CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

1976 Bowling Green

6–⁠5 (4–⁠3 Mid-American Conference), coached by Don Nehlen.

Schedule and results

Bowling Green in 1976, game by game: won at Syracuse 22–7; won vs. Eastern Michigan 53–12; lost vs. San Diego State 15–27; won at Western Michigan 31–28; won at Toledo 29–28; won vs. Kent State 17–13; lost at Miami (OH) 7–9; lost vs. Central Michigan 28–38; lost vs. Ohio 26–31; won vs. Southern Illinois 35–7; lost at Chattanooga 29–49+41−20Won 22–7 at Syracuse+15SyracuseWon 53–12 vs. Eastern Michigan+41Eastern MichiganLost 15–27 vs. San Diego State-12San Diego StateWon 31–28 at Western Michigan+3Western MichiganWon 29–28 at Toledo+1ToledoWon 17–13 vs. Kent State+4Kent StateLost 7–9 at Miami (OH)-2Miami (OH)Lost 28–38 vs. Central Michigan-10Central MichiganLost 26–31 vs. Ohio-5OhioWon 35–7 vs. Southern Illinois+28Southern Illino…Lost 29–49 at Chattanooga-20Chattanooga
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 11atSyracuseW 22–⁠753%
Sep 18vsEastern MichiganW 53–⁠1294%
Sep 25vsSan Diego StateL 15–⁠2754%
Oct 2atWestern MichiganW 31–⁠2867%
Oct 9atToledoW 29–⁠2868%
Oct 16vsKent StateW 17–⁠1369%
Oct 23atMiami (OH)L 7–⁠954%
Oct 30vsCentral MichiganL 28–⁠3873%
Nov 6vsOhioL 26–⁠3163%
Nov 13vsSouthern IllinoisW 35–⁠773%
Nov 20atChattanoogaL 29–⁠4973%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Chattanooga 49–⁠29; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 5th in the Mid-American Conference.

In program history: The 41st-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 73 on file).

Record
6–⁠5
Conference
4–⁠3 tied for 5th in Mid-American Conference
AP final
Unranked
Points
292–⁠249
Coach
Don Nehlen
Elo
1454 −81 this season
SP+ rating
4.9 No. 60 of 132; offense No. 26, defense No. 103
SRS
−4.8 No. 92 of 137 major-college teams
Recruiting class
—

1976 Mid-American Conference standings

Conference page
TeamConf.OverallAP final
Ball State4–⁠18–⁠3
Kent State6–⁠28–⁠4
Ohio6–⁠27–⁠4
Western Michigan6–⁠37–⁠4
Central Michigan4–⁠37–⁠4
Bowling Green4–⁠36–⁠5
Miami (OH)2–⁠43–⁠8
Toledo2–⁠63–⁠8
Eastern Michigan1–⁠52–⁠9
Northern Illinois0–⁠61–⁠10

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.