MOBILE, Ala. — The 68 Ventures Bowl between Bowling Green State University and Arkansas State will feature a lot of skilled and talented players on the field, but the coaching matchup on the sidelines will be significant as well.
Scot Loeffler, who is in his sixth season leading BGSU, will go up against a good friend in fourth-year Arkansas State coach Butch Jones. The duo spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons together on Central Michigan’s staff; Loeffler was the quarterbacks coach both years, while Jones was the running backs coach in 2000 and the offensive coordinator in 2001.
“I love Butch. Butch and I go back a long way, way before Central Michigan,” Loeffler said. “When I was a graduate assistant, student assistant (at Michigan), I knew Butch, and he’s done a really great job.
“He’s had a great career, coached at some really great places, won championships. He’s got a really good formula. They play really good team football.”
Both mentors have turned around their current programs. Loeffler (27-40 record) has guided the Falcons to three consecutive bowl games – a first since BGSU made four straight from 2012 to 2015 – after the team won just seven combined games in his first three seasons. Jones (18-31 at Arkansas State) has led the Red Wolves to back-to-back bowl games.
“We talk quite frequently, and I think the job that they’ve done at Bowling Green speaks for itself when you just look at their season,” Jones said. “... It’s going to be a great challenge for us, but any time you can go to a bowl game but you get around people that you’re familiar with that you have respect for, our families all know each other, so it makes for something a little bit different and unique for this bowl game as well.”
Jones, who has been a head coach at Central Michigan, Cincinnati, and Tennessee during his career, has a 102-85 combined record in 15 seasons. He guided Central Michigan to the Mid-American Conference titles in 2007 and 2009, and he led Cincinnati to Big East titles in 2011 and 2012.
BGSU and Arkansas State enter the game with identical 7-5 records. The Falcons went 6-2 in the MAC, while the Red Wolves finished 5-3 in the Sun Belt Conference.
A win for BGSU would mark the fourth straight season in which the Falcons improved their win total from the previous campaign. Arkansas State has increased its win total in each of the last three seasons.
Here is a look at who has the edge in certain matchups for the game.
BGSU rush offense vs. Arkansas State rush defense
BGSU’s success on the ground could depend on the availability of standout running back Terion Stewart, who leads the Falcons with 890 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 160 carries this season. Stewart recently committed to Virginia Tech to continue his football career after entering the transfer portal earlier this month, but has hinted on his X account that he will play in the bowl game.
If he doesn’t suit up, the Falcons have several capable options in seniors Jaison Patterson and Jamal Johnson, along with wide receiver Rahkeem Smith. BGSU averages 144.4 rushing yards per game.
Arkansas State has struggled against the run this season, ranking 130th out of 133 FBS teams in rushing defense (225.5 yards per game). Seven of its opponents have rushed for at least 200 yards, and the Red Wolves allowed a season-high 406 yards on the ground in a 40-32 loss to Old Dominion in the regular-season finale.
■ Edge: BGSU
BGSU pass offense vs. Arkansas State pass defense
The matchup through the air could feature plenty of highlights on both sides of the ball, and any turnovers could go a long way in determining who wins.
BGSU has been one of the best teams in the FBS in taking care of the ball in the passing game; the Falcons’ six interceptions rank tied for 10th nationally. On the flip side, Arkansas State’s 14 interceptions defensively rank in the top 30.
Quarterback Connor Bazelak has been efficient in completing 67 percent (237 of 353) of his passes for 2,654 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. It will help having his top target playing in consensus All-American tight end Harold Fannin, Jr., who has hauled in 100 receptions for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
Although the Red Wolves have forced turnovers in the passing game, they have also struggled limiting teams. Arkansas State gives up 234.4 yards per game; four of its opponents have thrown for at least 300 yards.
■ Edge: BGSU
Arkansas State rush offense vs. BGSU rush defense
Stopping the run was a struggle for BGSU in non-conference play, but the Falcons did a much better job during league play. Overall, BGSU allowed 149.6 rushing yards per game, and only two of its MAC opponents surpassed 130 rushing yards against the Falcons.
Arkansas State has shown the ability to produce big games on the ground, especially in the second half of the season. The Red Wolves averaged 206.1 rushing yards per game in their final seven contests after averaging just 94 in their first five.
Zak Wallace (622 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns), Ja’Quez Cross (600, two), and sophomore quarterback Jaylen Raynor (392, two) have helped fuel a balanced rushing attack for the Red Wolves.
■ Edge: Arkansas State
Arkansas State pass offense vs. BGSU pass defense
Similar to BGSU, Arkansas State has an efficient quarterback and a go-to target in the passing game. Raynor has completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 2,562 yards and 14 touchdowns. Five of his nine interceptions came in the first four games of the season.
Senior wide receiver Corey Rucker, Arkansas State’s all-time leading receiver with 2,930 receiving yards, has totaled 946 yards and five touchdowns on 65 catches this year.
BGSU, though, has been one of the best teams in the country all season in pass defense. The Falcons’ 181.5 yards allowed per game rank 20th in the FBS, and opponents are completing just 57.5 percent of their passes.
■ Edge: BGSU
Special teams
Both teams have been solid in the kicking game, but BGSU could have the upper hand in an area that it has excelled in the past several seasons. The Falcons have blocked three kicks this season – they are one of 26 FBS teams with at least three – while the Red Wolves have not had any and have allowed two.
BGSU punter John Henderson, a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, has averaged 40.8 yards per punt. Twenty-one of his 48 kicks have been downed inside the 20.
Arkansas State’s Ryan Heicher has averaged 42.9 yards per punt, with nine of his 54 kicks traveling at least 50 yards. Clune Van Andel has been reliable in the kicking game in connecting on 20 of 23 field goals and all 28 of his PATs.
■ Edge: Even
Coaching
Jones has had success at every stop in his head coaching journey. Along with leading Central Michigan and Cincinnati to multiple league titles, he helped Tennessee finish 9-4 in 2015 and 2016. He went 3-0 in bowl games at Tennessee and is 4-3 overall in the postseason.
■ Edge: Arkansas State
First Published December 24, 2024, 4:17 p.m.
