogbonna 24/39, 257 yards, TD, INT Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 14 carries, 81 yards Receiving Victor Snow 5 receptions, 75 yards, TDOhio Passing Parker Navarro 14/19, 231 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Rickey Hunt Jr. 9 carries, 89 yards, TD Receiving Coleman Owen 6 receptions, 146 yards, 2 TD
at Akron
Statistics UBAKR First downs 19 23 Total yards 390 452 Rushing yards 180 74 Passing yards 210 378 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17-29-0 23-43-1 Time of possession 32:56 27:04 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing C.J. Ogbonna 17/29, 210 yards, 2 TD Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 18 carries, 107 yards, TD Receiving JJ Jenkins 5 receptions, 57 yards, TDAkron Passing Ben Finley 23/42, 378 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Jordon Simmons 14 carries, 68 yards Receiving Adrian Norton 6 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD
Ball State
Statistics BALLUB First downs 24 26 Plays–yards 74–520 78–470 Rushing yards 37–193 41–206 Passing yards 327 264 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–37–1 19–37–2 Time of possession 33:13 26:26 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Kadin Semonza 25/37, 327 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Kadin Semonza 4 carries, 53 yards Receiving Justin Bowick 7 receptions, 148 yards, 2 TD Buffalo Passing C.J. Ogbonna 19/37, 264 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 27 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD Receiving JJ Jenkins 8 receptions, 131 yards, TD
at Eastern Michigan
Statistics UBEMU First downs 20 20 Plays–yards 69–396 70–445 Rushing yards 136 70 Passing yards 260 375 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–28–0 27–39–3 Time of possession 31:48 28:12 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing C. J. Ogbonna 18/28, 260 yards, 3 TD Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 25 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving JJ Jenkins 5 receptions, 120 yards, TDEastern Michigan Passing Cole Snyder 24/33, 351 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Delbert Mimms III 12 carries, 49 yards Receiving Markus Allen 9 receptions, 187 yards, TD
Kent State
Statistics KENTUB First downs 10 26 Plays–yards 54–208 74–446 Rushing yards 106 253 Passing yards 102 193 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–18–1 14–22–1 Time of possession 28:41 31:19 Team Category Player StatisticsKent State Passing Tommy Ulatowski 7/12, 91 yards, TD Rushing Jahzae Kimbrough 14 carries, 65 yards Receiving Jay Jay Etheridge 6 receptions, 64 yardsBuffalo Passing C. J. Ogbonna 14/22, 193 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 30 carries, 185 yards, TD Receiving Victor Snow 8 receptions, 99 yards, TD
vs. Liberty (Bahamas Bowl)
Statistics UBLIB First downs 18 11 Total yards 359 242 Rushing yards 222 162 Passing yards 137 80 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–19–0 6–21–1 Time of possession 37:01 22:59 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing C.J. Ogbonna 9/19, 137 yards Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 21 carries, 199 yards, TD Receiving Victor Snow 4 receptions, 41 yardsLiberty Passing Nate Hampton 2/9, 40 yards, TD, INT Rushing Billy Lucas 3 carries, 57 yards Receiving Reese Smith 1 reception, 36 yards, TD
References