Before every game, I ask a reporter who covers the Gophers’ upcoming opponent to give us a view from the opponent’s perspective.
I asked Noah White from The Buffalo News five questions about the Buffalo Bills
Minnesota hosts Buffalo to kick off its 2025 season on Thursday night on FS1. This is the third all-time meeting between the programs; Minnesota has won the two previous games.
Huge thanks to Noah for giving us his thoughts!
1. The Buffalo Bulls exceeded expectations last season in Pete Lembo’s first year as Head Coach. The Bulls finished the 2024 season with five straight wins to finish with a 9-4 record after going 3-9 in 2023. Last year, Vegas had the Bulls winning around five games. Entering his second year, Lembo returns a good number of starters on both sides of the ball. What are the
expectations for this Buffalo Bulls team entering the 2025 season? In your opinion, what would be considered a successful season?
Lembo was a bit of a surprise in his freshman campaign, but because of this group’s success last year, there’s a lot of optimism entering this season. The Bulls return at least six starters on each side of the ball, and continuity can be key when fighting for a Group of Five conference championship. What could hold UB back is a distinct question mark at the quarterback position. But with preseason All-MAC selections in every position group surrounding whomever starts, the Bulls should find themselves competing for a MAC championship in November.
Building on this optimism, Buffalo enters at No. 4 in the conference’s preseason coaches poll, and any finish lower than that would be a disappointment in Amherst. This doesn’t need to be a College Football Playoff berth (although it could be if the quarterback pans out – more on that later), but there needs to be a sense of MAC contention that hasn’t existed at Buffalo since 2020.
2. The offense will have a new QB this year in Kansas State transfer Ta’Quan Roberson, but the Bulls return a good amount on the offensive line. What should Gophers fans expect when the Bulls offense takes the field? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Buffalo’s offense was all about the ground, ground, ground last year. And that makes sense. The Bulls had a 1,000-yard back in Al-Jay Henderson (who’s back again), and their passing game was anything but consistent with CJ Ogbonna under center. This season, Buffalo’s passing production should make at least a small leap. I mean, it’s challenging to finish 108th in the FBS two times in a row. If Roberson doesn’t pan out, though, it may try.
Now, the focus shifts to their new quarterback. The Kansas State transfer, Roberson, would be better labeled a UConn transfer. He’s made stops at Penn State and KSU, but Storrs is the only place he’s ever started. Even then, in 2023, he wasn’t earth-shattering with roughly 2,000 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions. This will be a step up for him, and in his seventh collegiate season, it’s his final shot.
While most attention centers on the transfer, it’s worth noting Gunnar Gray, a redshirt senior who hasn’t seen the field much is still in the competition for playing time. Throughout August, he was taking reps with UB’s second stringers, but Lembo hadn’t
made a decision on a starter.
No matter who guides the offense, the floor is still relatively high with Henderson in the backfield and receivers Nik McMillan and Victor Snow. Buffalo’s line features two preseason first-team All-MAC selections in Tyler Doty and Trevor Brock, so whoever starts for UB should be well protected.
3. The defense last year allowed just under 400 yards a game, which finished in the middle of the MAC. While they gave up a good number of yards, they got to the quarterback and created turnovers. The defense loses its top tackler in Shaun Dolac. How does the defense look this year? Are there any worries about this side of the ball heading into the season?
Dolac — and the year before Joe Andreessen — have established a linebacker pipeline of sorts in Buffalo, each being All-MAC-level players. Dolac took that a step higher, becoming an All-American after leading the nation with 168 tackles last year. That was 12 more than the next closest Division I player. Guess who trailed him? Fellow UB linebacker Red Murdock. The Bulls were led by a pair of all-conference middlemen last season, and Murdock should continue that line of dominance this year as the clear defensive leader. The sole concern should be any UB linebacker making that many tackles, representing a defensive line that struggles to keep offensive action in front of it. That should be slightly better this year. Edge rusher Kobe Stewart is a star, leading the MAC with 9.5 sacks. Malin White will move to the other edge, but linebacker Dion Crawford recorded 8.5 sacks last year and should factor into the pass rush as well. UB’s secondary has a lot of continuity, with four returning starters, but it’s coming off a year where it was in the bottom quarter nationally in passing yards allowed. That could be a continued issue, but an improved front should stymie part of it by creating more pressure. It’s reasonable to expect the Bulls to be closer to middling nationally in yardage allowed, but nothing more than that, due to a continued poor pass defense.
4. Games are won and lost with impact and X-factor players. Could you give Minnesota fans some players on the Bulls’ offense, defense, and special teams? What players should Minnesota fans worry about on Thursday Night?
Murdock is the easiest choice out of the gate. He’s an established All-American contender and should be the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Facing a running back like Darius Taylor, his speed and athleticism can serve as a second-level eraser for the difficulties UB’s defensive line may face with Minnesota’s run game.
Stewart will play a role in that as well, and his pass-rushing efforts should keep the Gophers’ starter under duress. He’s a legit double-digit sack guy, and when he entered the transfer portal this offseason (before returning), he was getting looks from Power Four teams. There’s a handful of ranked teams he could start for, so he’ll surely experience no drop-off facing Big Ten competition.
UB’s offensive heart is Henderson, and this could be the opening of a critical campaign for the senior. A strong showing in August, opening an even more vigorous campaign, would put the tailback on NFL Draft boards. Not to mention, with Minnesota’s defensive strength and Koi Perich looming on the back end, UB figures to lean on the run while still getting its new quarterback’s feet wet.
5. This is the third all-time meeting between Minnesota and Buffalo. The Gophers have won the previous two meetings back in 2002 and 2017. The Bulls are considered a legit contender to win the MAC this year. The Gophers have high hopes as well. This game is the season opener for both teams and it will be played on national TV on Thursday night. The Gophers are currently 18-point favorites against the Bulls. What does Buffalo need to do to upset the Gophers in Minneapolis? Could you give us your prediction for the game? How do you see the game going?
If Buffalo wants to get its first Power Four victory since 2018 (and that only partially counts because it was Rutgers), this will need to turn into a slugfest. When UB leans on its defense and forces turnovers, it can compete with 75% of FBS teams. But if the Bulls find themselves chasing Minnesota’s offense — especially with UB’s passing game still working out kinks — this could be over quickly.
To be more direct, it will all hinge on Murdock’s effect. He, in tandem with Crawford and an invigorated defensive line, can get Taylor out of rhythm and, in turn, make Minnesota’s quarterback uncomfortable. They’re that good.
So I think it’ll be close because, to that point, UB’s defense is genuinely strong enough to make Minnesota’s offense stagnant. But playing in Minneapolis may be the difference, despite Lembo having the Bulls humming and designed to whack a Power Four squad.
That will be next year’s task.
Final score: Minnesota 24-18