1997 Buffalo Bulls football team

1997 Buffalo Bulls football
Conference	Independent
Record	2–9
Head coach	Craig Cirbus (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Joe Reich (1st season)
Captains	Keith Hansen Anthony Swan
Home stadium	University at Buffalo Stadium

1997 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
No. 18 Cal Poly		–		10	–	1
No. 5 Western Kentucky ^		–		10	–	2
No. 17 Hofstra ^		–		9	–	2
No. 25 Liberty		–		9	–	2
Samford		–		7	–	4
Morehead State		–		5	–	4
South Florida		–		5	–	6
Southern Utah		–		5	–	6
Saint Mary's		–		4	–	6
Davidson		–		3	–	8
Buffalo		–		2	–	9
La Salle		–		1	–	8
Charleston Southern		–		1	–	9
Austin Peay		–		0	–	10

^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1997 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo as an independent during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Craig Cirbus, the Bulls compiled a record of 2–9. The team played home games at the University at Buffalo Stadium in Amherst, New York.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 30	7:00 pm	Lock Haven	University at Buffalo Stadium Amherst, NY	W 30–7	12,050
September 6	7:30 pm	at Illinois State	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	L 28–40	8,262	^[1]
September 13	4:00 pm	Delaware State	University at Buffalo Stadium Amherst, NY	W 40–30	7,020	^[2]
September 20	7:00 pm	at Ohio	Peden Stadium Athens, OH	L 0–50	23,336
September 27	1:30 pm	West Chester	University at Buffalo Stadium Amherst, NY	L 27–30	6,508
October 4	1:30 pm	at Connecticut	Memorial Stadium Storrs, CT	L 0–55	13,725
October 11	1:00 pm	at No. 1 Youngstown State	Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH	L 17–52	20,519	^[3]
October 18	1:30 pm	UMass	University at Buffalo Stadium Amherst, NY (rivalry)	L 20–26	6,052
October 25	1:30 pm	Hofstra	University at Buffalo Stadium Amherst, NY	L 26–37	6,353
November 8	1:30 pm	Maine	University at Buffalo Stadium Amherst, NY	L 13–52
November 15	1:00 pm	at No. 1 Villanova	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA	L 28–42	6,831
Homecoming Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

"Mistakes gore Bulls, overshadow individual performances in 40–28 loss". The Buffalo News. September 7, 1997. Retrieved January 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
"Reserves spark UB to 40–30 win". The Buffalo News. September 14, 1997. Retrieved August 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
"Youngstown 52, Buffalo 17". Democrat and Chronicle. October 12, 1997. Retrieved January 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.