2017 Week 3

Nebraska State hoped to set some records in its 100th season of college football. But this wasn't one of them.

Buffalo shocked NSU in front of more than 80,000 fans Saturday and handed the Prairie Dogs perhaps perhaps its most embarrassing defeat, 42-40. NSU entered the contest ranked #6 while Buffalo lagged at #113 and a six-game losing streak.

"I'm perplexed," said NSU coach Ryan Ditka. "It just seemed everything we did today was wrong. Even when we had chances, we blew them. There are no other words except we blew it today."

It wasn't as if Buffalo didn't provide NSU with several opportunities in the contest. Leading by just two after Schifano scored on an eight-yard run with 2:33 left, Garcia stole a tipped pass on the next Buffalo series and returned the interception to the Bulls' six-yard line. NSU's Franklin was stuffed on two straight dive plays. On third and goal from the six, Schifano attempted to hit Leonard on an out pattern in front of the left pylon. But Buffalo's Penn stepped in front and took his second pick of the game. A first down later, Buffalo was dousing its coach with Gatorade and celebrating one the program's biggest upsets.

For the second consecutive contest, NSU was out-gained in yardage despite leading the turnover battle. NSU accounted for seven takeaways but the Prairie Dog offense gave the ball back five times.

Irvin gave fans something to cheer about right out of the gate by picking off Buffalo's first pass of the game. Franklin punched the ball in three plays later but Harrell missed the extra point wide right. Buffalo responded on its next series with a 12-play, 78-yard scoring drive. The Bulls scored again, this time after Ruud fumbled a punt and Buffalo's Jordan snatched up the ball and returned it 23 yards for the score.

NSU would throw a curve to the Bulls on the next series. Highly touted freshman DeMario Bates entered the game on third and five and took his first play as a Prairie Dog 39 yards off of the option for a touchdown. Buffalo threw two interceptions in as many attempts, setting up Schifano's first touchdown to Austin. The pair combined for the two-point conversion to give NSU its only lead of the night at 24-21.

Trailing by nine in the fourth, NSU attempted a fake punt on fourth and two at its own 34-yard line. The play was stuffed but Scott grabbed his third interception of the game. The play netted no points as Buffalo was able to hang on for the win.

The loss seriously damages NSU's bid for a 10th National Championship. The Prairie Dogs have two weeks to regroup before traveling to Lincoln for the I-80 Showdown against Nebraska.