Buffalo Prepares For Another Challenge In Baylor

All offseason, the focus of many Bulls fans was their season opener on the road against #2 Ohio State.

The Buckeyes were the marquee team on Buffalo's schedule coming off an undefeated season featuring future hall of fame coach Urban Meyer and Heisman hopeful quarterback Braxton Miller.

What many people failed to notice however was that the Bulls schedule doesn't get any easier heading into week two.

Jeff Quinn leads his squad into Waco, Texas this week to take on a Baylor team expected to compete for a Big XII Championship.

The Bears entered the Top 25 this week (Coaches NR, AP 23) after an absolute throttling of Wofford week one 69-3.

Baylor, once the laughing stock of the Big XII is now an up and coming program, having gone 18-8 the past two seasons while also displaying 2011 Heisman Trophy Winner Robert Griffin III.

Buffalo knows that they have a tough task in front of them but are up for the challenge.

"This is going to be a tremendous challenge for us to be on the road a second straight week against another top ranked team." Quinn said.

Baylor has an explosive hurry up offense and likes to move the ball quickly.

"They spread you, they play fast, as fast as anybody we'll play this year" Quinn said "They get up to the line of scrimmage and within 14 to 15 seconds, they're snapping the ball again."

With the weather forecast expecting temperatures reaching the high nineties, it’s going to be a challenge for the Bulls to stay conditioned throughout the contest.

"We know that it’s going to be over a 100 degrees down there" Quinn said "It’s going to be a factor without a doubt."

One thing Quinn doesn't think will be a factor this week will be his team's fight. After trailing #2 Ohio State 23-0 in the first quarter Saturday, the Bulls kept fighting the entire contest, keeping the game much closer than expected.

"I was most proud of the way our kids went the distance against a very good football team." Quinn said.

Buffalo's competitive performance against the Buckeyes has given confidence to the entire Bulls squad.

"It shows everyone on the team that we're not that much below everyone else" Bulls offensive lineman Jasen Carlson said.

That's the kind of mindset Buffalo will need again this week facing another Top-25 program on the road.

The Bulls will be ready for Baylor. Despite being a lesser name opponent than Ohio State, Carlson knows that Baylor presents just as big of a challenge.

"We were preparing all summer for Ohio State but in the back of our minds we also knew that we had this game week two" Carlson said "I don't think it looks any less daunting, I think our confidence is higher as far as what we can do ourselves but Baylor is a great team"

Buffalo hopes to give #23 Baylor all they can handle Saturday when they travel to Waco, Texas to take on their second consecutive Top-25 opponent on the road to start the year.