The 2026 Bowling Green Falcons football team represents Bowling Green State University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They are led by led by second-year head coach Eddie George and play home games at Doyt Perry Stadium, in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Offseason 2026 NFL draft
The Falcons did not have any players selected in the NFL Draft, though several received invitations to NFL rookie mini-camps following the draft. Offensive tackle Tunde Fatukasi received invitations from the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. Wide receiver Finn Hogan received invitations from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans, while tight end Jyrin Johnson received an invitation from the Cleveland Browns.
Former Falcons who transferred prior to the 2025 season were also selected in the draft. Defensive end Cashius Howell was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round with the 41st overall pick, while defensive back Jalen Huskey was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round with the 100th overall pick.
Spring practice The Falcons began spring practice on March 10, 2026, and concluded with their annual Spring Game on April 11.
Transfers Outgoing The Falcons lost 33 players to the transfer portal. As of June 30, 2026, three players remain in the portal, while three players have withdrawn their names.BGSU Football Transfer Portal Tracker – BG Falcon Media
Bowling Green outgoing transfersNamePositionHeightWeightYearHometownNew school Collins Acheampong DE 6'7" 270 Sophomore Rancho Santa Margarita, CA UTSA David Afogho DE 6'3" 245 Sophomore West Roxbury, MA West Virginia Caden Marshall LB 6'2" 200 Freshman Paris, TN SMU Allen Middleton WR 5'11" 180 Junior Mascoutah, IL Southern Illinois Arlis Boardingham TE 6'3" 250 Junior Van Nuys, CA Auburn Ashton Yeager DT 6'2" 280 Freshman Findlay, OH Ohio State Caleb Goodloe WR 6'1" 178 Sophomore St. Petersburg, FL North Dakota Cameron Pettaway RB 5'10" 167 Freshman Farmington, MI Iowa State Chris Edmonds RB 5'10" 200 Junior Toledo, OH Chicago State Chris McMillian RB 5'11" 210 Senior Fort Valley, GA North Alabama Coleman Teasdale LB 6'1" 190 Junior Louisville, CO Montana Tech DeShaun Lanier WR 5'11" 178 Freshman Ferndale, MI Grand Valley State Gavin Harris CB 6'1" 175 Freshman High Point, NC Campbell Gideon Lampron LB 6'0" 220 Senior LaGrange, OH Colorado Ian van der Merwe DT 6'1" 260 Senior Tucson, AZ Davenport Isaiah Thomison DL 6'3" 230 Junior Fayetteville, TN Illinois Jace Henry DB 6'0" 180 Junior Pataskala, OH Findlay Jacob Harris TE 6'4" 255 Junior Westerville, OH Wisconsin Jahvion Jarmon QB 5'11" 170 Freshman Cincinnati, OH Austin Peay Jackson Kleather K 5'10" 170 Junior Tippecanoe, OH Northwestern Jay’Quan Bostic S 6'2" 190 Sophomore Cincinnati, OH Delaware State Justin Eklund LB 6'3" 220 Junior Folsom, CA Montana Kaderris Roberts RB 5'8" 170 Senior Maitland, FL Delaware Keyon Washington CB 6'0" 175 Freshman Waldorf, MD Iowa State Lucian Anderson III QB 6'3" 190 Junior Athens, GA South Carolina Malik Moses DL 6'4" 270 Sophomore Snellville, GA Norfolk State Mar'Kel Porter RB 6'1" 220 Sophomore Duncanville, TX Northwestern MJ Cannon CB 6'0" 175 Sophomore Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati Nate Pabst OT 6'6" 315 Senior Cincinnati, OH Florida State RJ Garcia II WR 6'1" 170 Senior Tampa, FL FAU Reis Stocksdale WR 5'10" 188 Senior Morrow, OH Temple TJ Nelson S 6'1" 220 Sophomore Cincinnati, OH Lamar Tyron Steed DB 6'1" 160 Freshman St. Louis , MO Towson Incoming The Falcons added 21 players from the transfer portal. Bowling Green incoming transfersNameNumberPositionHeightWeightYearHometownPrevious