Former conference rivals will clash on Christmas Day as the Buffalo Bulls and Marshall Thundering Herd meet in the 2020 Camellia Bowl. While Marshall now calls Conference USA home, the Herd once thundered through the MAC - after transitioning from Division I-AA (FCS) in 1997.

From 1999 through 2004, Buffalo and Marshall met on the gridiron six times as members of the MAC - and the guys in green and white won every time. In fact, Marshall leads the all-time series, 8-1, but that doesn't mean fans should write-off the team from the Empire State. The Bulls are playing in their third straight bowl game and fifth in program history.

Buffalo would certainly like to record its second bowl win in program history and make it back-to-back bowl wins too. The Bulls knocked off the Charlotte 49ers (also from C-USA) last year in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl.

The matchup on Christmas Day pits the nation's top rushing offense (Buffalo, 309.5) against the nation's second best rushing defense (Marshall, 88.9). And we already know this postseason contest has a history of exciting games.

"The Camellia Bowl has a knack for down-to-the-wire finishes and we expect another great game from Buffalo and Marshall," said Johnny Williams, executive director of the Camellia Bowl.

Let's take a look at the teams ...

A Look at the Buffalo Bulls
Jaret Patterson is 116 yards shy of 4,000 for his career. He would become just the second player in school history to rush for 4,000 yards. Branden Oliver holds the school record with 4,049, 165 yards more than Patterson's current total. The Bulls have scored touchdowns on their opening possession in five of their six games this season, including each of the last four games. Jaret Patterson's next rushing touchdown will be his 20th and break his own single-season school record. He also had 19 rushing touchdowns in 2019. With his next sack, Malcolm Koonce will pass Steven Means (18.5) for fifth and tie Trevor Scott (19) for fourth in school history in career sacks. Friday will mark the first time in program history UB will play a football game on Christmas.

UB is coming off a 38-28 loss to Ball State in the MAC Championship game on Friday. The Bulls were led by wide receiver Antonio Nunn who had a career-best 13 receptions for 182 yards against the Cardinals. The Bulls are 5-0 all-time against Conference USA programs. Buffalo has notched wins over UTEP in 2008 and 2009, FAU in 2015 and 2017 and Charlotte in 2019. UB leads the nation in rushing, averaging 309.5 yards per game. Their current average is by far the best in school history, besting their previous high of 250.5 set last season. If the Bulls can finish atop the national rankings, they would be the first non-option based offense to lead the nation in rushing since Auburn in 2013.

The third quarter has been the best quarter for the Bulls this season. UB has outscored its opponents 91-10 in the third quarter so far this season. The Bulls scored at least 14 third-quarter points in five of their six games. In fact, in Buffalo's win over Miami (OH), the Bulls scored on its first four possessions of the second half, with scoring drives of 81, 82, 62 and 84 yards.

The Bulls have scored 30 rushing touchdowns in six games which is third in school history for a season. The school record for rushing touchdowns in a season is 36 set in 2018 and 2019.

A Look at the Marshall Thundering Herd
The Herd compiled a 7-2 record in what could only be called a strange 2020 season. Marshall heads into the Camellia Bowl coming off a 22-13 loss to UAB in the C-USA Championship game. The Thundering Herd is led by defensive end Darius Hodge who has 56 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks on the season.

Marshall is playing in its seventh bowl game in the last eight seasons. The Thundering Herd have been more-than-impressive in the postseason, going 12-3 (.800) all-time in 15 bowl games. It's the highest winning percentage nationally among teams with at least six bowl games.

Marshall is making its eighth bowl appearance under head coach 2020 AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year Doc Holiday, who has compiled an 85-53 (.616) record in 10 seasons with the Thundering Herd. Quarterback Grant Wells led C-USA in passing yards (1,977) and passing touchdowns (18), running back Brenden Knox has 887 rushing yards and nine rushing TDs, with both operating behind an offensive line led by seniors Ball and Madden and alongside Gaines. Linebacker Tavante Beckett led C-USA in tackles per game (10.0) and tops the nation in fumbles recovered (4). Another defender that Buffalo will have to gameplan for is Darius Hodge. The Marshall defensive end is third in the league in sacks (6.5) and sixth in tackles for loss (9.0).

Game Details
Buffalo (5-1) will be featured as the host team against Marshall (7-2) when the Bulls and Thundering Herd kickoff the 2020 Camellia Bowl at 2:30p ET, 1:30p CT on Christmas Day. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.