[7] In 1905, during the period of inactivity, a men's basketball team began play, although it was not officially sponsored by the school.

[17] Buffalo joined the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) in the 1978–79 academic year.

[22] The basketball court at Alumni Arena and turf at UB Stadium also featured silhouettes of New York State.

In their 2004–2005 campaign, led by senior guard Turner Battle (who was hired as a Buffalo assistant coach in 2007), the Bulls went on a run to the Mid-American Conference Championship game, beating Western Michigan in the semifinals at Gund Arena in Cleveland.

In the MAC final, despite leading by 17 at the half, the Bulls lost in overtime to Ohio University on a tip-in by Leon Williams with 0.5 seconds remaining.

[29] The 2014–15 Bulls team, under second-year coach Bobby Hurley, won its first conference championship and clinched its first trip to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in the school's history.

The 2015–16 team, under rookie coach Nate Oats, repeated as MAC championships, making their second trip in a row to the NCAA tournament.

4 seed Arizona in the First round, marking its first win in a Division I tournament game in school history.

[35] In November 2013, Zach Ahart won the MAC men's individual championship race with a time of 24:47.60.

[39] Five years later, in 2008, the Buffalo Bulls routed the previously ranked and unbeaten Ball State Cardinals 42–24, capturing their first Mid-American Conference Championship.

The final game of the 2008 campaign was against the University of Connecticut in the 2009 International Bowl[41] on January 3, 2009, at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

[43][44][45] In 2015, Mack became the first first-team All-Pro in NFL history to be elected in two different positions in the same year, as a defensive end and outside linebacker.

[47] In 2014, a program record was set with fourteen straight victories including their first conference championship in a game over Western Michigan.

As a result, in 2021, Buffalo was not given a chance to play for the conference championship despite finishing with the most wins (a 6–1–1 record) and the highest rating percentage index in the MAC East.

[54] The UB women's tennis team reached the MAC Championship from 2005 to 2008, losing to Western Michigan during the first two efforts.

[58] Lizaiha Garcia has played professionally and for the Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team.

[61] In 1999, Buffalo's first year in the MAC, John Eschenfelder won the conference's individual championship in the heavyweight division.

[63] At the 2011 MAC Wrestling Tournament, Buffalo led all teams with four individual championships, a program record, but placed third nonetheless.

It compiled a final record of 304–568–1 after its revival and failed to qualify for the MAC baseball tournament once in its seventeen seasons in the conference.

[65] In 1977–78, Buffalo became a charter member of the New York Collegiate Hockey Association but left for the SUNYAC a year later.

The Bulls won the CAA title in rowing in 2010 by one point against Northeastern,[66] and finished a close second in 2011.

The Cup was named in recognition and in memory of former Associate Athletic Director and Senior Administrator Nan Harvey, who died in September 2003 after battling cancer for more than three years.

[68] In 2010, Martin John, a full back, successfully passed a trial at Cardiff City, earning a one-year contract.

[25] Buffalo's first unofficial mascot was a 175-pound bison head nicknamed "Boscoe,"[71] which was given to the students by two alumni in 1934 at the first Homecoming football game.

The name "Victor E. Bull" was submitted by undergraduate student, Rustie Hill, and was selected as the winning entry.

[73] At the football home opener that year, Hill was invited out onto the field with Victor E. Bull as he was introduced to the fans.

[76] The UBRFC Mad Turtles play all of their home games at the "Rugby Pitch" located at the Ellicott Complex on the UB's North Campus.

They organize tailgate parties, road trips, events, and programs; and they help promote sports spirit and tradition throughout the university.

[82] The Association is open to all former UB student-athletes, coaches, managers, trainers, and cheerleaders who have participated and/or served in athletics for at least one year.

[83] One member of the Hall of Fame is UB's late president, Bill Greiner,[84][85] who brought the university back to Division I status.