Buffalo is the Mid-American program known for the bulls.
The Bulls hold the line.
Buffalo enters the 2026 season at 5-7.
Offseason
69 days
until kickoff · Sun Aug 30 · 17:00 UTC
The team returns 66% of its roster with a depth class ranked #92, but faces challenges in key positions like CB and LB.
Recruiting Class
#92 nationally
2025 cycle · 247 composite rating 155.6
Outside the recruiting top 60. Roster gaps must close via portal.
Returning Production
66%
2025 cycle · CFBD weighted
Above-average continuity. QB transition under way.
Talent Composite
#112 nationally
2025 cycle · 247 composite 513.3
Outside the talent top 60. The wins must be earned in development.
Portal Movement
16 in / 16 out
2026 cycle · in 16 / out 16
Incoming and outgoing movement are tracked separately in Roster Reload.
the open questionwhere does it go from here?
Buffalo enters 2025 rated No. 95 in SP+ (-7.5), down 8 spots from 2024.
What moved it — offseason · last 30 days
Five Lenses
What people are saying right now
Brief Part III §33.4 · Buffalo
The baseline goal for a program at this stage.
The narrative win the season is graded by.
Exceed last season by 2+ wins.
Out of reach without a transformative year.
Buffalo · Next-Season Outcome Band
Final-season-aware projection: floor / base / ceiling include conference title and CFP games where the model supports them, so a ceiling can exceed a 12-game regular season.
Market outlook
Sportsbook consensus · best odds across multiple books · 2026-06-22
Recruiting Reload - Top 3 commits
2026 classRecruiting Footprint · 2026
16OH leads the 2026 class with 5 commits. National footprint reaching 8 states.
Where they recruit · 2023-2026
67 signees across 26 states, 2023-2026. OH leads the pull.
Most Similar Programs · Buffalo
Static-attribute similarity across tier, archetype, conference, and voice. Not a prediction — a calibration.
Coaching Era · Buffalo
Pete Lembo took over from Maurice Linguist for the 2025 season.
Fanbase Health Index · Buffalo · medium confidence
Home-Field Advantage · Buffalo · 2018-present
48% home win rate vs 46% on the road. margin runs +9.3 better at home.
Buffalo enters 2025 rated No. 95 in SP+ (-7.5), down 8 spots from 2024. SP+ is a tempo-free efficiency model — it describes what the program HAS done. The season is the test of whether it's still true. The preview consensus leans in — but preseason ratings reward the recent past, not the season ahead.
Every line is a door. Evidence opens in place — verbatim outlet headlines for news sources, verbatim fan text attributed to the community not the individual (never a username). Works with JavaScript off.
The optimistic read: recruiting wins, momentum, and the 'this is real' takes.
The analytical counter: rankings, results and 'the hype is ahead of the tape' takes.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
Only 13 of 174 board posts mention it — below our floor to call a community stance. Shown as texture, not a verdict.
Board health this week (34 posts): 18% positive · 73% neutral · 9% negative. Team-level weekly mood — not specific to this event. The boards ≠ the fanbase: a self-selected vocal slice.
Recent Form · last 10 games
One of five. The film room is busy this week.
Season Standing · 2025 · 5-7
Buffalo: Below .500 in FBS play. The rebuild bar.
Mid-American Standing · 2025
Buffalo is 8th of 13 in the Mid-American at 5-7. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on bowl access and rivalry wins.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Michigan | 10-4 |
| 2 | Ohio | 9-4 |
| 3 | Toledo | 8-5 |
| 4 | Sacramento State | 7-5 |
| 5 | Central Michigan | 7-6 |
| 6 | Miami (OH) | 7-7 |
| 7 | Akron | 5-7 |
| 8 | Buffalo | 5-7 |
| 9 | Kent State | 5-7 |
| 10 | Ball State | 4-8 |
| 11 | Bowling Green | 4-8 |
| 12 | Eastern Michigan | 4-8 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 0-12 |
Schedule Strength · Buffalo · 2025
Average opponent win rate 42% across 12 finalized games. Few elite opponents on the slate — win quality matters for the at-large bracket.
Top Players · 2025
2025NFL Draft Pipeline
2026–20261 picks last 5 cycles. Roster development still maturing.
Moment of the Year · Buffalo · 2025
Week 2 of 2025. A statement margin. Recruiting boards re-rendered overnight.
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
Most recent: 2024 — win 7-26 (away). Last 5 postseason: 2-0.
From the Archive — Buffalo
In 2022, the program won 23-21 vs Georgia Southern in the postseason — a tight home result that left the 2-point margin on the books.
Go Bulls.