BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University football coach Scot Loeffler is looking forward to watching a significant number of his top standouts take the field for the Falcons’ upcoming bowl game.
That includes one of the best players in the country.
Harold Fannin, Jr., who is on the verge of breaking multiple FBS single-season records for tight ends, will play in the 68 Ventures Bowl against Arkansas State on Dec. 26 in Mobile, Ala., according to Loeffler. That could bode well in numerous areas, not only for Fannin and his future but for BGSU in its quest to earn its eighth win of the season and first bowl victory since 2014.
“All the guys right now that are starters are projected to play, and that doesn’t shock me. They’re a tight group that gets it,” Loeffler said during a news conference Monday morning. “They still have a bad taste in their mouth right now, too, (from the loss to Miami in the regular-season finale) and they want to make sure that they find a way to walk out of Bowling Green and win a bowl game, get the eighth win.
“So I don’t expect anything less from anyone on our team. We’re going to play.”
Loeffler and his senior-laden squad are still feeling the effects of the Falcons’ 28-12 Mid-American Conference loss to the RedHawks on Nov. 29 at Doyt Perry Stadium in which a win would have sent BGSU to the league title game. The sixth-year Falcons’ mentor said the game is still in his mind, but he’s hoping to get rid of it soon.
The Falcons are excited, though, for the chance of playing together one last time in 2024. Loeffler has continued to mention how important it is for the group of roughly 30 BGSU seniors — some of whom went through challenging seasons a handful of years ago — to cap off their careers with a win.
“We would like to send these seniors off the right way,” Loeffler said. “I’m super proud of the guys that have been part of this program for four, five, and six years.
“They were part of the dark era, as I would say, and they really have made this place a competitive, hard-working, do-right program.”
Having Fannin, the MAC’s player of the year as well as offensive player of the year, take part is certainly a good start for BGSU’s chances of winning.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound junior has been unstoppable in tallying 100 receptions for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He leads the nation’s tight ends in 20-plus categories, and he has set numerous BGSU single-game, season, and career tight end records as well.
“I was really excited for him. He definitely deserved it,” BGSU senior quarterback Connor Bazelak said of Fannin’s MAC awards. “He’s one of the best college football players in the country, and I’m hoping he wins the Mackey (Award) too, which I think he deserves as well.
“He’s unbelievable and had a great year and great dude, so he deserves every award he’s getting.”
Fannin needs 11 yards to break the FBS record for single-season receiving yards by a tight end (Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro had 1,352 in 2013) and 12 receptions to break the single-season receptions record by a tight end (Rice’s James Casey had 111 in 2008). Fannin would break the single-season receiving yards per game record as well if he surpasses Amaro’s mark.
“He’s phenomenal. Phenomenal athlete, really good guy, too,” BGSU senior linebacker Brock Horne said. “So super happy for him.
“Obviously, he helped out the team a ton, and just looking forward to him putting the orange and brown on one more time and having a good bowl game.”
The 68 Ventures Bowl could be Fannin’s last collegiate game with his chances of being taken in the NFL draft increasing significantly this season.
“He needs to go to the National Football League as fast as he can,” Loeffler said. “... It’s time for him to go. I would be doing him a complete disservice to say anything less.”
BGSU will be highly motivated to end its bowl win drought. The last time the Falcons, who lost in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit the past two seasons, claimed a postseason win was in 2014 when they topped South Alabama 33-28 in the Camellia Bowl.
Eight victories would be BGSU’s most since finishing 10-4 in 2015, and it would mark the fourth straight year that the Falcons improved in the win column.
“We’re hungry, hungry to do something that hasn’t been done in a decade around here with eight wins and a bowl game win,” Horne said. “So super hungry, just want to go out with a bang for me and the 30 other guys who are going to be graduating.”
Added Bazelak: “It’ll be a great experience. I’ve heard it’s a great bowl game. Obviously, we have a big challenge with Arkansas State. They’re a great team, but it’ll just be great for everybody to go down, spend Christmas together again. At least this time we’re doing it down south in the warm, so it’ll be fun. We’ll have a fun time, hopefully get our eighth win.”
First Published December 9, 2024, 9:21 p.m.
