Buffalo Bulls

The preseason plan was for redshirt freshman Jason Wright to take over at quarterback, but in the opener against UAlbany it was Elijah Holmes who took the snaps and threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns, all to Chance Morrow. Holmes completed 26 of 47 passes, and while the numbers were not explosive, he managed the game well enough to win. The fact that Wright did not start raises questions about the quarterback pecking order going forward. Coach Pete Lembo has not publicly committed to a starter, so the competition may remain open as the Bulls head into MAC play. Whoever is under center will need to be more efficient than the 47 pass attempts against UAlbany suggest, especially with a rebuilt offensive line.

Buffalo entered the season with only one returning starter on the offensive line, and that inexperience showed in Week 1. The Bulls could not establish a consistent run game, and the offense leaned heavily on the pass, with 47 attempts against UAlbany. Terrance Shelton Jr. and Messiah Burch, the two most experienced backs, were not factors, and the line struggled to create push. The Bulls managed just 21 points against an FCS opponent, which is below expectations for a team that was an 18.5-point favorite. If the line does not improve quickly, the offense will struggle to sustain drives against MAC defenses that are more physical than UAlbany's front.

The defense lost coordinator Joe Bowen and All-American linebacker Red Murdock, but the unit showed resilience in the opener. The secondary, which was a top-25 pass defense last season, held UAlbany to 17 points, and the game ended with a goal-line stand. Virginia transfer Stevie Bracey made the decisive tackle on fourth down, showing he can be a playmaker in the middle of the field. However, the Bulls allowed UAlbany to move the ball and take a lead in the third quarter, and the front seven did not generate consistent pressure. The defensive line, with only Cornell Evans returning as a starter, remains a work in progress. If the pass rush does not improve, the experienced secondary will be tested more often in conference play.

With two All-MAC receivers gone to the transfer portal, the receiving corps was a major question mark. Chance Morrow answered that in Week 1 by catching seven passes for 48 yards and three touchdowns, all from Holmes. At 6-foot-4, Morrow gives the Bulls a red-zone target who can win contested catches, as he showed on a sideline grab that set up a score. Jasaiah Gathings, the team's leading returning receiver, was not a factor in the opener, which is a concern. If defenses focus on Morrow, other receivers like Dwayne Early Jr. and Tyrell Simmons Jr. will need to step up. For now, Morrow is the clear go-to option in the passing game.

Buffalo's 1-0 start is encouraging, but the win over UAlbany was far from convincing, and the Bulls failed to cover a large spread. Now they hit the road for the first time, traveling nearly 1,200 miles to face Florida International, a team that is 0-1 but is favored by 10.5 points. The market gives Buffalo only a 22% chance to win, reflecting the concerns about the offensive line and the overall roster overhaul. This game will be a much stiffer test than UAlbany, and it will show whether the Bulls can compete against a team from a similar level. A loss would not end their season, but it would raise doubts about their ability to reach a bowl game in Pete Lembo's third year. The MAC schedule is still ahead, and Buffalo will need to show significant improvement on both lines to contend.