Bowling Green Football: Falcons look to build for future in 2020

How will the Falcons fare in 2020?

Much like 2019, this season will be difficult for the Bowling Green Falcons. This is because they are on a significant rebuilding process that will require time and processing. With the MAC being a tough conference with multiple winning seasons and difficult road wins, the Falcons can find themselves out of contention for the East division early.

Here is the breakdown of the schedule for the Falcons in 2020:

• Game 1: at Ohio State (L) – The Falcons trying to establish their team on both sides of the ball will be too difficult in their first game at Columbus.
• Game 2: Robert Morris (W) – In their first home game of the season, Bowling Green shows their first fight against a 7-5 FCS team last season.
• Game 3: at Illinois (L) – Bowling Green will, once again, travel to a tough territory against a Big Ten opponent.
• Game 4: Buffalo (L) – The Bulls will be on the hunt to win the MAC after finishing tied for second in the East as both teams start conference play.
• Game 5: Liberty (L) – The Falcons can win a surprise game against the Flame coming off a game against FIU but their dangerous dual-threat quarterback in Malik Willis (from Auburn) will be difficult to stop.
• Game 6: Miami (OH) (L) – Miami is looking to be a more dangerous offense in the MAC, which is bad news for the Falcons.
• Game 7: at Toledo (L) – The Falcons begin the tough stretch of four of their next five games on the road against a Rockets team projected to win the West division.
• Game 8: at Ohio (L) – Last year, the Bobcats beat the Falcons 66-24 on the road. Nine Bobcat defenders return to the 2020 team.
• Game 9: Kent State (L) – The Golden Flashes are also undergoing a rebuilding session. They are not in bad shape as the Falcons.
• Game 10: at Akron (W) – Bowling Green gets themselves back on a positive note with the Zips projected to finish last in the MAC.
• Game 11: at Eastern Michigan (L) – In a tough loss, the Falcons find themselves playing against a tough and rising Eagles’ offense.
• Game 12: Northern Illinois (L) – The Falcons finish their season without a second conference win against an aggressive Huskies defense.

Prediction: 2-10 (1-7 MAC)

This will likely be another rough season for the Falcons as they will finish with a 5-19 record in the first two seasons with Loeffler as head coach. They are in an aggressive rebuilding process that will take more than two or three seasons. Most coaches in the MAC stay longer than five seasons as head coach because of the difficult process to build a consistent football program.

What the program will evaluate is the process on the team handles their wins but also their losses. The Falcons are in a positive trend with their solid recruiting in Loeffler’s first full season with Bowling Green. The Falcons are in a tough situation in 2020 with four of their last six games on the road.

There are significant playmakers like tight end Quintin Morris and outside linebacker Kholbe Coleman that will help the Falcons win some games. The project with Matt McDonald will help determine whether the Falcons can continue to be a surprise team in the MAC.

While they will be fighting for a chance to contend for a conference title, they will continue fighting for the future thanks to a solid team-building process and their good recruiting classes.