(WBIR - KNOXVILLE) The Tennessee Volunteers football team kicks off its season on Saturday. Here's what you need to know about their opponent.
Overview: Last season Bowling Green won the MAC East in Dino Babers' first year as head coach. Babers came from Eastern Illinois where he won two Ohio Valley Conference championships in two seasons in his first head coaching job.
In 2013, Babers coached New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a 5,050-yard, 53 touchdown season at Eastern Illinois.
The Falcons are coming off of a 33-28 victory over South Alabama in the Camellia Bowl last season.
Tennessee will open its season on the SEC Network for the second-consecutive year. The Vols are 6-1 in games shown on the SEC Network, which will begin its second season in 2015.
Date: Sept. 5, 2015
Game Time: 4 p.m. Eastern Time
TV: SEC Network
Site: Nissan Stadium (formerly LP Field) in Nashville
Nickname: Falcons
2014 Record: 8-6 (5-3 MAC)
Coach: Dino Babers
Series against UT: 2015 marks the first time Tennessee and Bowling Green have met.
How this game came to be: Tennessee was scheduled to play UAB opening weekend, but the team temporarily folded. Since Blazers aren't playing in 2015, the Vols filled the void in their schedule with Bowling Green.
Bowling Green Returning Leaders
Passing
- Matt Johnson (6'0", 221 lbs., redshirt senior): Johnson suffered a major hip injury in the season opener against Western Kentucky last September. Johnson has since won the starting job back from James Knapke. Johnson led the Falcons to the 2013 Mid-American Conference championship.
- James Knapke (6'2"/220 lbs., redshirt junior): 280-of-483 passing, 3,173 yards, 15 TD, 12 INT, 118.4 rating, 67 rushes, 136 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
- Travis Greene (5'10"/183 lbs., redshirt senior): 180 carries, 949 yards, 12 TD, 27 receptions, 175 yards, 1 TD. Greene was also named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation's top running back.
Receiving
- Roger Lewis (6'0"/196 lbs., sophomore): 73 receptions, 1,093 yards, 7 TD. Lewis was named to the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the nation's top wide receiver.
Defense
- Only four starters return to Bowling Green's defense in 2015. The team ranked 108th in college football in giving up an average of 33.5 points per game. To make matters, worse defensive end Bryan Thomas was suspended indefinitely after he was arrested for a "felonious assault" in May. Thomas is not listed on Bowling Green's roster on the school's website.
- In 2014, Thomas made 48 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss, and led the team with eight sacks. Thomas has made 38 career starts going into 2015.
Three Things to Know
- Can Bowling Green limit turnovers? In 2013, Johnson threw for 3,467 yards with 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. While Knapke was effective in Johnson's absence, turnovers were a problem. Knapke threw 12 interceptions and lost four fumbles. Last season the Bowling Green posted a 6-2 record in games where the Falcons committed less turnovers than their opponents.
- The Falcons have receiving depth. Lewis isn't the only proven receiver returning to Bowling Green in 2015. The Falcons have one of the deepest receiving units in the MAC. Ryan Burbrink had 65 receptions for 758 yards and three touchdowns, and Ronnie Moore had 56 receptions for 690 yards and five touchdowns a season ago. If the Falcons can keep Johnson upright, it should be an interesting match-up for Bowling Green's receivers against Tennessee's secondary. Vols safety Brian Randolph is a three-year starter, and cornerback Cameron Sutton is a two-year starter.
- History shows the MAC doesn't stack up to the SEC. SEC teams are 83-13 all-time against the MAC, according to mcubed.net. The last time a MAC opponent beat an SEC team was on Oct. 2, 2004, when Ohio beat Kentucky 28-16. In the 2010s decade, the SEC is 22-0 against MAC opponents. The SEC also went 25-3 in the 2000s. History shows the odds are against Bowling Green.
