Texas A&M Aggies vs. Bowling Green Falcons Preview

The Texas A&M Aggies are set to take on the Bowling Green Falcons in an under-the-radar matchup on Saturday

Matt Galatzan | Sep 16, 2024

Sep 7, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Bowling Green Falcons quarterback Connor Bazelak (7) looks down the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images / Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

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Texas A&M Aggies

Coming off of a huge win in their SEC opener vs. the Florida Gators, the No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies have a newfound momentum at their backs.

However, as they return home to the friendly confines of Kyle Field, their Week 4 opponent, the Bowling Green Falcons, cannot be overlooked.

Last season, Bowling Green finished the year 7-6 overall, going 5-3 in the MAC, winning five of their last six regular season games before an agonizing 30-24 loss to Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl.

The lone regular season loss in that six-game stretch came at the hands of the Toledo Rockets, who finished the regular season 11-3 and 8-1 in the MAC, eventually falling short of a conference title in the MAC Championship game to Miami (OH).

Fortunately for the Falcons, they returned a good number of starters, including their starting quarterback Connor Bazelak, their leading rusher Terion Stewart, and their leading receiver, Tight end Harold Fannin Jr.

Sep 7, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Bowling Green Falcons quarterback Connor Bazelak (7) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images / Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

They also returned four of their five starting offensive lineman and added two Power 4 conference transfers at the wide receiver position in RJ Garcia (Kansas State) and Malcolm Johnson Jr. (Auburn).

And thus far, that returning and incoming talent has paid dividends, with the Falcons nearly pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the year in a heartbreaking 34-27 loss to No. 8 Penn State in Week 2.

The Falcons led the game 24-20 at the half, before the Nittany Lions outscored them 14-3 in the second half.

With all that in mind, here is a statistical breakdown of what the Falcons will be bringing to Kyle Field on Saturday vs. the Aggies.

Bowling Green Falcons

2024r Record: 1-1

Head Coach: Scot Loeffler

Offensive Leaders:

Passing: QB Connor Bazelak

2024 stats: 40 of 61 for 422 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions

Rushing: RB Terion Stewart

2024 stats: 14 carries for 61 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Receiving: TE Harold Fannin Jr.

2024 stats: 17 catches for 204 yards and one touchdown

Defensive Leaders:

Tackles: LB Joseph Sipp Jr. - 16 total tackles (9 solo, 7 assisted)

Sacks: LB Charles Rosser, DL Anthony Hawkins - 2 each

Interceptions: CB Jacory Benjamin - 1

Published Jun 25, 2024|Modified Sep 16, 2024

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks and SMU Mustangs with 247Sports. He then moved to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.