MOBILE, Ala. — Bowling Green State University’s football team has had some memorable moments on a national level during the 2024 season.
The final game of the year will provide another opportunity for the Falcons to show what they can do.
BGSU, which nearly took down ranked power conference opponents Penn State and Texas A&M in hostile road environments early in the year, will have the national spotlight to itself when it takes on Arkansas State in the 68 Ventures Bowl. It is the only FBS bowl game taking place on Thursday night, and it will be broadcast on ESPN.
“I try to say that we’re going to go into every game and play like it’s another game, but you obviously feel, playing on ESPN, being the prime-time game, there’s a little bit more of a kick to your step,” BGSU senior cornerback Jordan Oladokun said. “So we’re excited it’s going to be on ESPN. But for me, and also for our team as well, every game, we’re going to go in and try to play our hardest.”
The Falcons went 2-0 in midweek Mid-American Conference games on ESPN2 and lost by a combined 13 points to Penn State and Texas A&M in nonconference play. A victory over Arkansas State, which suffered a narrow 10-point loss to Michigan early in the year, would give BGSU its eighth win of the season and continue the upward trend under sixth-year coach Scot Loeffler.
“I think it’s a great opportunity against a great team, an opportunity to get our eighth win,” BGSU senior quarterback Connor Bazelak said. “That hasn’t been done here in a while, so to be able to do that in front of the country on ESPN, it’s a great opportunity to showcase our skills, our talents, our camaraderie on our team, what we’ve built since January with this group of guys because it’ll be the last time this group will be together.”
BGSU, which is making its third straight bowl appearance, will aim to win its first postseason game since 2014 when it claimed the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.
Meanwhile, Arkansas State is playing in its second straight bowl game. The Red Wolves will try to win their first postseason game since the 2019 Camellia Bowl.
BASICS
■ Who: BGSU (7-5) vs. Arkansas State (7-5)
■ When: 9 p.m. Thursday
■ Where: Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
■ Spread: BGSU by 7.5
■ TV: ESPN
■ Follow: Michael Burwell
■ Threads: Orange helmets, brown jerseys, brown pants.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙄𝙣 😤
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) December 25, 2024
🟠🟤🟤@68VenturesBowl x @USS_ALABAMA pic.twitter.com/9K0zeV7i4F
PLAYERS TO WATCH
■ BGSU: Connor Bazelak. A lot of seniors on BGSU’s roster will be playing in their final collegiate game, including Bazelak, who has had a productive two years for the Falcons after spending three years at Missouri and one at Indiana. Bazelak, who will be appearing in his 58th collegiate game, needs just 40 passing yards to reach 12,000 for his career. He has been remarkably efficient in his final season by completing 67.1 percent of his passes for 2,654 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. His only pick in eight MAC games came in the regular-season finale loss against Miami (Ohio).
■ Arkansas State: Trevian Thomas. The senior safety has taken the phrase “ball hawk” to another level this season. Thomas ranks tied for fourth in the FBS with five interceptions. For his career, he has picked off eight passes while also forcing two fumbles and recovering four. Thomas, who will be appearing in his 60th game at Arkansas State, has 251 total tackles, including 153 solo.
STATS TO KNOW
10: Arkansas State and BGSU have had their fair share of close contests this season. The Red Wolves are 6-2 in games decided by 10 points or less, while BGSU is 2-4.
460.7: BGSU, which has had plenty of highlights offensively, could have a field day when it comes to racking up yards. Only five of the 133 FBS teams allow more yards per game than the 460.7 Arkansas State gives up.
14: The Red Wolves, led by Thomas, have intercepted 14 passes this season, ranking tied for 23rd nationally. Four players have multiple picks this year. BGSU, meanwhile, ranks tied for 10th with just six interceptions thrown offensively.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
BGSU cornerback Jordan Oladokun vs. Arkansas State wide receiver Corey Rucker: Strength vs. strength out wide will certainly be worth keeping an eye on. Oladokun, a first-team All-MAC selection this season, has been a lockdown corner in his BGSU career. He has four interceptions this season, including a pick-six in BGSU’s win over Toledo, after registering four picks a year ago. Rucker has made his mark with Arkansas State; his 2,930 receiving yards are a program record, while his 21 touchdowns and 176 receptions are second and third, respectively. Rucker’s 946 receiving yards this season rank 32nd in the country.
PREDICTION
It’s obvious how big a win would be for a BGSU program that has taken small, but significant steps during the past several seasons. A loss would put BGSU at 7-6 for the second straight season, which would leave a sour taste in the mouths of the numerous seniors and star players who returned to try to take the program to another level. Expect the Falcons to come out fired up and finish the season on a high note. BGSU 31, Arkansas State 24.
First Published December 25, 2024, 2:46 p.m.
