Daniel Carlson/BGSU Athletics
Bowling Green State University hits the road for the first time in 2025 on Saturday, traveling south to face the Cincinnati Bearcats of the Big 12 Conference. Kickoff from Nippert Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Series History
The Falcons and Bearcats are meeting for just the fifth time overall and the second time in Cincinnati. Bowling Green has dominated the series to date, owning a 4-0 record against UC. The last meeting came in 1994, when BGSU rolled to a 38-0 victory. The first matchup between the two programs was played in 1990 at Riverfront Stadium, then the Bearcats’ part-time home.
Top Storylines
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Historic Kickoff Return – Freshman RB Cameron Pettaway made an immediate splash in his college debut, taking the season-opening kickoff 98 yards to the house on his first career touch. It marked the second straight season BGSU opened the year with a kickoff return touchdown, making the Falcons the first FBS team in history to accomplish the feat in consecutive years.
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Kleather’s Big Week – PK Jackson Kleather earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after drilling four field goals in the opener against Lafayette, including a 56-yarder that tied for the second-longest in program history.
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Fast Start on the Line – A win in Cincinnati would give BGSU its first 2-0 start since 2013, when the Falcons went on to win the MAC title. That team included current Falcons special teams coordinator Alex Bayer, then a standout tight end.
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New Era with Eddie George – Legendary Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George began his BGSU tenure with a 26-7 win over Lafayette, becoming the 11th head coach in program history to win his debut.
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Veteran Quarterback Presence – QB Drew Pyne, who has previously started games at Notre Dame, Arizona State, and Missouri, became just the fourth active FBS player to start a game in four consecutive seasons. Against Lafayette, he spread the ball to 10 different receivers.
MAC vs. the Big 12
Bowling Green enters Saturday with a 7-14 all-time mark against current Big 12 members. Four of those wins have come against Cincinnati, while others were earned against BYU, Kansas, and UCF (then in the MAC). Against teams that were active Big 12 members at the time of the matchup, BGSU owns three wins — two over Missouri and one against Kansas.
Cincinnati Connections
The matchup will be a homecoming for 11 Falcons from the greater Cincinnati area, including key contributors like DE Bam Booker (Winton Woods), CB Jay’Quan Bostic (Taft), and OT Vincent Giordano (Lakota West). In addition, BGSU offensive lineman Jake Burns began his career at Cincinnati before transferring.
Underdog Mentality
If recent history is any indication, the Falcons shouldn’t be overlooked. Since 2021, Bowling Green has won more games as a double-digit underdog (five) than any other team in college football, including signature road upsets at Minnesota, Marshall, and Georgia Tech.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
