BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University’s football team has shown some positive trends during the 2024 campaign.

There are still a lot of unknowns, however, for a Falcons team that entered the season with high expectations.

BGSU’s 2-4 record at the midway point isn’t uncommon — it’s the fifth time in six years under coach Scot Loeffler that the Falcons have had that mark — but it has a different feel to it. The wild discrepancies between games each week — like the first half of the 2023 season when BGSU lost to Ohio 38-7, beat Georgia Tech 38-27, and lost to Miami (Ohio) 27-0 in a three-game span — aren’t there anymore, and the Falcons have done enough each game to give themselves a chance to win,

“We typically have gotten better over the season, and this was a little bit backwards. Weeks 1, 2, and 3, we were playing as good of football as anyone in the country, and that was in all three phases,” Loeffler said. “... I’m confident in these kids, confident in our coaches, confident in myself, and there’s a lot of football to be played here.

“There’s anywhere between six and eight games left. There’s a lot of football. We’ve just got to get back to who we are, do what we’re supposed to do, be great during the week, have super habits, coach our tail off, believe, and our actions need to equal what we believe. We do that, we’re going to be just fine.”

3 things we know for sure

1. BGSU can play with anyone, anywhere

Once again, the Falcons have shown that it doesn’t matter who the opposing team is or where the game is being played. BGSU has a knack for excelling in its most noteworthy games of the season.

BGSU did whatever it wanted to offensively against then-No. 8 Penn State on Sept. 7 at Beaver Stadium in taking a 24-20 halftime lead — and stunning the crowd of 103,861 fans — before falling 34-27. The Falcons went toe-to-toe with then-No. 25 Texas A&M in front of 99,523 fans at Kyle Field before coming up just short 26-20 on Sept. 21.

That belief and ability to perform anywhere could be key the rest of the season, especially next weekend when BGSU travels to the Glass Bowl to take on Toledo in the Battle of I-75.

2. Harold Fannin, Jr., is a superstar

The junior tight end showed plenty of glimpses of what he could do in his first two seasons at BGSU, which included a team-high four rushing touchdowns as a freshman and leading the Falcons in receiving yards (623) and touchdowns (six) as a sophomore when he earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors.

If there was another level Fannin could get to, he has certainly reached it, and then some.

Fannin’s 50 receptions, 702 yards, and five touchdowns each rank first or tied for first among FBS tight ends this season; Toledo’s Anthony Torres also has five touchdowns. Fannin’s 95.2 offensive grade and 95.3 receiving grade are both first among FBS tight ends, according to Pro Football Focus.

Fannin combined for 19 receptions, 282 yards, and two touchdowns against Penn State and Texas A&M, and he had at least eight catches and 135 yards in four straight games. It would be hard to imagine where BGSU would be at this point without him.

3. The offensive line — when healthy — is among the best in the Mid-American Conference

With tackles Alex Wollschlaeger and Nick Reimer, guards Nate Pabst and Tunde Fatukasi, and center Alex Padgett, BGSU’s offensive line can certainly be effective. The average height and weight of the five players is 6-foot-6 and 314 pounds, and through the early part of the season, they did their part to help BGSU’s offense excel.

The offensive line — along with smart play from quarterback Connor Bazelak and key blocking at other positions — did not allow a sack in the first two games of the season, including at Penn State. Reimer, however, left with an injury early in the Texas A&M game, and since then, the Falcons have allowed 14 sacks, including six in last week’s loss to Northern Illinois.

BGSU has had to shuffle some players around to find the right fit, and for the most part, it hasn’t worked. Reimer is close to returning, however, and if the Falcons can stay healthy along the line they should be able to get back to their early-season dominant ways.

3 things we don’t know

1. Can BGSU come out on top in close games?

As thrilling as BGSU’s games have been this season, especially against Penn State and Texas A&M, a common theme has circulated at this point. The Falcons haven’t been able to close the deal.

BGSU is just 1-4 in games decided by 10 points or fewer. All four losses have been within two scores, and the Falcons have been outscored 37-12 in the fourth quarter of those games.

Even in a 27-20 win against Akron on Oct. 5, BGSU gave up 10 straight points in the fourth quarter after leading 20-10. If not for Fannin’s game-winning touchdown run with less than three minutes left, as well as a defensive stand in the final minute, BGSU could be 0-2 in MAC play.

2. Can the Falcons’ defense produce a game-changing turnover?

It’s mind-boggling to think that a team that did so well in a category one year could be the polar opposite the following season, but that has been the case for BGSU’s defense. The Falcons have produced just two turnovers so far after finishing tied for first in the FBS with 28 in 2023.

BGSU hasn’t been able to come up with a game-changing turnover, especially in the fourth quarter. Instead, its defense has been pushed to the limits while trying to maintain a slim lead or stay within striking distance to give the offense a chance to win.

3. Will another offensive skill player besides Fannin step up?

At some point, Fannin will be double or triple teamed during every play of a game. Opponents will dare the Falcons to have someone else beat them besides their star tight end.

Who will step up when that time comes?

Running back Terion Stewart, who has battled injuries all season, hasn’t been the same since his season-opening performance of 161 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries against Fordham. He has 173 yards and one touchdown on 46 carries in three games since.

Wide receivers Malcolm Johnson, Jr., (24 catches, 224 yards, one touchdown) and Finn Hogan (11 catches, 100 yards), along with running back Jamal Johnson (16 catches, 150 yards), have shown flashes of being able to produce, but likely will need to take another step forward if Fannin is limited. If Kansas State transfer wide receiver R.J. Garcia II, who has not played yet due to an injury, can return soon, that could open things up, as well.

First Published October 17, 2024, 8:39 p.m.