The Ohio Bobcats football team is a major intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University. The team represents the university as the senior member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), playing at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Bobcats have played their home games in Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio, since 1929.
Ohio's first football game is reported in 1894, an 8âÂÂ0 loss to Marietta College. Since then, the Bobcats have posted an over 500 wins over their 125-year existence and over 200 wins in their 72 years in MAC games. The Bobcats have won six MAC championships, in 1953, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1968, and 2024, and five MAC East Division championships, in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2022. Prior to joining the MAC, the Bobcats won six Buckeye Athletic Association championships, in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1936, and 1938. During that era, "All State" Bobcat player Chris Stefan broke all collegiate records by running for an amazing 104 yards touchdown, by first faking a kick from behind his own end zone, and rushing unabated to score against Xavier of Ohio (as documented by conference officials, and reported by both AP and Ohio Press). In 1960, the Bobcats were crowned National Small College Champions after compiling a 10âÂÂ0 record under Bill Hess.
The Bobcats have appeared in twelve bowl games, losing 15âÂÂ14 to West Texas State in the 1962 Sun Bowl, losing 49âÂÂ42 to Richmond in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl, falling 28âÂÂ7 to Southern Mississippi in the 2007 GMAC Bowl, losing 21âÂÂ17 to Marshall in the 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, and a defeat at the hands of Troy in the 2010 New Orleans Bowl. Ohio won their first bowl game on December 17, 2011, with a 24âÂÂ23 victory over the Utah State Aggies in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Ohio followed up that bowl win with another in 2012 over LouisianaâÂÂMonroe in the 2012 Independence Bowl, by the score 45âÂÂ14. In 2013, Ohio played in their fifth consecutive bowl game, losing to East Carolina in the 2013 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl. Ohio lost in the 2015 Camellia Bowl and the 2016 Dollar General Bowl, before defeating UAB in the 2017 Bahamas Bowl and San Diego State in the 2018 Frisco Bowl. Ohio University is also the first team to produce a shut out during a MAC Bowl game.
In 2021, the Ohio Bobcats broke the NCAA all-time record for the longest ever TD Run by a Quarterback in a 99-yard run against MAC foe Buffalo.
In 1892, Ohio University became a member of a four-school conferenceâÂÂthe Athletic League of Ohio CollegesâÂÂwhich included Otterbein College, Wittenberg University, and Marietta College. A football schedule never materialized, however, and the league dissolved before even a single game was played, though a baseball championship was held in the spring of 1892, with Wittenberg claiming the pennant. In preparation, though, a team was formed on Ohio's campus and H.R. Higley was elected captain. He soon began coaching the team, according to the student newspaper, the Panorama. For the first time, the football team was given space in the Athena yearbook in 1892. The entire team was listed by position and name. The local newspaper reports that a team was organized and had the "expectation" to compete against other colleges in the "not distant future." In 1893, coaches are reported to have watched a game in Gambier. The first intercollegiate football game involving an Ohio University team was played in Athens in 1894 against Marietta College. It was the only contest played that year by Ohio, with Marietta winning by a score of 8âÂÂ0. The next year the Bobcats faced a five-game schedule, under the leadership of coach Harvey Deme. The 1895 squad was 2âÂÂ3, with wins against Parkersburg High School [abbreviated Parker H.S. in some early records] and Lancaster High School, and losses against Ohio Wesleyan and Marietta College (twice).
