By Pete Nakos
OhioBobcats.com Feature Writer

Coming off of a loss in any type of championship game is tough, especially when preparing to play another.

In the case of the Ohio (8-5) football team, it will have to shake off a 29-23 loss to No. 13 Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

The game it will look to find redemption in is the 2016 Dollar General Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, against the Troy Trojans (9-3). The Bobcats are returning to Mobile for the first time since 2006 when they played in the bowl, then called the GMAC Bowl. This marks the eighth straight year of bowl eligibility for Ohio and the seventh bowl they have appeared in during that stretch.

“They were disappointed after that, they expected to win that football game,” coach Frank Solich said. “They're also a smart football team, they know you need to move on. They started moving on right away in terms of preparation for a bowl game.”

So the Bobcats moved on, and have settled into the southern hospitality offered in Mobile. Redshirt senior quarterback Greg Windham said the main focus has been ending the season on a high note.

Windham entered the MAC Championship game at the start of the second quarter, leading the Bobcats with his 214 passing yards and three touchdowns.

He will get the start against the Trojans. 

“I feel like all of us are just ready to go out there and have some fun,” he said. “I'm ready to go out on Friday and see what we can do.”

One of his keys to knowing that the Bobcats will win— Ohio won the bowling completion and eight of the last nine years the team who won the competition won the game itself— is to take car of the ball.

At the Dr. Pepper's Mayor Luncheon on Thursday, guest speaker Steve Spurrier put it best, no team wants to end the season with a bitter taste in its mouth.

The Trojans come into the game with an up-tempo offense that led the Sunbelt Conference in scoring, passing and total offense with 49 touchdowns and 5,263 yards.

Ohio will look to thwart that attack with its defense, led by a front seven that set the single season record in sacks with 43 this season.

Senior defensive end Tarell Basham—who was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year— will play the last two games of his college football career at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The Dollar General Bowl and the Reese's Senior Bowl.

Mostly, he is focused on the last game he will play with his teammates, looking to end his career at Ohio on a high note.

“I would love for it to end with a win. I'd love to go out big, making big plays with the guys I came in with,” Basham said. “I'm honored to have been here and played with the guys I've played with.

“What better way to end it than with a bowl win, in your last time out with the people who have met so much to you?”

See below for a full season recap with a breakdown of each game in 2016.

Texas State

Ohio suffered its first loss of the season, 56-54, to the Texas State Bobcats in the first triple-overtime game in Ohio football history. Quarterback Greg Windham threw for 393 yards and four touchdowns, as he was not sacked once. Running back Papi White scrambled for 75 yards on a screen pass with seconds left in regulation to give the Bobcats a 38-35 lead. Ohio failed a two-point conversion in the third overtime, which resulted in the loss.

Kansas

Ohio picked up its first win of the season with a 37-21 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks. It was the first win over a current BIG 12 team since 1967 against Kansas. The Bobcats' defense terrorized the Jayhawk offense, as it forced two fumbles. Quarterback Greg Windham threw for 167 yards and ran for 146, as he totaled two touchdowns on the day. Running back Dorian Brown got the job done on the ground, rushing for 122 yards.

Tennessee

Ohio fell 28-19 to No. 15 Tennessee. The Bobcats were led by kicker Louie Zervos, who was 4-4 on field goals, and receiver Sebastian Smith, who led Ohio in receiving with nine catches for 156 yards. With a minute left in the third quarter, quarterback Greg Windham hit wide receiver Jordan Reid in the end zone, making it a 21-19 game, the closest margin of the day. Windham threw for 230 yards on the Vols defense.

Gardner-Webb

Ohio defeated Gardner-Webb 37-21, as the Bobcats were led by quarterback Quinton Maxwell who went 11-for-14, 167 yards, and threw for two touchdowns and receiver Sebastian Smith had six receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns. The defense reached the quarterback two times on the day and held the Bulldogs to 156 passing yards. Wide receiver Kyle Belack added 33 yards and one touchdown, too. Quarterback Greg Windham started the game and led Ohio on a 75-yard touchdown drive to start the game.