school John Baker IV #56 DL 6'5" 220 Freshman Clinton Township, MI Toledo Ke'Marion Baldwin #4 RB 5'9" 200 Junior St. Pauls, NC Charleston Southern Drey Braxton #41 CB 5'10" 170 Junior Highland Springs, VA North Carolina Central Selah Brown #89 DL 6'2" 290 Senior Louisville, KY Louisville Isaiah Dawson #6 WR 5'8" 191 Sophomore Garner, NC Richmond Sanders Ellis #6 LB 6'2" 240 Junior Nashville, TN Purdue Quinn Forsythe #52 LS 6'2" 180 Freshman Manhattan, IL Benedictine Gabe Funk #65 OT 6'6" 305 Freshman Xenia, OH Appalachian State Jonathan Goins #50 LB 6'1" 225 Sophomore Pine Bluff, AR Alabama A&M Armahn Hale #11 DB 5'11" 195 Senior Akron, OH New Mexico State JayT Jackson #14 DB 6'1" 175 Senior Columbus, GA Louisiana Tech Jay Kastantin #15 QB 6'4" 215 Junior Needham, MA Assumption Ryan Kingston #30 P 6'6" 215 Senior South Bend, IN Southeast Missouri State Kade Kostus #4 DL 6'2" 260 Senior Rockford, MI Central Michigan Austin Novosad #16 QB 6'3" 205 Junior Dripping Springs, TX Oregon Reddick Pillarelli #87 WR 6'0" 185 Sophomore Holland, OH Ohio Wesleyan Nick Sawyer #18 CB 5'11" 175 Senior Harvest, AL Charleston Southern Nick Sowell #9 WR 6'6" 210 Junior Irmo, SC South Carolina State Timothy Taylor Jr. #55 DL 6'0" 280 Freshman Starke, FL Jacksonville State Dom Woods #23 WR 6'1" 175 Junior Perrysburg, OH Saginaw Valley State Mike Wright III #7 DB 5'10" 180 Junior Palm Beach Gardens, FL Florida Atlantic
Recruiting class
The Falcons added 26 players in their 2026 recruiting class. Tight end Kentrell White is the highest-rated recruit in program history, surpassing former quarterback James Morgan, who previously held the distinction as the highest-rated recruit in Bowling Green's 2015 recruiting class. White decommitted from Auburn on December 2, 2025, before committing to Bowling Green on January 13, 2026. The class included 14 players from the state of Ohio and was ranked as the top recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference by 247Sports and On3.com.
Schedule
Game summaries No. 5 (FCS) Tarleton State
Statistics TARBGSU First downs 19 21 Plays–yards 57–464 67–366 Rushes–yards 33–258 37–104 Passing yards 206 262 Passing: comp–att–int 16–24–0 24–30–0 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 25:07 34:53 Team Category Player Statistics Tarleton State Passing Kaden Anderson 16/24, 206 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tylan Hines 26 carries, 250 yards Receiving B.J. Fleming 3 receptions, 57 yards Bowling Green Passing Jay Kastantin 24/30, 262 yards Rushing Austyn Dendy 15 carries, 60 yards, TD Receiving Jeremiah Scoby 10 receptions, 102 yards
Bowling Green began its season by hosting No. 5 FCS opponent Tarleton State. The Texans were coming off a 12–2 season in 2025 in which they won a share of the United Athletic Conference championship, advanced to the FCS quarterfinals, and defeated Army 30–27 in double overtime for their second victory over an FBS opponent. It was the first meeting between the two schools. Tarleton State entered the game 1–0 after defeating Prairie View A&M 49–30 the previous week. The Texans featured two FBS transfer quarterbacks, with former Wyoming quarterback Kaden Anderson completing 15 of 21 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns, while Braedyn Locke completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. Tarleton State was also led by returning running back Tylan Hines, a former Hawaii transfer, who rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener. Just days before the season opener, Bowling Green head coach Eddie George named Assumption transfer quarterback Jay Kastantin the starter over Oregon transfer Austin Novosad.