From 1896 to 1905, the football program was in a state of flux, with a new coach taking over the reins every year. Injuries and the untimely death of the Ohio University quarterback, on the field, in December 1898, was a sombering event, with severe injuries often taking place in early collegiate football as uniforms of the era provided little physical protection. The coaches during this time period included Frank Remsberg, Warwick Ford, Peter McLaren, Fred Sullivan, Karl Core, Art Jones, Henry Hart, Joseph Railsback, and Harold Monosmith, with Sullivan being coach in both 1899 and 1903. The best records of this time period were forged in 1897 and 1901 under Warwick Ford and Art Jones, respectively. The 'Cats were 7âÂÂ2 in their 1897 campaign, and posted a 6âÂÂ1âÂÂ2 record in 1901. The 1897 season, which produced the best record of any of the 19th Century campaigns, started with two straight lossesâÂÂto Marietta College and Cincinnati. The team then reeled off seven straight with victories over Muskingum College, Dennison College, Ohio Medical University, West Virginia University, Otterbein College, Marietta College, and Ohio Deaf and Dumb Institute. The home victory over WVU inspired a poem that appeared in The Athens Messenger and Herald newspaper.
Beginning in 1906, the Bobcats began to assert themselves as a more permanent entity on campus with the hiring of Arthur McFarland as head coach. The 1906 squad exploded for a 7âÂÂ1 record, with wins over respected programs such as West Virginia University and the University of Cincinnati. The program tailed off considerably in 1907, however, and would not post a .500 record until 1911 under coach Arthur Hinaman. The 1911 squad outscored all opponents 88âÂÂ44, but only managed to post a 3âÂÂ3âÂÂ2 record. Arguably the greatest Ohio team of the early era was Mark Bank's 1915 squad. This storied club posted an 8âÂÂ1 record and outscored all opponents by a combined 175âÂÂ33. Beating such teams as the University of Cincinnati, Marshall University, and Transylvania University, the Bobcats' only loss was a 13âÂÂ6 affair against archrival Miami University.
Following the explosion of the 1915 team, the Bobcats experienced a period of success during the late 1910s. The 1916 team posted a record of 5âÂÂ2âÂÂ1, and the 1918 squad went an undefeated 4âÂÂ0âÂÂ1, with wins over the Ohio State freshman team and Denison University. In 1920, Russ Finsterwald was hired to lead the 'Cats into a new decade. His tenure, however, was marked by relative mediocrity, with records of 4âÂÂ3, 4âÂÂ4âÂÂ1, and 5âÂÂ3 in his three years at the helm. F.B. Heldt was named coach in 1923 and posted a record of 3âÂÂ5âÂÂ1. His lack of success against challenging opponents lead to a quick dismissal, and ultimately forced the hiring of Bobcat legend Don Peden.
Through its football history, Ohio University has had 28 head coaches. Of these, Don Peden has the longest tenure, 21 seasons. Over that period, he compiled a record of 121 wins, 46 losses and 11 ties. To this day, his .711 winning percentage is by far the best of any Bobcats coach with more than twenty games of competition. As part of Peden's legacy, the Bobcats' present-day stadium (known as Ohio Stadium in Peden's time) now dons the name Peden Stadium. Peden's tenure began rather unceremoniously in 1924, with a 4âÂÂ4 record. The next year, however, Peden led the 'Cats to a 6âÂÂ2 season and wins over the Cincinnati and Toledo.
From 1926 to 1928, the Bobcats posted winning records every season, with the 1928 team forging a 6âÂÂ3 season and a marquee 66âÂÂ6 victory over the Cincinnati. Peden oversaw one of the Bobcats' best-ever spans â seven seasons from 1929 through 1935 â in which Ohio compiled a cumulative record of 49âÂÂ9âÂÂ3. In that period, Peden's squads won four Buckeye Athletic Association championships and enjoyed three undefeated seasons. In 1929, the Bobcats moved into brand new Ohio Stadium, and celebrated with a 9âÂÂ0 record, while giving up just seven points all season (a lone touchdown to Ohio Wesleyan). The 1935 team upset the University of Illinois in the season opener, 6âÂÂ0, on its way to a perfect 8âÂÂ0 season. That year, the Bobcats were led by All-American Art Lewis, a sturdy tackle who became a first-round selection of the New York Giants in the first-ever National Football League draft in 1936. Lewis would go on to become a very successful college coach himself at West Virginia. Peden continued his legacy of success following the graduation of Lewis and the other seniors of the 1935 team. He won a Buckeye Athletic Association title in 1936 and another in 1938, with the 1938 team being one of the best under Peden. That team upset Illinois yet again, and also earned victories over Xavier, Marshall, and arch-rival Miami. The Bobcats would never win another Buckeye Athletic Association title under Peden, though he still led the team through many winning seasons and thrilling victories. His storied 1941 team posted a record of 5âÂÂ2âÂÂ1 while outscoring all opponents 108âÂÂ42. Bobcat football was interrupted by World War II, with Ohio not fielding a team in either the 1943 or 1944 seasons. The 1945 team was 3âÂÂ4 while struggling to recruit new members after the war and facing a challenging schedule. In his final year as head coach, 1946, Peden steered the Bobcats into the Mid-American Conference as a charter member. Today, the Bobcats are the only team still in the conference from the original five-team league that included Butler, Cincinnati, Wayne State, and Case Western. The 1946 squad was 6âÂÂ3, and posted impressive wins over Western Michigan and Murray State.
