Oliver helps Buffalo roll over Ohio in 30-3 win

AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) -- Branden Oliver had 249 yards rushing and two touchdowns to lead Buffalo to a 30-3 victory over Ohio on Tuesday night.

Joe Licata threw two touchdown passes to Alex Neutz as the Bulls (7-2, 5-0 Mid-American Conference) won their seventh straight game. It's the Bulls' longest winning streak since they won seven straight over the span of the 1958-59 seasons.

Neutz had four receptions for 79 yards. The two scores increased his career total to 28 touchdowns receiving, matching the school record set by Naaman Roosevelt from 2006-09.

With three games left, the Bobcats (6-3, 3-2) were all but mathematically eliminated from winning the East division.

Tyler Tettleton was 14-for-31 passing for 126 yards as the Bobcats offense was kept in check. Ohio managed just 233 yards, and its only points came on Josiah Yazdani's 23-yard field goal.

It was a significant drop-off for a Frank Solich-coached team that had combined for 97 points and 1,082 yards in its previous two games.

Ohio also was hurt by a questionable call by referee Tom McCabe that resulted in a safety in the opening minutes of the third quarter that helped Buffalo grab control.

Facing third-and-7 at the Ohio 27 on the opening drive, Tettleton was flushed out of the pocket by linebackers Khalil Mack and Jarrett Franklin. Tettleton backpedalled to his own 4 before throwing the ball away.

McCabe penalized Tettleton for intentional grounding, and ruled he had thrown the ball from inside the end zone, resulting in a safety that put Buffalo ahead 9-3. Replays showed Tettleton never got beyond the 4 and also showed McCabe was within 2 yards of the quarterback when he released the ball.

Tettleton's momentum eventually led him to tumble into the end zone, but it was long after he threw the ball to the sideline.

McCabe ruled the spot of the ball was not reviewable by replay.

The Bulls then broke the game open by scoring on their next three possessions to build a 30-3 lead. Licata capped the surge with a 24-yard TD pass to Neutz 1:55 into the fourth quarter.

Licata was 13 for 22 for 169 yards as Buffalo extended its home winning streak to seven for the school's best run since winning eight straight in 1983-84.

The Bulls opened the scoring on Oliver's 2-yard run 2 minutes into the second quarter. The scoring drive was set up by Mack, who ended an Ohio scoring threat by forcing a fumble by receiver Matt Waters at the Buffalo 28.

That was Mack's second forced fumble of the season and 13th of his career, moving into a tie for sixth on the NCAA list -- one short of matching the record.