Football Schedule Released; Homecoming Set For Oct. 14

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Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference today announced dates for all 2017 MAC football games. Four of Bowling Green's five home games will be played on Saturdays and the Falcons will host the annual Battle of I-75 against rival Toledo on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Game times, which are determined in consultation with the league's television partners, will be released at a later date.

In conference action, Bowling Green will open league play by hosting Akron for Military Appreciation Day on Saturday, Sept. 30. The Falcons will stay within their division by playing at Miami the next week before returning home for two consecutive weeks. BGSU will host defending MAC East Champion Ohio for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 14 and then Northern Illinois for the annual Pink Game on Saturday, Oct. 21.

GAME THEMES FOR 2017
Sept. 9 vs. South Dakota – Family Weekend
Sept. 30 vs. Akron – Military Appreciation Day/Extra Yard For Teachers
Oct. 14 vs. Ohio – Homecoming
Oct. 21 vs. Northern Illinois – Pink Game

Nov. 15 vs. Toledo - #MACtion

From there, midweek MACtion takes over as Bowling Green will play at Kent State on Tuesday, Oct. 31 before a game at Buffalo one week later on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The Falcons will then have eight days to prepare for the rivalry game with Toledo before closing out the regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at Eastern Michigan.

Previously, it had been announced that the Falcons will host South Dakota in their lone home non-conference game on Saturday, Sept. 9. That game will serve as Family Weekend. BGSU will play non-conference road games at Michigan State (Sept. 2), Northwestern (Sept. 16) and Middle Tennessee (Sept. 23).

Season tickets as low as $40 are on sale now for the 2017 BGSU Football season. Fans can renew their season tickets online, in-person at the Stroh Center ticket office, or via phone (877-BGSU TICKET). For complete information on season ticket packages, CLICK HERE.

The benefits of being a season ticket holder are plentiful, including the following:

Complimentary Season Ticket Holder Parking **
Entry to win prizes in the Football Season Ticket Giveaway Drawings
Ticket Exchange Program – Never Waste a Ticket!
Invitation to Season Ticket Holder Party in August, which includes
- Access to preseason practice
- Q&A session with the coaching staff
- Meet and greet, including autographs, with players and coaches
- Complimentary lunch and beverages
Opportunity to purchase single football game tickets prior to the general public
Opportunity to purchase Michigan State and Northwestern away game tickets
Flexible payment plan

** Available only to Falcon Club Members, premium seat purchases, or with the Falcon Four pack

An updated release of the MAC 2017 football schedule will be released in June with kick times and a television schedule for the first three weeks of the regular season and midweek games during late October and November. All other game kick times and television will be announced 12 days prior to the scheduled game.

Information on each BGSU Football game in 2017 is listed below.

Sept. 2 at Michigan State
All-time series: MSU leads, 2-0
First Meeting: 9/26/81, MSU 10-7
Last Meeting: 9/8/07, MSU 28-17
Notable: Michigan State went 3-9 overall, including 1-8 in Big Ten play, in 2016 … In the past three years, Bowling Green is 3-2 against Big Ten opponents … The Spartans opened the 2016 season with two wins before losing seven straight … Michigan State's 2016 record saw wins against Furman, Notre Dame, and Rutgers, shutting out the Scarlet Knights 49-0 ... Five of the Spartans' nine losses last year were decided by nine points or less … According to Phil Steele, Michigan State returns just nine starters from a year ago, among the fewest in the country.

Sept. 9 vs. South Dakota
FAMILY WEEKEND
All-time series: First Meeting
Notable: South Dakota went 4-7 a year ago, including a 3-5 mark in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, playing at the FCS level of Division I football … Bowling Green has played an FCS opponent five out of the last six seasons … The Falcons won all five of those contests by a combined score of 229-61 … Bowling Green is 13-2-0 all-time against the Missouri Valley Football Conference, including an 8-0 record against Southern Illinois, a 4-2 mark against Youngstown State and a win over Northern Iowa.

Sept. 16 at Northwestern
All-time series: BGSU leads, 2-0
First meeting: 11/17/01, BGSU 43-42
Last meeting: 12/26/03, BGSU 28-24
Notable: Northwestern went 7-6 a year ago, including a 31-24 victory over Pittsburgh in the Pinstripe Bowl … The Wildcats return 16 starters from a year ago, tied for most in the Big Ten … BGSU last faced Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl in 2003 … The bowl game was Bowling Green's first since 1992 and it was the first Motor City Bowl to feature a team from the Big Ten … Bowling Green set a Motor City Bowl record for most offensive yards in a game at 454 and quarterback Josh Harris went 38-of-50 with four touchdowns (three passing and one running) … In 2001, BGSU scored twice in the final 3:44 to upend Northwestern, including the game-winning two-point conversion on a reverse with 36 seconds left.

Sept. 23 at Middle Tennessee
All-time series: MTSU leads, 1-0
Only meeting: 9/17/16, MTSU 41-21
Notable: Middle Tennessee State went 8-5 a year ago, including 5-3 in Conference USA … MTSU played Bowling Green last season and won 41-21 … The Blue Raiders have also faced Mid-American Conference foes Miami (35-21 loss in 2010 season), Central Michigan (31-14 loss in 2006 season) and Akron (17-7 loss in 2005) in recent seasons … Before last year, Bowling Green had last faced a Conference USA opponent in 2014, losing to Western Kentucky 59-31 to open the season … Last year's game featured a deluge of rain, which hampered either team's ability to throw … BGSU had five second-half drives, all of which lasted at least eight plays, but all of which ended without any points.

