Fresh off a Bahamas Bowl win, the UB Bulls are set to be challenged in the upcoming 2025-26 season.
UB Athletics announced the new Football schedule via Instagram last Wednesday, which featured formidable non-conference opponents and key matchups against Mid-American Conference (MAC) rivals. With their best ranked recruiting class in program history, the Bulls will look to continue their run of good form into next season.
Buffalo will be hosting seven home games next season, the first time since 2014.
Here’s a breakdown of the upcoming non-conference matchups:.
Aug. 28 at Minnesota
The Bulls will open their season with a game against Minnesota, a Football Bowl Subdivision team from the Big Ten.
The teams have met twice in program history, both ending with the Golden Gophers coming out on top, most recently in 2017.
Although they are not currently known to be contenders for the Big 10 conference championship, they have remained a competitive side and will provide an early test for UB; which could set the tone for the remainder of the season.
Sep. 6 against Saint Francis
The home opener will see UB face off against Saint Francis, marking the first ever match between both teams.
A member of the Northeast Conference, the Red Flash won their third title in 2022, earning them their second ever Football Championship Subdivision tournament appearance.
Though they have somewhat slipped away from their previous success, they still present a competitive threat and will look to upset Buffalo in their home debut.
Sep. 20 against Troy
After the MAC opener against Kent State, UB will host the Troy Trojans in a rematch of the 2018 Dollar General Bowl.
The Trojans have struggled to find much consistency since their former head coach Jon Sumrall – who led them to back-to-back conference titles – departed the team last season prior to their Birmingham Bowl matchup against Duke University.
Although Troy remains consistent contenders for the top of the Sun-Belt Conference, the Bulls will look to avenge their 2018 bowl loss and prove they can compete against major programs.
Sep. 27 against UConn
To close out non conference play, UB will take on the UConn Huskies.
Since suffering a lopsided defeat to them last season, Buffalo will be looking to redeem themselves against a team that has made strides in recent years, including a win at the 2024 Fenway Bowl and earning their first winning season since 2010.
MAC-tion games
UB’s conference schedule features home showdowns against Eastern Michigan, Akron, Miami (OH) and defending conference champions Ohio.
The Bulls will be on the road to face the aforementioned Kent State, conference newcomers UMass, Bowling Green and Central Michigan.
With a competitive schedule ahead, the Bulls will need to build off last year’s success and capitalize on whatever advantage possible to make a push for the MAC Championship.
Rodrigo Feijão is the senior sports editor and can be reached at rodrigo.feijao@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Johnson / Wikimedia Commons