With the retirement of legendary coach Don Peden in 1946, the Ohio athletics administration knew that it would be challenging to find a worthy successor. The man chosen was Harold Wise, who lasted only two seasons and posted 3âÂÂ5âÂÂ1 and 3âÂÂ6 records. His teams were competitive, but struggled to face the challenging schedule presented by membership in the MAC. His 1948 team, though only 3âÂÂ6, is best known for its 37âÂÂ7 demolishing of Case Western Reserve. In 1949, Carroll Widdoes became the new coach of the Bobcats following a successful two-year tenure at Ohio State. Widdoes led the team to a 4âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 record in his first year, and made noise with an opening day upset of West Virginia. Widdoes' 1950, 1951, and 1952 teams all posted winning records, and were led by All-American linebacker Vince Costello and #33 fullback Jim(Big Train)McKenna. Costello would go on to a highly decorated professional career with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. The 1953 squad won Ohio's first-ever Mid-American Conference title, while posting an impressive 6âÂÂ2âÂÂ1 record (5âÂÂ0âÂÂ1 MAC). The 1954 squad failed to disappoint as well, posting a 6âÂÂ3 mark against a challenging gauntlet that featured perennial power Harvard. The 1955 Bobcats were 5âÂÂ4, but in 1956 and 1957 Ohio was 2âÂÂ7 and 2âÂÂ6âÂÂ1, respectively. After consecutive losing seasons, Widdoes resigned as coach and became Ohio's athletics director.
Widdoes handpicked a successor in Bill Hess, who had spent seven seasons as an assistant to Woody Hayes at Ohio State University and brought a similar philosophy to Athens. If one Bobcat coach could rival the success of Don Peden, it would be Hess, who was head coach from 1958 to 1977, although he was fighting terminal cancer during his last season (when the team went 1-10). In his 20 seasons at the helm, Hess had a 108âÂÂ91âÂÂ4 record for a winning percentage of .542. He was responsible for bringing 4 MAC titles and one National Championship to Athens. He also took the Bobcats to two bowl games, and oversaw countless winning seasons and exciting victories along the way. The 1958 season under Hess ushered in a new level of Bobcat success. Against a grueling schedule, Ohio was 5âÂÂ4, and amassed a thrilling 23âÂÂ6 upset of Louisville. That team outscored all opponents by a combined 159âÂÂ102, but was only a precursor of the impending prominence. In Hess's second season in 1959, Ohio went 7âÂÂ2, finishing as runners-up to an undefeated Bowling Green squad. The following year, 1960, the Green and White enjoyed what many argue was their best season ever. Behind the powerful running of Robert Brooks and the blocking and tackling of two-way standout Dick Grecni, the Bobcats went a perfect 10âÂÂ0. In the process, they claimed the national small college championship. Grecni earned All-America honors and was one of five standouts on that team who eventually played professionally.
