What Is 1985 Bowling Green Football Team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1985 Bowling Green State University football team represented the school in the NCAA Division I-A season, finishing with a 6-5 record under head coach Dennis Stolz. They played in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and did not qualify for a bowl game.

Key Facts

The 1985 Bowling Green football team had a final record of 6 wins and 5 losses.
Head coach Dennis Stolz led the team during his fifth and final season.
They competed in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and finished with a 5-4 conference record.
The team played its home games at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The 1985 season marked the last year for Stolz as head coach before his resignation.

Overview

The 1985 Bowling Green State University football team represented the Falcons in the NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the team was led by fifth-year head coach Dennis Stolz and played its home games at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Despite a slightly above-.500 overall record, the team did not qualify for a postseason bowl game. The 1985 season was notable as the final year of Stolz's tenure, who resigned after the season concluded, marking a transition period for the program.

Record: The team finished the season with a 6-5 overall record, including a 5-4 mark in MAC conference play, placing them in the middle of the conference standings.
Head coach:Dennis Stolz, who had been head coach since 1981, resigned after the 1985 season, concluding a 30-year career in college football coaching.
Home stadium: All home games were played at Doyt L. Perry Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 24,000 and has been the Falcons' home since 1966.
Conference: As a member of the Mid-American Conference, the team faced rivals such as Toledo, Ohio, and Central Michigan during the regular season.
Postseason: The 1985 team did not qualify for a bowl game, ending the season after the regular schedule concluded in November.

Season Performance

The 1985 season was marked by inconsistency, with the Falcons starting strong but faltering in key conference matchups. The team showed flashes of offensive potential but struggled with defensive consistency, ultimately falling short of postseason eligibility.

September Start: The Falcons opened the season with a 3-1 record, including a win over rival Toledo, giving early optimism for a successful campaign.
Midseason Struggles: A three-game losing streak in October against MAC opponents derailed momentum and hurt their conference standing.
Offensive Output: The team averaged 21.3 points per game, ranking in the middle tier of MAC scoring offenses during the 1985 season.
Defensive Performance: The defense allowed an average of 23.8 points per game, contributing to narrow losses and close finishes.
Key Players: While no individual players from the 1985 team earned All-American honors, several contributed to future seasons, including defensive standout Jim Krumm.
Final Game: The season concluded with a loss to Central Michigan on November 16, sealing their 6-5 record and ending postseason hopes.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1985 season to surrounding years highlights trends in coaching stability, conference performance, and program trajectory.

Season	Record (Overall)	Conference Record	Bowl Game	Head Coach
1983	6-5	5-4	No	Dennis Stolz
1984	5-6	4-5	No	Dennis Stolz
1985	6-5	5-4	No	Dennis Stolz
1986	4-7	4-5	No	Doug Graber (first year)
1987	4-7	4-4	No	Doug Graber

The table illustrates that the 1985 season was one of modest improvement over the previous year but was followed by a decline after Stolz's departure. The transition to new coaching leadership in 1986 marked a downturn in performance, making 1985 one of the stronger seasons in that five-year stretch.

Why It Matters

While not a championship season, the 1985 Bowling Green football team is significant for marking the end of an era and setting the stage for future changes in the program. It reflects the challenges of mid-major college football during the 1980s, where consistency and postseason access were difficult to achieve.

Coaching Transition: The resignation of Dennis Stolz after 1985 led to a coaching search that brought in Doug Graber, initiating a new chapter for the program.
Program Stability: The mid-1980s were a period of modest performance for Bowling Green, with no winning seasons from 1986 to 1989.
Historical Context: The 1985 season occurred before the rise of national television exposure and conference realignment that later transformed MAC visibility.
Player Development: Several players from the 1985 roster contributed to future teams, helping maintain continuity despite coaching changes.
Conference Competition: The MAC remained a competitive league, and the Falcons' .500 conference record reflected the parity among member schools.
Legacy: The 1985 team is remembered as a transitional squad that closed one era and preceded a rebuilding phase under new leadership.

Understanding the 1985 season provides insight into the evolution of Bowling Green football, illustrating how coaching changes and conference dynamics shape long-term program success.