BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University’s football team is on a roll, and fifth-year coach Scot Loeffler doesn’t want the momentum the Falcons have gained to slow down anytime soon.
With wins in five of its last six games — the lone loss was a one-point defeat to rival Toledo a week ago — BGSU will shift its attention to an upcoming bowl game. The Falcons (7-5, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) are bowl eligible for a second consecutive season for the first time since playing in four straight from 2012 to 2015.
“We’re playing good football right now. We’re a point away from being undefeated in November, which that’s what we wanted to do and came up a point short,” Loeffler said after Tuesday’s 34-10 win at Western Michigan in the regular-season finale. “Super proud of our guys of putting last week to bed and coming out and playing really good ball.
“I think defensively, special teams, offense, I thought we played complimentary football. We need to get healthy, we need to take some time off, we need to go recruiting, and we need to get ready for this bowl game and find a way to get our eighth win. We keep taking steps. We keep learning, and just keep moving the needle of the program.”
Here are the biggest questions facing the Falcons heading into bowl season.
1. Will anyone opt out or enter transfer portal prior to bowl game?
With the constant turnover in rosters across the country due to the transfer portal, as well as players deciding to opt out of bowl games, it will be interesting to see if any of BGSU’s players decide to go with either of those routes in the next several weeks.
BGSU had one of its top receivers opt out of last year’s Quick Lane Bowl in C.J. Lewis (26 catches, 352 yards, two touchdowns in 2022).
Cornerback Davon Ferguson was one of a few players who entered the transfer portal prior to the bowl game. Ferguson, who missed most of the 2022 season with a lower body injury, transferred to and spent spring practice with Georgia Southern before returning to BGSU in the summer. He has been a critical part of a BGSU defense this season that leads the nation in turnovers gained and is among the MAC leaders in total sacks; Ferguson ranks in the top five on the team in total tackles (47), sacks (2.5), and interceptions (two).
Loeffler said multiple times during Tuesday’s post-game press conference the coaching staff needs to “keep everyone here” as the Falcons try to continue their upward trajectory.
2. What’s the status of Terion Stewart?
The Falcons’ standout, who has been one of the most effective running backs not only in the MAC, but in the country, has missed the last three games with a right-leg injury he suffered in BGSU’s win vs. Ball State on Nov. 1.
Loeffler called Stewart a game-time decision each of the last three weeks, but he has not played.
Stewart has led BGSU in rushing in each of his three seasons (2020, 2021, 2023). This year, he has career highs in rushing yards (762), attempts (125), and touchdowns (eight). He has the second-best rushing grade (93.1) amongst all FBS players this season, according to Pro Football Focus, and his 75 missed tackles forced rank second.
3. Can BGSU get healthier?
Throughout the entire season, and especially since a Week 3 loss at Michigan on Sept. 16 in which Loeffler said the Wolverines “beat the hell out of us,” BGSU has had to deal with injuries at nearly every position.
Along with Stewart, quarterbacks Connor Bazelak and Camden Orth, running back Ta’ron Keith, tight end Harold Fannin Jr., and wide receivers Odieu Hiliare and Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim have been among the numerous standouts who have been banged up throughout the year.
The break between the regular-season finale and the bowl game should certainly bode well for the Falcons.
4. Will the Falcons finish the year with a turnover gained in every game?
BGSU has a chance to accomplish something that has only been done once in the program this century. The Falcons have forced at least one turnover in every game this season, and if they can get another in the bowl game, they would be the first BGSU team since 2001 to tally at least one in every game of a season.
BGSU’s 27 turnovers gained (16 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries) leads the FBS. It’s tied for the second-highest total in a season for BGSU in the past decade (33 in 2014, 27 in 2015).
5. Can BGSU end the season on a winning note?
Loeffler and his team want a bowl game victory to build off of heading into next season. The Falcons couldn’t close the deal a year ago with a narrow 24-19 loss to New Mexico State in the Quick Lane Bowl, BGSU’s first bowl appearance since 2015.
The Falcons are just 3-7 in their last 10 season finales. BGSU beat Ohio 21-10 in 2021, topped Buffalo 27-19 in 2016, and edged South Alabama 33-28 in the 2014 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.
First Published November 23, 2023, 5:15 p.m.
