BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University’s football team showed its capability of competing with power conference opponents during the 2023 campaign.
Can the Falcons do it again this year?
High-profile matchups at Penn State and Texas A&M highlight the nonconference portion of BGSU’s 2024 schedule. The Falcons will also have two home games at Doyt Perry Stadium after having to hit the road in three of their four nonleague contests a year ago.
BGSU, which went 2-2 outside of the Mid-American Conference during the regular season, played three power conference opponents in 2023. Its biggest statement came against Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Georgia Tech, as the Falcons dominated in a 38-27 victory in Atlanta.
BGSU also forced eventual national champion Michigan into a season-high four turnovers in a 31-6 loss at Michigan Stadium, and the Falcons suffered a narrow 30-24 defeat to Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit to cap off the season.
Here is an early look at BGSU’s 2024 nonconference schedule.
Aug. 29: Fordham
BGSU will begin the season with its first meeting against FCS opponent Fordham. The Rams went 6-5 a year ago, including a 40-37 win over MAC opponent Buffalo.
Fordham has reached the FCS playoffs six times since joining the division in 1989 and has a 3-6 postseason record. In 2022, the Rams lost a shootout to New Hampshire 52-42 in the first round.
Fordham, where legendary coach Vince Lombardi played college football, has posted a winning record in each of the last four seasons after having three straight losing campaigns. From 2013 to 2016, the Rams went 40-11 with three playoff appearances.
Fordham ranked in the top 30 in scoring offense (30.5 points per game) and total offense (428 yards per game) in the FCS last season. Sophomore quarterback C.J. Montes threw for 3,000 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just one interception while completing 64 percent of his passes, while junior running back Julius Loughridge rushed for 1,146 yards and 10 scores.
Sept. 7: at Penn State
The Falcons will face its third Big Ten Conference opponent in the last two seasons when they travel to Beaver Stadium to face the Nittany Lions. Penn State won the previous two meetings, including a 45-19 victory in 1987 and a 48-3 win in 1998.
Penn State has not lost a nonconference regular season game since Sept. 10, 2016 when the Nittany Lions fell at Pittsburgh 42-39. Under head coach James Franklin (88-39 in 10 seasons), Penn State has nine winning campaigns and five with at least 10 wins, including last season (10-3) when the Nittany Lions’ lone losses were to Ohio State, Michigan, and Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl.
Penn State boasted the second-best total defense (247.6 yards per game) and third-best scoring defense (13.5 points per game) last season. The Nittany Lions held each of their 12 regular season opponents to 24 points or less, but surrendered 38 to Ole Miss in the bowl game.
BGSU has a 4-8 record in its last 12 games against Big Ten teams. The Falcons knocked off Minnesota in 2021, topped Maryland and Purdue in 2015, and beat Indiana in 2014.
Sept. 21: at Texas A&M
A couple of interesting storylines featuring former Falcons will highlight the first meeting between BGSU and Texas A&M.
Mike Elko, who was named head coach of the Aggies on Nov. 27 after spending the previous two seasons at Duke, was BGSU’s defensive coordinator from 2009 to 2013 under Dave Clawson. Elko coached linebackers his first three seasons with the Falcons, then safeties his final two.
BGSU will also be facing a former standout in linebacker Cashius Howell, who committed to Texas A&M after entering the transfer portal last month. Howell, a third-team All-MAC selection last season, finished tied for first in the league and tied for 16th in the country with 9½ sacks.
Texas A&M went 7-6 last season and fired coach Jimbo Fisher in mid-November after going 6-4 in the first 10 games. Fisher posted a 45-25 record (27-21 Southeastern Conference) in six seasons with the school.
Sept. 28: Old Dominion
Another first-time matchup will cap off BGSU’s nonleague schedule when the Falcons host Old Dominion.
An FBS school since 2014, Old Dominion has spent the past two seasons in the Sun Belt Conference after previous competing in Conference USA. The Monarchs have played in three bowl games, including the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl when they lost to Western Kentucky 38-35 in overtime.
In the past nine seasons, Old Dominion had just one winning campaign. The Monarchs finished 10-3 in 2016, including their first bowl win in school history after defeating Eastern Michigan 24-20 in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
First Published January 25, 2024, 8:20 p.m.
