Saturday, Sept. 13 | 5 p.m. | Doyt Perry Stadium | Bowling Green, Ohio |
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BOWLING GREEN |
vs. | LIBERTY FLAMES (1-1, 0-1 CUSA) |
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| WATCH : ESPN+ | LISTEN : WFRO The Eagle 99 | STATS : View | ||||
Falcons Host Flames for Homecoming
• Bowling Green State University returns to the cozy confines of Doyt Perry Stadium to host the Liberty Flames on Saturday for Homecoming.
• The game will kick at 5 p.m. and air live on ESPN+.
• Postgame fireworks will highlight the celebration, which also includes the 75th Birthday Celebration of Freddie, the original BGSU mascot.
Bowling Green vs. Liberty
• BGSU and the Flames are tied, 1-1, in the all-time series.
• The two teams were scheduled to meet in 2020 at BGSU's Doyt Perry Stadium, but the contest was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• BGSU and Liberty first met 22 years ago in Bowling Green (Sept. 13, 2003), when the Falcons topped the Flames, 62-3. BGSU went on to finish 11-3 that season, defeating Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl. Liberty was an FCS program at the time.
• That 2003 season also featured a win over Purdue and ESPN's College GameDay broadcasting live from Bowling Green.
• In that game, Omar Jacobs tossed three touchdowns, and P.J. Pope rushed for 162 yards and one score.
Five Top Storylines
• TE Jyrin Johnson caught seven passes for 80 yards and a touchdown at Cincinnati last time out. His seven receptions are tied for No. 17 all-time at BGSU in a single game by a tight end. With 102 receiving yards on the season, Johnson ranks No. 17 nationally among tight ends.
• LB Dorian Pringle ranks No. 10 in the nation with 4.0 tackles for loss. He posted all four in the opener against Lafayette, tying for the most in a single game nationally this season.
• QB Drew Pyne has thrown at least one touchdown pass in five straight seasons—the longest active streak in the nation. He is one of only four active QBs with at least 30 attempts and a passing touchdown in each of the past five seasons.
• BGSU leads the MAC and ranks No. 28 nationally in third-down defense. Falcon opponents have converted only seven third-down opportunities this season, including Cincinnati going just 2-of-7.
• RB Cameron Pettaway ranks No. 16 nationally and No. 1 in the MAC with 149 all-purpose yards per game. His first collegiate touch went for a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown in the opener against Lafayette. He added a career-high 70 rushing yards at Cincinnati last time out.
MORE: Bowling Green vs. Liberty
• Seven Falcons from the 2003 BGSU roster went on to play in the NFL: QB Josh Harris, QB Omar Jacobs, C Kory Lichtensteiger, C Scott Mruczkowski, RB P.J. Pope, WR Steve Sanders, and K Shaun Suisham.
• Liberty's Samkon Gado, who also played in that game, made it eight total players from the two rosters who eventually reached the NFL.
• Lichtensteiger redshirted in 2003 and did not appear in the game.
• BGSU offensive lineman Tunde Fatukasi attended Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, N.Y.—the same high school as former Liberty and Cleveland Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano. The connection comes full circle back to BGSU, as the Browns adopted the Falcons' colors after holding their first training camp on Bowling Green's campus in 1946 (see page three for more on this connection).
Bowling Green's Commonwealth Connections
• BGSU has several ties to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Greg Nosal, co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, is a Virginia Beach native (Kellam High School). A two-year starter at left guard, Nosal played at Virginia Tech (2007–11), where he was part of three ACC Championship teams and five bowl appearances. He was named Virginia Tech's Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2010 and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2011.
• Richard McNutt, secondary coach, spent the 2006 season as defensive backs coach at VMI.
• BGSU WR Brennan Ridley hails from Richmond, Va. (Trinity Episcopal HS) and was an FCS Freshman All-American at Hampton in 2024.
• Gregg Brandon, BGSU's head coach during the 2003 Liberty matchup, went on to serve as offensive coordinator at Virginia in 2009 after leaving Bowling Green.
• Bowling Green is scheduled to visit Old Dominion in 2031.
Omar Jacobs Shined vs. Liberty
• Former BGSU great Omar Jacobs made his collegiate debut in 2003. He played in only four games that season, but had his first true breakout performance the last time BGSU faced Liberty.
• With the game well in hand early, starter Josh Harris gave way to Jacobs for most of the snaps.
• Jacobs went 10-of-15 for 180 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 35 yards and another score in just his second career game.
• In 2004, as a sophomore, Jacobs set the NCAA Division I-A record for best touchdown-to-interception ratio (10.25:1).
• In 2005, he entered the season as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate, but an injury to his non-throwing shoulder limited his production.
• Jacobs declared for the NFL Draft after his junior year, leaving BGSU as the school's all-time leader in touchdown passes (71) and ranking third in career passing yards (6,938).
• He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
Bowling Green - LU connections
• Bruce Johnson, BGSU wide receivers coach, was on Liberty's staff from 2019–22 under then-head coach Hugh Freeze.
• Bill Durkin, Liberty offensive line coach, served on Bowling Green's staff from 2010–13, including during the Falcons' 2013 MAC Championship season. In 2012, his unit allowed just 15 sacks in 13 games, ranking among the nation's best.
• Kyle Krantz, Liberty co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach, worked at Florida as a quality control assistant (offense in 2013, defense in 2014) when BGSU running backs coach Brian White was the Gators' RB coach.
Total Defense
• BGSU held 19 of the last 41 opponents to 350 total yards or fewer, producing a 14–5 record when doing so.
• Since 2022, 12 opponents were held under 300 yards, with a 10–2 record.
Forcing Turnovers
• BGSU forced at least one turnover in 34 of the last 41 games (2022–25), failing in the opener against Lafayette this year, four games in 2024 and two in 2022.
• BGSU's five takeaways at Buffalo in 2023 were the most in a game since 2022. The Falcons led the nation with 28 takeaways in 2023.
• BGSU's 29 interceptions over 2023–24 are the most in the MAC and tied for No. 13 nationally.
Latest Football News
- The Falcons Nest Coaches Show with Todd Walker Returns on Monday Night at Fricker’s with Travis Partridge and Lou SnellingBOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The weekly Falcons Nest Coaches Show, presented by Fricker's, returns Monday night on the Falcon Sports Radio Network. BGSU football co-offensive coordinator Travis Partridge and men's and women's cross country head coach Lou Snelling will join Todd Walker from 6-7 p.m. at the Bowling Green Fricker's. Coach Partridge will kick off the show at 6 p.m.
- Falcons’ Strong Second Half Effort Falls Short Against CincinnatiCINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University football team took on the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 6). The Falcons made a strong second half push, outscoring Cincinnati 17-13 in the final 30 minutes, but came up short in the 34-20 final. The loss moves Bowling Green to 1-1 through the first two weeks of the season with Liberty up next for Homecoming on Sept. 13.
- Falcons Stay In-State, Head to the “Queen City” on Saturday for a Non-Conference Tussle with Cincinnati
- Kleather Named MAC Special Teams Player of the WeekBOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University placekicker Jackson Kleather was named Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for games played through Aug. 31. It is the first career MAC weekly award for Kleather.
- Falcons Leave Leopards In The Dust For First Win Of Eddie George EraZiggyville Population: 4,681
- At the Game: LafayetteBOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green football team opens the 107th season of Falcon Football on Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
