STAT WATCH: Buffalo's 11 sacks are most in FBS since 2019

Updated Oct. 25, 2021 2:17 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Buffalo is back on top of the Mid-American Conference sacks chart after its school-record performance against Akron.

The Bulls have been the MAC's leading sack team the past two years, but had slipped a bit this season under a new coaching staff and were fifth entering their game at Akron on Saturday.

The Bulls' 11 sacks were the most by a Football Bowl Subdivision team since Miami (Ohio) recorded 12 against Akron in 2019.

Kyler Laing had 3.5 sacks, the most by a Buffalo player since the program moved to the FBS in 1999.

Buffalo, which had a total of 12 sacks over its previous six games, moved from 41st to seventh nationally in sacks, and from fifth to first in the MAC.

Akron has been an easy mark for defenses looking to build up their sack numbers. The Zips have allowed 202 in their last 52 games, and they've allowed six or more in 12 games since 2017.

THE 200 CLUB

Chris Smith of Louisiana and Chase Brown of Illinois turned in the only 200-yard rushing performances.

Smith ran 24 times for 238 yards against Arkansas State on Thursday, and Brown had 33 carries for 223 yards against Penn State.

His rushing total was the highest against Penn State since Michigan State's Sedrick Irvin went for 238 yards in 1997.

THERE HE GOES

TCU's Derius Davis became the 10th FBS player to return a kick 100 yards, doing it on the

It was Davis' first kick return for a touchdown. He has run back four punts for TDs, which is tied for second in program history.

His kick return was the Horned Frogs' first for a touchdown since KaVontae Turpin went 99 yards against Oklahoma in 2018. It was the Frogs' first TD on an opening kickoff since at least 1996.

LONG PUNT RETURN

, the longest in the FBS since Texas State's Brandon McDowell returned one 95 yards against Prairie View in 2015.

ANOTHER 99-YARDER

on Thursday, the second time in five days that an FBS player had a 99-yarder. The first was Ohio quarterback Armani Rogers, who covered that distance against Buffalo.

Before those two runs, no one had gone 99 yards on a rushing attempt since Abdul Adams of Oklahoma against Baylor in 2017.

ROMEO REELS 'EM IN

Nevada's Romeo Doubs had the most receptions of any FBS player since 2019 when

Doubs program record-tying number of catches ranked as the most since East Carolina's Tyler Snead had 19 for 240 yards against SMU in 2019.

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