Eddie George's second season as Bowling Green's head football coach has not gone according to plan.
The Falcons are 0-3 for the former Ohio State Heisman Trophy-winning running back and lost their last two games at Nebraska and at Iowa State by a combined 111-14.
But, well, how much can we really read into that? Going on the road against a pair of power conference teams was always going to be a steep challenge. They also lost at home 20-13 to Tarleton State. so read into that what you will.
"I have a lot of respect for Coach George. I've known him for a while. He's got a great staff,: Bulls coach Brian Hartline said. "Got a lot of relationships that are on the staff that I know, and they're great people. It'll be a great opportunity to kind of go out there and respectfully compete against them.
The George-Hartline storyline is something to talk about. Both are Ohio State alums and played in the NFL. Some locals might try to drum up something about Hartline returning to Ohio for the first time since joining the Bulls last December, but don't expect him to bite on that.
"We're going on a business trip, so I really don't have a whole lot of warm and fuzzy feelings when it goes to traveling anywhere," Hartline said.
It is a chance for the Bulls to go 4-0 for the first time since 2018 and grab a second win on the road. They are coming off a 59-17 win over Delaware State where they rolled up 611 yards on offense.
Hartline wasn't impressed with that after the Bulls struggled in the first half. He also let his team know how he felt.
"For us to achieve our goals, like, we are so unbelievably far away that it would almost be insane to not notice that. If they can't notice that -- offense, defense, special teams -- then we probably got the wrong guys. I don't think we got the wrong guys. I think we got the right guys," he said.
"They realized, the coaches realized for us to do what we want to do, we are so freaking far away. Promise, talking the team. I didn't use freaking. I'm gonna use a different word. But, like, we're so far away, so we're not even close. It's honestly a little scary, the fact that we're not further along from where we are."
Interestingly, it is the Falcons' homecoming game. Aren't you supposed to schedule a creampuff for homecoming?
How to watch USF at Bowling Green in Week 4
Date: Saturday, September 27 at Doyt Perry Stadium (capacity 24,000)
Time: 5 p.m.
How to watch: ESPN+ Play-by-Play: Kelsie Kasper, Analyst: Ryan Cavanaugh
How to listen: Q105 FM & Tune-In Digital Radio – Bulls Unlimited. Play by play: Jim Lighthall. Analyst: Sam Barrington. Sideline: Joey Johnson. Pregame Show (1 hour prior to kick): Darek Sharp, Rock Riley and Joey Johnson
What are the betting odds for USF at Bowling Green?
FanDuel Sportsbook favors USF by 18.5 points. The ESPN matchup predictor gives USF a 93.2 percent chance of winning.
Series between USF vs. Bowling Green
The Bulls beat Bowling Green 29-7 in 2002. That is the only meeting between the two programs.
What's the weather forecast for this game?
The forecast is for temperatures in the low 70s leading up to kickoff with light winds and little chance of reain.
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