With 2026 and the spring semester upon us, BGSU Athletics had plenty of news that happened during Winter Break while students were away from campus.

From program records and transfer portal updates, here are some of the biggest stories that went down:

HOCKEY STUNS BUCKEYES IN ELECTRIC, SOLD-OUT SLATER

BGSU hockey started 2026 with a come-from-behind 2-2 tie in Columbus against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday, Jan. 2. Following up that performance in front of a sold-out crowd at the Slater Family Ice Arena in Bowling Green, the Falcons defeated the Buckeyes 5-3 for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

The Falcons struck first with a goal from junior forward Tyler Hotson just 1:18 into the contest. After the Buckeyes took a 2-1 lead, Hotson got his second goal of the night to tie the game up at 2-2. Ohio State took a 3-2 lead heading into the third period, but the Falcons equalized just 11 seconds into the third period from a goal by Jaden Grant to make it 3-3. BG senior forward Brett Pfoh scored the game-winning goal with under eight minutes to play, with junior forward Brody Waters scoring the fifth and final goal of the night to cap off an incredible night for the Falcons.

“Tonight was a lot of fun to be a part of. A big thanks to all those that came out to support the club,” said BGSU hockey head coach Dennis Williams. “It was electric playing an old CCHA opponent, a current Big Ten opponent. We had some big goals in there, the fans were great, the band was great.”

In a listed attendance of 5,000 fans at the Slater, Bowling Green earned their 95th win against Ohio State, leading the all-time series 95-81-10 over the Buckeyes.

CAMPBELL ERUPTS FOR HISTORIC PERFORMANCE IN AMHERST

BGSU men’s basketball senior guard Javontae Campbell recorded 47 points in a 101-100 overtime win against UMass to begin the New Year, becoming the first Falcon to record a 40-point game in nearly 20 years–since Martin Samarco against Buffalo on Jan. 7, 2007.

With the game on the line and 10 seconds left, Campbell drew a three-point foul, making all three attempts from the charity stripe to force overtime. In the same game, Campbell went 20/27 from the free-throw line, which tied the record for free throws attempted in a game. Along with his 47 points, he dished out eight assists and grabbed six rebounds.

“Javontae Campbell is just a special player,” said head coach Todd Simon following Campbell’s performance against UMass. “You could see it early on, right from the get-go, that he was dialed in today. No matter what we called for him, he seemed to find a path to the basket, and he did a heck of a job.”

Campbell has earned the MAC Player of the Week award three times this season and currently leads the MAC in steals per game, which is good for second in the nation.

TRANSFER PORTAL SLAMS FOOTBALL PROGRAM

A recent trend in college football has been the impact of the transfer portal affecting multiple programs across the country, especially at the mid-major level.

BGSU football has had 30-plus players enter the transfer portal. With notable players on both sides of the ball, such as All-MAC linebacker Gideon Lampron leaving for Colorado, tackle Nate Pabst committing to Florida State, tight end Jacob Harris to Wisconsin, cornerback MJ Cannon to Cincinnati, and more to come.

Falcon Media Sports Network’s Tyler Kavalecz and Carter Leonard have been tracking the list of players who have entered the portal for the Falcons.

While it doesn’t mean that all players who enter the portal will leave, such as tight end Blane Cleaver, who entered announcing his commitment to staying with the Falcons, the Falcons will have a mostly new look roster entering Eddie George’s second season in charge.

PAIGE KOHLER CARVES NAME INTO PROGRAM HISTORY

Junior guard Paige Kohler became the first BGSU women’s basketball player to record a triple-double in program history against Lourdes back on Dec. 14, scoring 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Kohler, a third-year guard for the Falcons and head coach Fred Chmiel, has started every single game this season and every game since committing to BGSU.

“Paige is solid. I can always count on Paige; she is my security blanket,” said Chimel postgame following Kohler’s historic performance against Lourdes. “She’s the voice in our huddle. She leads by example.”

Kohler was named to the All-MAC Preseason First Team this season and was named to the Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team following her two games against UC Irvine and Alaska Anchorage.

BENNETT PAINTER TRANSFERS TO INDIANA

Former BGSU men’s soccer forward Bennett Painter announced his intention to transfer to Indiana on Dec. 18, after spending three seasons with the Falcons.

Painter finished the 2025 season scoring five goals and two assists. After the Falcons were picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Preseason Poll, they went 5-8-3 overall and 1-4-2 in conference play, missing out on the MVC tournament.

The Cincinnati, Ohio, native played 53 games for the Orange and Brown, with 40 starts and 3,322 minutes played over the past three seasons. He leaves Bowling Green with 21 goals and nine assists, including six game-winners. 

Indiana will be getting a former All-MVC Second Team selection in 2024, an All-MVC Freshman Team member in 2023, and a No. 42 on the TopDrawerSoccer.com Preseason Players Top-100 list.

GREG NOSAL TAKES REINS AS SOLE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

On New Year’s Eve, BGSU football announced that Greg Nosal will take the reins as the program’s offensive coordinator next season.

Nosal has been with the Falcons since 2020 and has coached across the entire offense. Starting as the running backs coach during his first season, he then transitioned to the tight ends position. In 2021, he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator under former head coach Scot Loeffler, a role he held until 2022. Then, during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Nosal served as the offensive line and run game coordinator along with his OC duties.

“I’m thrilled to officially name Greg Nosal our offensive coordinator,” said head coach Eddie George. “A former offensive lineman and our current offensive line coach, Greg, understands the game from the inside out—beginning in the trenches, where championships are built.

Nosal will lead an offense that ranked 10th in the MAC in points with 20.5 a game last season. He led an offensive line during the 2024 season where former Bowling Green quarterback Connor Bazelak put up one of the most efficient passing seasons in program history, and former tight-end, now Cleveland Brown tight end Harold Fannin Jr. became the Falcons’ first ever consensus All-American.