Two years later in 1962, Hess led Ohio to its first-ever bowl game, a matchup with West Texas State in the 1962 Sun Bowl. Jim McKee kicked a 52-yard field goal to put the Bobcats ahead early but they trailed at the half 7âÂÂ3. In the third quarter, three time all-MAC performer Skip Hoovler intercepted a pass and ran it back 91 yards for a touchdown. Ohio led 14âÂÂ7 late in the game before West Texas scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion to win 15âÂÂ14. Hoovler was named Lineman of the Game, and his 91-yard interception still stands as a Sun Bowl record. Ironically, the Bobcats did not win the MAC in that 1962 season but did go to a bowl. The following season, Ohio won the league championship but was not invited to a bowl game. From 1964 to 1966, Hess's teams struggled, with the low point being a 0âÂÂ10 season in 1965. The 'Cats were far from a disaster, however, and in 1967, Hess would claim his third MAC championship (shared with the Toledo). That team also raised eyebrows with a 30âÂÂ15 win over Kansas, runners-up in the Big Eight conference that season. It was a performance that hinted at even greater things to come. In 1968, the most explosive Bobcat offense ever stormed its way to a 10âÂÂ0 regular season, a MAC championship, and an invitation to the 1968 Tangerine Bowl. Along the way, they racked up 418 points in 11 games. That average of 37.6 points per game stood as the MAC record until 1997. The amazing pass-and-catch combination of Cleve Bryant and Todd Snyder, coupled with the sturdy running of Dave LeVeck and Bob Houmard, proved to be nearly unstoppable. The 1968 season also marked Ohio's first-ever appearance in the Top 20. On the heels of a 28âÂÂ27 victory over the Bowling Green in which the Bobcats scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes, Bryant led the way to a 60âÂÂ48 win against the Cincinnati. Sports Illustrated called it an "insane circus" and it helped to land the 'Cats at 18th in the United Press International coaches' poll and 20th in the Associated Press writers' poll. Ohio would cap off the season at the Tangerine Bowl against the Richmond and to no one's surprise the contest was another shootout. Bryant threw four touchdown passes and Snyder caught 11 passes for 214 yards. But it wasn't enough, however, as Richmond prevailed for a 49âÂÂ42 win.
The 1969 season saw the Bobcats begin to tail off a bit, with the team only posting a record of 5âÂÂ4âÂÂ1. That team did score several impressive victories, though, with a 46âÂÂ6 win over the Cincinnati and a 35âÂÂ35 tie against Minnesota. Hess's squads would not enjoy a .500 record again until 1973, when the 'Cats were 5âÂÂ5 with a 14âÂÂ12 upset of the Northwestern. The 1974 and 1975 teams were 6âÂÂ5 and 5âÂÂ5âÂÂ1, respectively, and built up to the successful 1976 season. In Hess's second to last year, Ohio managed a 7âÂÂ4 mark, including a 6âÂÂ2 record against MAC foes. Hess would also coach the 1977 while fighting a battle with cancer, leading the team to a 1âÂÂ10 record that included numerous close losses to challenging opponents. Hess died on June 10, 1978, prior to the 1978 season.
During the next 17 years, Ohio went through four different head coaches while seeking a return to the level that the program had achieved under Hess. Hess's immediate successor was Bob Kappes, who lasted only one year (1978) and posted a 3âÂÂ8 record. Kappes was replaced by Brian Burke (1979-1984), who brought the program back to a reasonable level of respectability. The 1979 and 1980 teams were both 6âÂÂ5, with the Bobcats managing to beat Miami both years. The 1982 squad also managed a 6âÂÂ5 mark, with a key 20âÂÂ0 win against Miami and a 17âÂÂ14 upset of Toledo. Following a 1984 season that saw the 'Cats go 4âÂÂ6âÂÂ1, Burke was replaced by Cleve Bryant (1985-1989), an Ohio legend who was responsible for quarterbacking the 1967 and 1968 MAC championship teams. Bryant proved less successful as a coach, however, and led the team to a 2âÂÂ9 record in his first year. He followed that up with 1âÂÂ10 campaigns in 1986 and 1987, leading to his best year in 1988. That year, the 'Cats were 4âÂÂ6âÂÂ1, and beat Miami for the first time in 4 years. Bryant's team fell to 1âÂÂ9âÂÂ1 in 1989, though, and Bryant was subsequently relieved of his duties as coach of the 'Cats. The 1990 saw the arrival of Tom Lichtenberg (1990-1994) to coach the Bobcats, though the results on the field were similar to those seen under Bryant. The 1990 squad was 1âÂÂ9âÂÂ1, and that was followed up with a 2âÂÂ8âÂÂ1 performance in 1991. Lichtenberg's best year was 1993, in which he led the Bobcats to a 4âÂÂ7 mark and a win over Miami for the first time since 1988. However, the 1994 Bobcats were winless, going 0âÂÂ11 and leading to the dismissal of Lichtenberg and his staff.