Miami

Ohio defeated Miami 17-7 in the 93rd meeting of the 'Battle of the Bricks', improving coach Frank Solich's all-time record to 10-2 against the RedHawks. Linebacker Blair Brown sacked Miami quarterback Noah Wezensky, for a loss of 13, popping the ball loose, which was recovered by Kevin Robbins in the end zone for a touchdown. With the touchdown, the Bobcats sealed their 17-7 win. Brown finished with nine tackles on the day, and Ohio forced four turnovers.

Bowling Green

Ohio held on to beat Mid-American Conference East Division rival Bowling Green 30-24. With the win, the Bobcats' defeated the Falcons for the first time since 2011. Midway through the third quarter, Ohio led 30-10 thanks to a 75-yard drive led by quarterback Greg Windham, which was capped off by a 5-yard run from Windham. On the day, the Bobcats forced three interceptions, the highlight coming from safety Javon Hagan to set up an Ohio score.

Eastern Michigan

Ohio dropped a 27-20 loss to Eastern Michigan on Oct. 15, the loss was the first Ohio had suffered against Eastern Michigan since 1999. It marked the first action for the season for Ohio's redshirt freshman quarterback Quinton Maxwell as he went 17-26 for 188 yards and a touchdown. Senior WR Sebastian Smith led Ohio with 123 yards on eight catches. RS senior LB Blair Brown led the defense with 12 total tackles including seven solo stops.

Kent State

Ohio picked up a 14-10 win at Kent State on Oct. 22 behind a stingy Bobcat defense which was led by Tarell Basham with nine tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss. The Bobcats picked up two rushing touchdowns, one each from RS junior RB Dorian Brown and RS sophomore RB Maleek Irons. Irons picked up a career-long run of 60-yards while Brown also broke for a 49-yard touchdown score.

Toledo

Ohio beat Toledo 31-26 for the first time since 1988 behind Dorian Brown's 212 yards on 29 carries and one touchdown. The victory made Ohio bowl eligible for the eighth-straight year. Ohio won at the Glass Bowl for the first time since 1967 and it marked the first win over Toledo for Solich. Brown's total was the highest for an Ohio rusher that season and was the third straight game he had reached 100+ yards.

Buffalo

Ohio never trailed and defeated Buffalo 34-10 at Peden Stadium behind RS sophomore RB Papi White's 73-yard touchdown catch on the first play of the game. RS freshman QB Quinton Maxwell throws for 236 yards with two touchdowns and ran one in himself. RS freshman placekicker Louie Zervos nailed a career-long 51-yard field goal and the 10th longest kick in Ohio history. White finished the game with 115 all-purpose yards including 113 yards receiving.

Central Michigan

Ohio fell short to Central Michigan 27-20 on Nov. 15, fueled by redshirt freshman quarterback Quinton Maxwell's 208 passing yards and touchdowns by running backs Papi White and Dorian Brown. Maxwell broke 200 yards for the second time this season throwing for 208 yards and a touchdown. Maxwell went 16-36 with one interception. Senior wide receiver Sebastian Smith caught a career-long 53 yard pass from Maxwell. Smith finished with four catches for 92 yards. Ohio held CMU to a season low 18 net rushing yards.

Akron

Ohio beat Akron 9-3 on Nov. 23 to clinch the Bobcats first MAC East Division Championship since 2011. With the win, Ohio advances to the MAC Championship game in Detroit to face the West Division Champion. Ohio defeated Akron 9-3 on senior night behind a defensive effort that held the Zips to a total of 231 yards and three field goals from redshirt freshman Louie Zervos. Redshirt junior cornerback Bradd Ellis tipped a last second pass to Austin Wolf in the end zone, ending the Zips effort to take the lead.

Western Michigan – MAC Championship Game 

Ohio gave No. 17 Western Michigan all they could handle and had the ball driving in the final minute, but ultimately dropped a 29-23 loss to the Broncos in the 2016 Marathon Mid-American Conference Championship game in front of a record crowd (45,615) at Ford Field Friday. RS senior Greg Windham came off the bench for Ohio to go 14-30 for 214 yards and passed for three touchdowns in the game including throwing a 67-yard pass to RS sophomore running back Papi White. White finished the game with two catches for 98 yards.