Tarleton State led 17–7 at halftime behind two touchdown passes from Anderson, while Bowling Green's only score came in the final two minutes of the half on a touchdown run by Austyn Dendy. Trailing 20–13 in the final two minutes, Tarleton State fumbled at the Bowling Green seven-yard line, with JoJo Johnson recovering in the end zone. Kastantin then led the Falcons on a final drive that reached the Tarleton State 23-yard line. After two incompletions, Kastantin found Brennan Ridley at the eight-yard line, where he was stopped as time expired. Hines finished with a game-high 250 rushing yards on 26 carries, while Bowling Green rushed for a combined 104 yards on 37 carries and lost two fumbles. Kastantin completed 24 of 30 passes for 262 yards, while Jeremiah Scoby recorded a game-high 10 receptions for 102 yards.
at Nebraska
Statistics BGSUNEB First downs 9 28 Plays–yards 48–169 66–546 Rushes–yards 32–85 34–264 Passing yards 84 282 Passing: –– 10–16–1 26–32–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 28:19 31:41 Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green Passing Jay Kastantin 10/16, 84 yards, TD, INT Rushing Nakai Amachree 13 carries, 53 yards Receiving Leo Kemp 1 reception, 19 yards, TD Nebraska Passing Anthony Colandrea 20/24, 222 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Jamal Rule 8 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Jacory Barney Jr. 8 receptions, 115 yards, 2 TD
Nebraska entered the game 1–0 following a 49–21 victory over fellow MAC opponent Ohio, although the Cornhuskers led only 14–13 at halftime. The game marked the first meeting between Bowling Green and Nebraska. Bowling Green intercepted Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea on the Cornhuskers' opening series. Following a Falcons three-and-out, Nebraska scored on each of its next five possessions of the first half, including two touchdown passes apiece to Jacory Barney Jr. and Kwazi Gilmer and a 59-yard touchdown run by Jamal Rule. Nebraska outgained Bowling Green 369–46 in the first half and held an 18–2 advantage in first downs. Nebraska led 35–0 at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, Bowling Green's lone highlight came during a six-play, 63-yard drive when quarterback Jay Kestantin connected with fullback Leo Kemp on a 19-yard touchdown pass. Kemp evaded multiple defenders and stayed just inside the sideline before diving across the pylon for the score. On Bowling Green's next possession, Kestantin fumbled, his second turnover of the game, and Nebraska's Derek Wacker recovered the ball and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. Nebraska reserve quarterback TJ Lateef capped the scoring with a six-yard touchdown pass from Kwinten Ives, making the final score 56–7. Bowling Green reserve quarterback Austin Novosad made his debut on the final possession of the game but did not record any statistics. Nebraska outgained Bowling Green 546–169. Colandrea completed 20 of 24 passes for 222 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. For his performance, he was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
at Iowa State
Statistics BGSUISU First downs 10 25 Plays–yards 52–186 64–507 Rushes–yards 30–90 46–365 Passing yards 96 142 Passing: comp–att–int 9–22–1 12–18–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:11 32:49 Team Category Player Statistics Bowling Green PassingJay Kastantin 8/17, 97 yards, TD, INT RushingKe'Marion Baldwin 6 carries, 38 yards ReceivingWinn Sharp1 reception, 59 yards, TD Iowa State PassingJaylen Raynor 11/17, 133 yards, TD, INT RushingAiden Flora 12 carries, 194 yards, 2 TD ReceivingJamal Polite 1 reception, 34 yards, TD
Iowa State entered the game 1–1 after defeating Southeast Missouri State in its season opener and losing to rival Iowa on a last-second field goal the previous week. The Cyclones defeated Bowling Green 55–7 in the third meeting between the programs, having won the previous two, with the most recent coming in 1979. Arkansas State transfer quarterback Jaylen Raynor made his 39th career start and had previously defeated Bowling Green in the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl. Iowa State also featured two former Bowling Green players in running back Cameron Pettaway, the 2025 MAC Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-MAC kick returner, and cornerback Keyon Washington.