In 1995, Jim Grobe took over an Ohio program that was in great need of an overhaul. He brought with him a unique offensive and defensive philosophy learned as a long-time assistant coach at the United States Air Force Academy. While most of the college football world was moving towards a high-octane passing attack, Grobe took the Bobcats back to the basics of the triple option, with wildly successful results. Ohio scored over 300 points in both 1996 and 1997, going 8âÂÂ3 in 1997. It was the Green and White's first winning season in 15 years. Grobe's squads were prolific offensive teams, in spite of the media's ill-conceived notion of an "antique" offense. Kareem Wilson, the Bobcats' fireplug of a quarterback, was voted the MAC's Offensive Player of the Year following a 1996 season in which he rushed for 1,072 yards and a school-record 14 touchdowns. Meanwhile, fullback Steveland Hookfin was piling up 3,972 rushing yards during the same era to become Ohio's all-time rushing leader. Wilson's total of 3,597 yards still stands as the fifth-most ever by an NCAA quarterback. His 875 career carries are the most by a signal caller in college football history. Following the success of the 1996 and 1997 campaigns, Grobe teams fell to 5âÂÂ6 in both 1998 and 1999. In 2000, however, the 'Cats went 7âÂÂ4 and upset Minnesota for their first win over a Big Ten Conference team in 27 years. Ohio finished that season with a win over Marshall, giving the 'Cats two wins over bowl teams for the first time since the 1970s. The 2000 team also set a new school record for total offense, piling up 4,599 yards. The total broke the previous mark held by the legendary 1968 squad. After the 2000 season, however, Grobe left the 'Cats to become head coach of Wake Forest.
Grobe's appointed successor was Brian Knorr, who had been an assistant with Grobe while at Air Force and was Grobe's defensive coordinator at Ohio. Knorr proved inept as a head coach, however, and posted a 1âÂÂ10 mark in 2001 despite retaining many players from the 7âÂÂ4 2001 squad. Knorr was 4âÂÂ8 in 2002, and regressed to 2âÂÂ10 in 2003. In 2004 a slight improvement was seen with a 4âÂÂ7 record and a marquee win over the Kentucky Wildcats, but it was too little too late for Knorr. He was fired after the 2004 season.
Frank Solich was named the 28th football coach of the Bobcats on December 16, 2004. Prior to coming to Ohio, Solich spent many years as a part of the University of Nebraska football program, as a player, an assistant coach, and later as the head coach. Solich was head coach of the Cornhuskers from 1998 to 2003 where he directed Nebraska to 6 consecutive bowl games, including the national championship game in the 2002 Rose Bowl. Solich's impact on the Ohio program was immediate, as plans were put in place to renovate Ohio's football facilities and increase financial support for the football program. Also, Ohio was selected to appear on national television 6 times for the 2005 football season, a record for the program. Frank Solich's first home game as coach of Ohio was a memorable one, as Peden Stadium brought in its largest crowd ever at the time to watch the Bobcats defeat Pittsburgh 16âÂÂ10 in overtime.
