The Buffalo Bulls (3-3, 2-0 MAC) look to remain undefeated in league play with a game in hand this weekend, traveling to Amherst, Massachusetts to play the UMass Minutemen (0-6, 0-2 MAC) in what will be the first edition of the newly-christened Flagship Cup rivalry.
Games involving both of these teams tend not to be close. Of the 15 contests between the two programs to this point, the score has been less than two-score game only three times. In fact, the average margin of victory by game’s end is around
16.4 points.
Can this game reverse the trend?
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, October 18th, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst, Massachusetts
- TV network options: The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+; a valid subscription is required for viewing.
- Radio options: Paul Peck (play-by-play) and Scott Wilson (color) providing the Buffalo call on The Varsity Network App; Jay Burnham (play-by-play) and Matt Goldstein (color) will call the game for UMass Radio Network on WHMP-AM 1440.
- Gambling considerations: Buffalo favored by 16.5 points, with an over/under 46.5, per FanDuel.
- All-Time Series: Buffalo leads all-time by a margin of 9-6. This will be their third-straight meeting, with UB winning the last two. Last year’s contest ended with a 34-3 Bulls victory in Buffalo.
About the Buffalo Bulls
The Bulls come into this one off a BYE week, allowing some of their contributors— most notably seventh-year quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson— to get healthier ahead of the conference stretch. UB faced a ton of adversity in their last game, played back on Oct. 4, walking away with an overtime victory against Eastern Michigan on a night where the Bulls never lead in regulation.
UB is one of three remaining MAC squads undefeated in league play, with Miami University (2-0) and Western Michigan (3-0) the others. The game against UMass presents an opportunity to maintain pace for the Bulls, and they’ll hope to take advantage.
In an ideal gamestate, Buffalo would like to utilize a downhill running game and find explosive pass plays on offense. UB is of the MAC’s more balanced units in that regard, averaging 166.2 rushing yards per game and 184.7 passing yards per game, good for fourth and sixth in the conference respectively. They also generate drives, converting on third downs 37.9 percent of the time.
Roberson has been key to finding downfield targets, averaging 186.8 yards per game, with eight touchdowns to four interceptions on a 58 percent completion rate. Often on the receiving end is all-MAC receiver Victor Snow, who leads the team in receptions (29), yards (410) and touchdowns. No other Bull has more than 18 receptions (halfback Al-Jay Henderson), 189 yards (Nik McMillan) or one touchdown (three tied.)
Al-Jay Henderson (112 carries, 448 yards, four touchdowns) leads the rushing effort, with Roberson occasionally toting the ball (35 carries, 156 yards, two touchdowns) from the QB spot. Lamar Sperling is the spell back, with 191 yards and a score on 29 carries.
The Bulls sit in fifth in the MAC in all three major defensive categories, capable of covering both the pass game (201.5 yards per game) and the run game (142.7 yards per game) in equal measure. The only weakness UB has shown has been on leverage downs, allowing opponents to convert 41.9 percent of third-down attempts and 66 percent of fourth-down attempts.
Linebackers pace the defense for Buffalo, as per usual. This time, it has been Red Murdock’s turn to shine at the center of the formation, leading the team in total tackles (70) and tackles-for-loss (seven), while joint-second for sacks (two.) He also leads the NCAA in forced fumbles (four) and is one more away from tying fellow UB Bull backer Khalil Mack for the all-time NCAA record (16.)
About the UMass Minutemen
The Minutemen have had a campaign from hell in 2025. A pair of gutting losses at home to start the season to Temple and FCS Bryant soured a celebratory mood surrounding the invitation to the MAC quickly. Expected blowouts to Iowa and Missouri certainly didn’t help, but the Western Michigan game was particularly bitter to swallow, as the Minutemen played their way out of a potential victory in front of the home fans.
That disenchantment was distilled into a truly disgusting 42-6 loss to a basement-dweller Kent State program with an interim coaching staff last weekend. The loss was so devastating, first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak took responsibility for not getting the team ready.
Ready or not, the Minutemen will now have to take on a strong Buffalo squad who has smashed UMass by double-digit gaps in their last two meetings.
The offense will absolutely need to find a spark to have any chance in this one. Quarterback AJ Hairston is UMass’ latest hope at the position after Week 1 starter Brandon Rose’s injury and Yale transfer Grant Jordan benched for performance. Hairston took over two weeks ago vs. Mizzou, and has accumulated 517 passing yards and a touchdown (the team’s lone passing score) on 50 percent completion— though he does also have three interceptions.
Jacquon Gibson (36 catches, 356 yards) has been one of the lone bright spots on offense at the receiver position, especially with the dynamic T.Y. Harding out for the season due to injury. The running game has been more or less non-existent due to playing from behind for the majority of the game, but Rocco Griffin (35 carries, 165 yards, one touchdown) and Brandon Hood (39 carries, 106 yards, one touchdown) split the load when UMass needs to run.
If there’s a positive to take away, UMass’ defense has managed to not be the worst in the MAC despite a rash of injuries to key contributors. The defense sits ninth in the MAC in passing yards allowed, with an average of 237.2 yards per game, and 11th in rushing yards allowed, with an average 184.8 yards per game.
Another positive is the emergence of linebacker Timmy Hinspeter, who made his presence felt against Mizzou with a career-high 17 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a sack and a 63-yard interception return to set up UMass’ only scoring drive agaisnt the Tigers. Through six games, the Rutgers transfer has a team-leading 65 total tackles to go along with four TFLS, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
McNeese transfer Marques White has been UMass’ best edge rusher, with five TFLs and three sacks (both team-highs) to go with 19 tackles.
Also crucial to UMass’ chances is winning the field position battle. Thankfully for them, they have one of the NCAA’s best punters in Keegan Andrews. The former Texas A&M Aggie has excelled in Amherst, with 11 of his 39 boots going over 50 yards, with 16 of them landing inside the 20-yard line. Through six games, he averages 46.26 yards per boot, good for 18th in the country.
Final Thoughts
Buffalo is a heavy favorite to win, and I wouldn’t blame anyone who thinks so. On paper, this is about as cut and dry as it gets in terms of team and individual talent. It is hard to see a way UMass can win without having Buffalo having a howler of a performance on the road.
At the same time, however, double-digit dogs have had their day in the MAC of recent. One only needs to look to Bowling Green taking down Toledo last weekend for evidence of that— or look at Buffalo’s game against Kent State, which saw the Golden Flashes hang around much longer than expected.
A bowl is extremely unlikely for UMass at this point, and a trophy—even if it didn’t exist before this week— is on the line. The pressure is on to show any signs of progress and show them quickly. If UMass can get a fire lit under them, maybe they’ll have a chance.
Buffalo has their own reasons for winning too. With WMU on a BYE week and Miami playing EMU in this week’s action, the Bulls need to have a strong performance to ensure they can stay in the race for a spot in Detroit. They’re in the position of controlling their own destiny; losing it this early and to this team would be extremely demoralizing.
The color of this game should be figured out pretty quickly with past results taken into account. UMass has not fared well when the score is close, and Buffalo has proven to be adaptable regardless of the score. The advantage is with the team who has been there before in these situations.
