Pete Lembo’s Buffalo Bulls were a surprise contender in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play last season, finishing 6-2 in conference games and 9-4 overall. But with the transfer portal and NIL reshaping rosters across the country, is Lembo’s success sustainable, or was it a one-year flash in the pan?
Pete Lembo Earns High Praise for First Season With Buffalo
College Sports Network gave Lembo an “A” grade not just for the improved record but also for the Bulls’ offensive surge. Buffalo averaged 7.9 more points per game, secured a Bahamas Bowl victory, and strung together a five-game winning streak.
Linebacker Shaun Dolac was a consensus All-American, leading the nation with 159 tackles, while Red Murdock recorded 143.
Special teams also shined, with Victor Snow totaling 217 punt return yards on 15 returns.
The Bulls made a major leap in recruiting, climbing 18 spots in national rankings—a significant boost for the program. They also ranked among the top five teams in transfer portal retention, joining Army, Navy, and Notre Dame as programs with minimal player departures.
Lembo told G5 Football Daily, “So often in college football, you see a head coach come in and just scorch the earth because they feel like they need to,” “On the contrary, I’m a big believer that you can learn a lot and flatten the learning curve from some of the people that are there.”
Lembo has emphasized culture, education, health, and nutrition, and it has translated to on-field success. It’s clear those factors did just that in 2024. They’re apparently set to do the same in 2025 and beyond in Northwestern New York.
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Lembo also hired Ryan Horton as the team’s strength and conditioning coach, helping implement Olympic-level training programs to maximize player development.
Before arriving at Buffalo, Lembo had a successful run as a special teams coordinator at South Carolina, Memphis, and Rice. He previously led Ball State to a 10-3 record in 2013 but had not coached in the MAC since 2015.
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