Under the guidance of Frank Solich, the Ohio football program enjoyed a return to national prominence in 2006. On November 16, 2006, the Bobcats secured their first ever Mid-American Conference East Division title and their first football championship of any sort since 1968 with a victory over Akron. The Bobcats advanced to the 2006 MAC Championship Game, where they were defeated by Central Michigan 31âÂÂ10. Still, the Bobcats were invited to the 2007 GMAC Bowl on January 7, 2007; only the third bowl game in school history and their first since 1968. In that game, the Bobcats were defeated by Southern Mississippi 28âÂÂ7. The Bobcats followed up the impressive 2006 campaign with a 6âÂÂ6 record in 2007, and was one of 6 bowl eligible programs that was not invited to post-season play.
The Bobcats returned to the post-season in 2009, posting a 9âÂÂ3 regular season record and another MAC East Championship. Ohio played in the 2009 MAC Championship Game, where they fell to Central Michigan 20âÂÂ10. On December 26, 2009, the Bobcats fell 21âÂÂ17 to Marshall in the 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. The following season, the Bobcats won their home opener against Wofford before dropping their next three straight. The Bobcats went on to win their next seven before playing at Kent State for a chance to play in the MAC Championship game. The Bobcats were blown out at the hands of Troy on December 18, 2010, in the 2010 New Orleans Bowl 48âÂÂ21.
After the loss in New Orleans, Solich sent top offensive assistants Tim Albin and Gerry Gdowski to Troy, Alabama to learn the spread offense. The season prior, he had sent assistants to Nevada to learn the pistol offense. Solich planned to use the pistol and the spread, scrapping the fullback dive for the zone-read run. Needing a quarterback that was both able to throw the ball downfield effectively and command the no-huddle offense a battle commenced for the starting quarterback position. Tyler Tettleton emerged as the starting quarterback over the likes of Kyle Snyder and Phil Bates, who switched his position to wide receiver. Ohio's new spread offense proved to be explosive in the early part of the season, averaging just under 40 points per game in their first 3 contests, all of which were convincing wins. The Bobcats would go on to finish 10âÂÂ4 on the season, including a 20-point, 2nd half collapse in the 2011 MAC Championship Game against Northern Illinois. Despite the crushing loss, Ohio rebounded to defeat Utah State 24âÂÂ23 in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The win was the first bowl victory in the program's history.
Ohio kicked off their 2012 season with a prime time nationally televised win on ESPN over Penn State and won their next six contests, starting the season 7âÂÂ0 for the first time in 1968. The team's enhanced national reputation prompted the president of the United States, during a visit to campus in October 2012, to exclaim "I hear you Bobcats have quite an exciting football team and they are fun to watch...undefeated this year!" Following that win the Bobcats were ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press poll. The following week moved up to No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 25 in the BCS standings, but were defeated 23âÂÂ20 by the Miami University Redhawks on October 27 and dropped out of the top 25 in both the AP and BCS rankings. The Bobcats were consequently invited to the 2012 Independence Bowl and won their second straight bowl game, 45âÂÂ14 over the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. In 2013, the Bobcats started 6âÂÂ2, but went 1âÂÂ4 the rest of the season, including a loss in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl to East Carolina. After consecutive second place seasons in 2014 and 2016, Ohio won the MAC East during the 2016 season but lost to an undefeated Western Michigan team in the 2016 MAC Championship Game During the 2018 season, Solich won his 109th game with the Bobcats, vaulting him past Hess to become the second-winningest coach in school history, behind only Peden. Solich recorded his 111th win as Ohio coach with 66âÂÂ24 win over Bowling Green during the 2019 season, making him the winningest coach in MAC history. Ohio won three straight games in the 2017 Bahamas Bowl, 2018 Frisco Bowl and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl after the 2019 season. Ohio was bowl eligible for twelve consecutive seasons from 2009 through 2020 at the end of Solich's tenure.
