Pay-for-play games on the road -- often in front of 100,000 fans and against highly-ranked opponents -- are a way of life in the Mid-American Conference.
They're a way of paying the bills, too.
As it turns out, Buffalo took it to the extreme this year. The Bulls opened the season at Ohio State, then the next week traveled to Waco, Texas, to play Baylor.
Ohio State is unbeaten and ranked No. 3 in the latest BCS standings. Baylor is also unbeaten and ranked No. 5.
To make it an even better story, Buffalo hasn't lost since getting blitzed by Baylor, 70-13, either. The Bulls come into tonight's game at Toledo at 7-2 and in control of their own destiny in the MAC East.
They've come a long, long way from early September.
"When I look back at us going down to the Horseshoe in Columbus and that environment, Ohio State jumped out on us early," Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn said. "We're a team with 22 seniors and 23 juniors and they've played at Tennessee and at Georgia. And after that start, I knew we had a good team because we responded. We outscored Ohio State 20-17 to end that game and we built on that.
"Ohio State was an undefeated ballclub a year ago and very easily could have played in the national championship game (last year) and they probably will this year. Our kids played gritty and relentless football for four quarters."
The next week was a track meet. And it was 56-13 at halftime.
"We went down to Waco in 120-degree heat, and boy, oh boy, does Baylor have an explosive group of players," Quinn said. "They're well coached, they've been doing it for a while, and they played great.
"My question was how our kids would respond. I knew we had a good group but that was (a tough start)."
Buffalo came home to play FCS Stony Brook -- 2,000 miles from Baylor, literally and figuratively -- and won that game. In five overtimes.
In six games since, Buffalo has outscored opponents 219-53. It hasn't been Murderer's Row; it's been impressive nonetheless.
"The five-overtime win, I knew then and there it was mark of a very good football team," Quinn said. "It was about how we would respond...our character. From there we just hit our stride. Now, we have to go and try to beat Toledo at their place."
Toledo (6-3) has won four straight and has an impressive resume of its own. The Rockets lost at Florida and at Missouri to start the year and also lost on a late touchdown at Ball State, which is 9-1.
Toledo needs tonight's game to stay in contention in the MAC West pending Ball State's Wednesday night game at Northern Illinois. If Buffalo wins tonight and Ohio beats Bowling Green, Buffalo will be one win from clinching the East.
