Bowling Green stuns Miami (OH) 24-20 on late TD, collects first win of 2026

Bowling Green entered Saturday with a laundry list of issues.

They were last nationally in scoring offense. Last in total offense. Last in run defense. The Falcons were 0-4 with a loss to an FCS team, while being outscored 125-20 by their three FBS non-conference opponents.

But Saturday provided a clean slate. Bowling Green was 0-0 in MAC play. The Falcons faced a phenomenal challenge on the road, pitted against a Miami (OH) team that defeated UConn and played Cincinnati to the wire. That's why they play the game.

With eight seconds remaining, Bowling Green ran a fullback dive to Leo Kemp, who punched in the game-winning touchdown to secure a 24-20 upset over the RedHawks, letting out an entire month's worth of frustration.

Miami head coach Chuck Martin revealed during game week that starting quarterback David McComb would miss the remainder of the season due to an injury suffered in Week 4. McComb was the engine of the RedHawks' offense. Despite never taking a snap prior to this season, the redshirt freshman produced 1,121 passing yards and seven touchdowns against one interception in his first four starts. He also added three rushing touchdowns and improved Miami's offense over last year's product.

With Miami also down Thomas Gotkowski for the season, that left third-string Caleb Heavner as the starter for this contest. The Division II transfer finished 17-of-24 for 198 yards and one touchdown in his first FBS start, although it was not enough to deliver a victory.

Bowling Green won this matchup by unlocking a previously unforeseen version of the offense. The Falcons were held scoreless in three of their eight halves and never scored more than seven points in a half prior to Saturday, but all those woes were tossed aside in Oxford. Bowling Green was held scoreless in the first quarter, but quarterback Jay Kastantin settled in during the second and delivered his best performance to date.

Kastantin, whose season-high against FBS competition was 122 passing yards, demonstrated a new version of himself in the MAC opener. He posted 305 yards and two touchdowns on a 25-of-37 showing, keeping the Falcons' offense turnover-free in the closely-contested affair. Bowling Green found nearly all of its offensive success through the air, and after Miami claimed a 20-17 lead on a 28-yard field goal with 1:47 remaining, Eddie George and his staff trusted Kastantin to snap the Falcons' losing streak.

The quarterback guided a 10-play, 75-yard two-minute drill drive, completing a series of intermediate passes to traverse the field. The most adversity Bowling Green faced on the drive was a pair of 3rd-and-1s, where were seamlessly converted by the offense. Upon reaching the 14-yard line, Kastantin targeted tight end Jeremiah Scoby in the end zone, and Miami was flagged for pass interference.

That pivotal penalty transported the ball to the 2-yard line, where Leo Kemp concluded things with the game-deciding fullback dive. Enough time remained for a Miami Hail Mary attempt, but Bowling Green defensive end Eriq George sacked Heavner before his last-ditch heave to the end zone.

It was a fitting way to end the game for a Bowling Green front that dominated the Miami offensive line from start to finish. The Falcons' defensive front had been their calling card all season, and they had their best showing in Oxford. George produced three sacks, freshman outside linebacker Cashmire Lewis added two, and defensive end Myles Bradley — who registered 4.5 sacks the week prior — suited up through injury and posted one, boosting his total to 6.5 on the season.

Miami (OH) (2-3, 0-1 MAC) dropped a rare MAC matchup. The RedHawks were 20-4 in conference play from 2023-25, reaching the MAC Championship Game in all three seasons. A fourth trip looked very possible a week ago, but now Miami must overcome the McComb injury for two whole months. Martin's team looks for a rebound on the road next Saturday in a matchup at UMass.

Bowling Green (1-4, 1-0 MAC) pushed its non-conference struggles aside and is 1-0 in its new season. The Falcons only allowed a combined four touchdowns in matchups against South Florida and Miami (OH). They aim to continue this newfound defensive success, while Kastantin and the offense start to hit their stride. That progress will be tested Oct. 10 when Sacramento State makes its first cross-country trip to Doyt Perry Stadium.