On July 14, 2021, following Solich's retirement, longtime Bobcat offensive coordinator Tim Albin was named the 29th head coach of the program. In his first season, the Bobcats finished 3âÂÂ5 in the MAC to finish in third place in the East Division. They went 0âÂÂ4 in non-conference games including a loss to FCS Duquesne. This was Ohio's first losing season since 2008. The 2022 season marked a big turnaround from 2021. They finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak with a 9âÂÂ3 record and 7âÂÂ1 mark in the MAC. They won the MAC East for the first time since 2016. but lost to Toledo in the MAC Championship Game. Ohio defeated Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl He led the Bobcats to their 2nd straight 9 win regular season in 2023. Their most impressive win to come in 2023 was over Iowa State University of the Big 12 Athletic Conference. Ohio finished the regular season with the fifth-best scoring defense in the FBS at 15.4 points per game, while allowing 96 rushing yards (8th) and 168 passing yards (7th) per game. Ohio accepted a bid to play Georgia Southern in the Myrtle Beach Bowl The Bobcats scored 41 points with the aid of five forced turnovers by the defense to cruise to a 41âÂÂ21 victory.
In 2024, the football team had a third straight nine-win regular season. At 7âÂÂ1 in MAC play they qualified to play Miami in the MAC Championship game Ohio defeated Miami 38âÂÂ3 to win the MAC outright. Albin brought Ohio their first MAC Championship since 1968 and left after the game to take the head coaching position at Charlotte. Ohio accepted a bid to play Jacksonville State, the champions of Conference USA in the Cure Bowl.
Offensive coordinator Brian Smith was named the interim head coach for the 2024 Cure Bowl after Albin resigned to take the head coach position at Charlotte. Ohio named him the permanent head coach a week later. Ohio won the bowl 30âÂÂ27 and gave Brian Smith his first ever win, Ohio its first-ever 11-win season, and extended Ohio's bowl winning streak to six games. On December 1, 2025, after an 8âÂÂ4 2025 regular season, Ohio announced that defensive coordinator John Hauser would take over as interim head coach effective immediately, with Smith on leave for "an undetermined period of time." On December 17, 2025, the university announced that Smith had been terminated for cause, citing "serious professional misconduct and...activities that reflect unfavorably on the University."
Hauser earned his first win as a head coach as interim coach in a 17âÂÂ10 win over UNLV in the Frisco Bowl. He was named full-time head coach three days after the bowl on December 26. It was Ohio's seventh straight bowl victory and completed a school record forty victories over a four season stretch.
Ohio has been both an independent and conference-affiliated.
Ohio was the 1960 small college national champion, as selected by both Associated Press and UPI in the 1960 small college football rankings. The team outscored its opponents 269âÂÂ34.
Ohio has won twelve conference championships, 11 outright.
â Co-champions
â Co-champions
The Bobcats been to 17 bowl games, and have amassed an 9âÂÂ8 bowl record.
Ohio's archrival is the Miami RedHawks football team. The Battle of the Bricks is an annual all-sports rivalry competition between the Ohio and Miami athletic programs. The name "Battle of the Bricks" evolved from each school's reputation of having a campus of red brick roads. The rivalry between the Bobcats and RedHawks football teams was first played in 1908. The two oldest universities in Ohio, both schools are members of the Mid-American Conference. As of the last meeting in 2024, Miami leads the all-time series 56âÂÂ43âÂÂ2.
Ohio's regional rival is Marshall. The annual football game between Ohio and Marshall is called the Battle for the Bell, with a traveling bell trophy as the prize for the victor. The two schools met in the 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit, with Marshall winning 21âÂÂ17. Although Marshall had won each of the last six meetings between the schools up until the 2011 Ohio win of 44âÂÂ7, Ohio leads the all-time series over the Thundering Herd with a record of 33âÂÂ21âÂÂ6. The most recent matchup was on September 14, 2019.
Ohio football is rich in traditions, and Coach Solich has since his hiring made upholding tradition a cornerstone of his program. Some Ohio football traditions include:
Updated through end of 2024 season. Only includes current MAC teams.
All players in bold are current NFL players.
Announced schedules as of February 19, 2026.