Sept. 30 vs Akron
MILITARY APPRECIATION / EXTRA YARD FOR TEACHERS
All-time series: BGSU leads, 16-7
First meeting: 10/3/41, Akron 8-0
Last meeting: 11/9/16, BGSU 38-28
Notable: Akron went 5-7 in 2016 and 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference … The Falcons have won eight consecutive meetings over Akron … BGSU's 38-28 victory over the Zips last season was the first career FBS and MAC win for head coach Mike Jinks … The Falcons forced six turnovers and rushed for four touchdowns in last season's contest … Kicker Jake Suder broke a 28-28 tie on a 27-yard field goal with 2:23 to play.

Oct. 7 at Miami
All-time series: Miami leads, 43-23-5
First meeting: 10/11/41, BGSU 9-0
Last meeting: 10/22/16, Miami 40-26
Notable: Miami went 6-7 in 2016 including a 17-16 loss to Mississippi State in the St. Petersburg Bowl … The RedHawks won their last six regular season games after starting the season 0-6 … Miami is the only Mid-American Conference school that holds a winning record against the Falcons all-time … The RedHawks return 16 starters from a year ago, most in the MAC … BGSU has won three of the last four meetings between the two schools, outscoring Miami 145-78.

Oct. 14 vs. Ohio
HOMECOMING
All-time series: BGSU leads, 40-26-2
First meeting: 9/29/45, BGSU 6-0
Last meeting: 10/8/16, Ohio 30-24
Notable: Ohio went 8-6 in 2016 with a mark of 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference … The Bobcats lost to Western Michigan in the MAC Championship game and to Troy in the Dollar General Bowl … BGSU has won four of the last five meetings against Ohio, outscoring the Bobcats 192-81 in those contests … BGSU's loss at Ohio last season snapped the Falcons 17-game winning streak against the MAC East Division … BGSU and Ohio have combined to win the last four MAC East crowns as well as five of the last six.

Oct. 21 vs. Northern Illinois
PINK GAME
All-time series: BGSU leads, 12-9
First meeting: 11/18/67, BGSU 17-7
Last meeting: 11/1/16, NIU 45-20
Notable: Northern Illinois went 5-7 in 2016, including a 5-3 record in the Mid-American Conference … For the first time in six years, the Huskies failed to advance to the MAC Championship game in Detroit … The previous three MAC Championships had played host to Bowling Green and Northern Illinois, with the Falcons going 2-1 in those games … In fact, BGSU or Northern Illinois has won the MAC Championship in five of the past six seasons (five straight from 2011-15).

Oct. 31 at Kent State
All-time series: BGSU leads, 59-19-6
First meeting: 11/6/20, BGSU 7-0
Last meeting: 11/15/16, BGSU 42-7
Notable: Kent State had an overall record of 3-9 a year ago, including 2-6 in the Mid-American Conference … Bowling Green has won four straight over Kent State, dating back to Sept. 7, 2013, when the Falcons defeated the Golden Flashes 41-22 … Since then, Bowling Green has outscored Kent State 161-49 … Last season's matchup between the two saw three different Falcons rush for over 100 yards for the first time since 1978 … The Falcons had a total of 420 rushing yards, the most since Oct. 24, 1998, also against Kent State.

Nov. 7 at Buffalo
All-time series: BGSU leads, 11-3
First meeting: 9/8/01, BGSU 35-0
Last meeting: 11/25/16, BGSU 27-19
Notable: Buffalo went 2-10 last year, including 1-7 in the Mid-American Conference … Buffalo lost its final four games last season … For the second consecutive game, the Falcons saw three men rush for over 100 yards, a first in program history … Fred Coppet, who had 160 yards and two touchdowns in the win, finished his career at BGSU as the fifth-all time rusher with 2,833 yards … Coppet's 160 yards also made it his third consecutive game with over 100 yards rushing … The Falcons have won six straight over the Bulls, their last loss being in 2010, 28-26 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.

Nov. 15 vs. Toledo
#MACTION
All-time series: BGSU leads, 39-38-4
First meeting: 10/3/19, Toledo 6-0
Last meeting: 10/15/16, Toledo 42-35
Notable: Last year, Toledo went 9-4, including 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference … For the past seven years, the Rockets have laid claim on the Battle of I-75 trophy … The Falcons lost a heartbreaker last year against the Rockets. After being down 27-14 at the end of the third, Bowling Green came back with 21 points in the fourth to tie the game at 35, only to have the Rockets storm down the field and score, making it 42-35 with just 18 seconds left … Toledo's win last year pulled the Rockets within one game on the all-time win list. Bowling Green still holds the edge at 39-38-4 … Toledo is Bowling Green's longest standing rival, having played them in the Falcons' first ever game.

Nov. 21 at Eastern Michigan
All-time series: BGSU leads, 25-12-1
First meeting: 10/22/19, Michigan Normal (prior to name change) 10-0
Last meeting: 10/1/16, EMU 28-25
Notable: Last season the Eagles went 7-6, including 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference … The win over the Falcons last year snapped a 14-game losing streak in MAC play for the Eagles … The game marked the 50^th anniversary of the first game played at Doyt L. Perry Stadium … Bowling Green amassed 456 total yards in the loss, including 206 rushing and 250 passing … Eastern Michigan faced Old Dominion in the 2016 Popeye's Bahamas Bowl to conclude their season with a 24-20 loss.

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