2009 Buffalo Bulls football team

2009 Buffalo Bulls football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record5–7 (5–3 MAC)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorFred Reed (1st season)
Captains
Home stadiumUniversity at Buffalo Stadium
2009 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Ohio xy   7 1     9 5  
Temple x   7 1     9 4  
Bowling Green   6 2     7 6  
Kent State   4 4     5 7  
Buffalo   3 5     5 7  
Akron   2 6     3 9  
Miami (OH)   1 7     1 11  
West Division
No. 23 Central Michigan x$   8 0     12 2  
Northern Illinois   5 3     7 6  
Western Michigan   4 4     5 7  
Toledo   3 5     5 7  
Ball State   2 6     2 10  
Eastern Michigan   0 8     0 12  
Championship: Central Michigan 20, Ohio 10
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Turner Gill in his fourth and final season as head coach, the Bulls compiled an overall record of 5–7 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing fifth in the MAC's East Division. The team played home games at the University at Buffalo Stadium in Amherst, New York.

The season got off to a bad start for the Bulls as star running back James Starks injured the labrum in his left shoulder in a preseason scrimmage. It was determined that he would need surgery and miss the whole year. Because he was redshirted his first year at Buffalo, he was able to play again for the Bulls. Buffalo's offense struggled to overcome the loss of Starks and the up-and-down play of new starting quarterback Zach Maynard, while the defense continued to have a hard time stopping opposing teams and could not generate as many turnovers as they did in 2008. Buffalo was out of MAC championship contention midway through the season, but finished with two straight wins on the road.

After the season, Gill accepted an offer to become the head football coach at the University of Kansas. Gill was replaced by Jeff Quinn.