With a 40–34 double overtime win over Bowling Green on November 21, the Bulls won the MAC East division and gained a berth to the MAC Championship for the first time.

The Bulls won their first conference championship by beating #12 ranked and previously undefeated Ball State, 42–24 on December 5.

[1] The Bulls also received their first votes in the USA Today Coaches' Poll after winning the MAC Championship when UTEP coach Mike Price voted the Bulls #23 on his ballot.

On December 16, Buffalo announced head coach Turner Gill agreed to a contract extension and a raise.

[2] Gill's contract now runs through 2013 and makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the MAC.