1997 Bowling Green Falcons football team

1997 Bowling Green Falcons football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	East
Record	3–8 (3–5 MAC)
Head coach	Gary Blackney (7th season)
Offensive coordinator	Mike Faragalli (2nd season)
Home stadium	Doyt Perry Stadium

1997 Mid-American Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Marshall x$		7	–	1					10	–	3
Miami (OH)		6	–	2					8	–	3
Ohio		6	–	2					8	–	3
Bowling Green		3	–	5					3	–	8
Kent State		3	–	5					3	–	8
Akron		2	–	7					2	–	9
West Division
Toledo x		7	–	1					9	–	3
Western Michigan		6	–	2					8	–	3
Ball State		4	–	4					5	–	6
Eastern Michigan		4	–	5					4	–	7
Central Michigan		1	–	7					2	–	9
Northern Illinois		0	–	8					0	–	11
Championship: Marshall 34, Toledo 14
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions

The 1997 Bowling Green Falcons football team was an American football team that represented Bowling Green University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their seventh season under head coach Gary Blackney, the Falcons compiled a 3–8 record (3–5 against MAC opponents), finished in a tie for fourth place in the MAC East Division, and were outscored by all opponents by a combined total of 341 to 191.

The team's statistical leaders included Bob Niemet with 1,723 passing yards, Robbie Hollis with 492 rushing yards, and Damron Hamilton with 777 receiving yards.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result
August 30	at Louisiana Tech		L 23–30
September 6	Miami (OH)		W 28–21
September 13	at Ohio State		L 13–44
September 20	at Akron		W 31–28
September 27	at Kansas State		L 0–58
October 4	Northern Illinois		W 35–10
October 11	Western Michigan		L 21–34
October 18	at Ohio		L 0–24
October 25	Toledo		L 20–35
November 1	at Kent		L 20–29
November 8	at Marshall		L 0–28