It is hard to win in the game of football if you don’t maintain possession of said football.
Games are often won and lost on the turnover margin, as they present the opportunity— or strip an opportunity— for those all-important points on the scoreboard.
That is a lesson the Buffalo Bulls (4-4, 3-1 MAC) learned the hard way on Saturday afternoon, as they gave the ball away five times (on four interceptions and a fumble) en route to a bizarre, entertaining, and frustrating one-score loss to the Akron
Zips (3-5, 2-2 MAC).
To say the game started out unconventional would be an understatement, as with less than two minutes remaining in the first half, the score stood at 3-2 in favor of the visiting Zips.
Akron was responsible for both scores, with Matthew Schramm knocking through a 44-yard kick to give the Zips the initial lead on their first possession of the game, then watching in horror as punter Joseph Castle dropped a long snap in his own endzone to award a safety to Buffalo with 3:44 remaining in the first quarter.
In-between those two Akron drives, the two teams combined for -25 yards on four possessions. The end of the first quarter, predictably, also resulted in a failed third-down play to force a punt.
The action got wackier from there. Down three points on fourth-and-four at midfield, Buffalo opted to punt the ball and play defense, with Akron punting it back to Buffalo after a fallow possession. On the ensuing series, Buffalo would march all the way down to the Akron 12-yard line to set up a field goal by Jack Howes.
However, Howes was sent out on a fake, collecting the ball from the holder and looking downfield for a touchdown pass. Unfortunately for the impromptu QB, his one receiver was covered, and Jamari Somerville collected him for a 13-yard sack to turn the ball over on downs.
Akron very nearly threw an interception on their first play of the new drive before getting called for intentional grounding on second down. The penalty set up third-and-17, and this time, Ben Finley did throw an interception, as Jalen McNair nabbed the sailing pass out of the air and returned it 25 yards the other way.
Buffalo’s offense immediately squandered the opportunity, coughing up the ball in front of the goal line on an Al-Jay Henderson run up the middle. Ronald Hull’s punchout was recovered by DiMarco Johnson, and the Zips would get the ball back to end the scoring threat.
Holding all three timeouts, the potential for the two-minute warning and a three-point lead before the halftime break, Akron had the opportunity to break the game open on a quick scoring drive. Instead, the coaching staff opted to kill the clock on three runs up the middle before punting the ball back, killing only one Buffalo timeout in the process.
This gave Buffalo the chance for a score— one they would not take despite reaching the Akron 49-yard line on fourth-and-eight. Gifted the ball back with 57 seconds remaining, the Zips once again opted to run clock instead of expand their lead.
The decision was costly, as on third-and-four from their own 14-yard line, Red Murdock forced the ball out of Jordan Gant’s hands and picked up the recovery.
After two-straight defensive pass interference penalties on the Akron defense, Buffalo would find paydirt for the first time with 13 seconds remaining on Ta’Quan Roberson’s flat route pass to Patrick Clacks III to put Buffalo up 10-7 after a successful two-point conversion toss to Marcus Velez.
The score served as the halftime margin, with Akron getting the ball back to start the third quarter.
The Zips looked like a team possessed to start the second half, capping off a 12-play, 75-yard drive lasting over four minutes with a highlight-reel touchdown connection from Ben Finley to Kyan Mason to tie the game at 10 apiece. Mason, standing at five-foot-nine, 155 lbs., jumped into the air and plucked the ball one-handed in the back of the endzone, managing to claw it out of the waiting hands of defensive back Solomon Brown as the two fell to the ground.
Buffalo replied back with an explosive 45-yard pass from Roberson to Victor Snow to set the Bulls up inside Akron’s redzone, but the Bulls tightened up and were stopped three times in goal-to-go territory on the run. jack Howes would trot on for a field goal— a real one this time— to give UB the 13-10 lead with 7:24 to go in the third quarter.
Akron’s offense answered the bell once again on the next drive, with Jordan Gant blasting out for a 15-yard run and Finley connecting with Israel Polk on a 46-yard grab along the sideline to set the Zips up at the UB eight-yard line. Tight end Connor Cravaack would score two plays later to out Akron back up 17-13 late third quarter.
Buffalo attempted to slow down the game, rushing the ball five-straight times after an initial six-yard pass, but found themselves at a quandry on fourth-and-one from the Akron 32-yard line. Ub decided to go for it, down four points, with Roberson scrambling to the right— but he was met immediately in the backfield by Melvin Spriggs to force the turnover on downs.
UB’s defense came to the rescue three plays later, forcing a strip fumble on Ben Finley recovered by Kobe Stewart— but Ta’Quan Roberson immediately gave it back on the very next play, as Ben Kamara jumped the route to give Akron their first interception of the game.
The Zips took the advantage, slicing a worn-out UB defense with a 13-yard pass to start the drive, followed up by a 11-yard rush and a 15-yard pass amongst the playcalls before Ben Finley called his own number and juked multiple defenders to score a 38-yard rushing touchdown and give Akron a crucial two-score lead at 24-13 with 11:46 remaining.
The Bulls, now fully rattled, tried to press with tempo and failed through the rest of the contest, with three of their last four drives ending in interceptions and managing only a lone field goal in reply after Akron took the lead, allowing the Zips to win by a final score of 24-16.
Akron QB Ben Finley had one of his best outings of 2025, finishing 17-of-32 for 230 passing yards, three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) and an interception. Jordan Gant (25 carries, 92 yards) led the Akron running effort, while Marcel Williams (six catches, 74 yards) and Israel Polk (three catches, 63 yards) featured in the pass game.
Linebacker Melvin Spriggs was dominant, finishing the afternoon with 14 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks and a QB hurry for the Zips, leading Akron in all categories. Gage Summers plucked two interceptions— including the game-sealer with just over a minute remaining— to lead the group, while Ben Kamara and Malcolm DeWalt IV also nabbed a pick each.
Buffalo QB Ta’Quan Roberson had an unfortunate afternoon, finishing 22-of-36 for 266 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions, getting brought down for four sacks as well. Nik McMillan (eight catches, 177 yards) led all receivers, while Victor Snow was held to seven catches for 56 yards. Al-Jay Henderson had 67 yards and a fumble on 11 carries.
Despite the loss, Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock’s historic season continues, collecting 13 total tackles, 1.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks, while forcing his 16th career fumble— a mark which ties him with fellow UB linebacker Khalil Mack atop the NCAA record charts.
Jalen McNair (six tackles) hauled in the team’s lone interception, while Junior Poyser and Jonathan Capo had a solo sack each and Kobe Stewart recovered a fumble.
Akron will now rest a few extra days before hosting their first midweek MAC opponent of 2025, the UMass Minutemen. Kickoff is on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. Eastern time. TV network is yet to be determined.
Buffalo will have to bounce back quickly, as they’re scheduled to travel to Bowling Green to take on the Falcons on Saturday, Nov. 1, for a noon Eastern time kickoff. Broadcast will be carried by ESPN+.
