FOLLOW OHIO ATHLETICS: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ATHENS, Ohio – It's officially winter break and bowl week iin Athens, while men's basketball and wrestling return to the Convo one more time before the holiday. Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints.
FOOTBALL
Dec. 20 / at StaffDNA Cure Bowl / vs. Jacksonville State / Orlando, Fla. / Camping World Stadium / 12 p.m. ET / ESPN / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Bowl Central / Tickets
The Ohio football team (10-3, 7-1 MAC) is set to take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (9-4, 7-1 CUSA) in the 10th StaffDNA Cure Bowl on Friday, December 20. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN with Brian Custer, Rod Gilmore and Lauren Sisler on the call
The Bobcats' matchup will be covered on two radio broadcasts. Fans can tune in on Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System, as they have been all season. Veteran Ohio radio personality Marty Bannister is stepping into the 2024 play-by-play role and will be joined by Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades.
Additionally, Bowl Season's radio crew will be on-site, with Jamie Seh, Rene Ingoglia and Despina Barton on the call.
The Bobcats are currently 10-3 overall and 7-1 against MAC opponents, coming off their first MAC Championship victory in 56 years. They average 29.23 points per game on 212.2 rushing yards and 187.69 passing yards per game. For the first time since 1968, the Ohio football team won the Mid-American Conference Championship on Saturday Dec. 7. Ohio defeated Miami 38-3, marking the largest margin of victory in a MAC Championship. It was also the first time a team had ever been held to no touchdowns in a Championship game.
The Gamecocks are currently 9-4 overall and 7-1 against Conference USA opponents, coming off a dominant 52-12 victory over Western Kentucky to claim their first CUSA championship title. Senior quarterback Tyler Huff set a CUSA Championship Game record with 167 yards on the ground, earning him Championship Game MVP accolades.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 18 / vs Austin Peay / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio men's basketball team (4-6) is back in Athens for one final matchup before the holiday break on Wednesday, Dec. 18 when the Bobcats host Austin Peay (4-6). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+ where Sam Hyman and Bob Boldon will have the call.
Ohio is coming off a loss at Marshall on Saturday. The Bobcats were led by redshirt sophomore AJ Brown with a season-high 22 points , while going 8-of-17 from the field and 3-of-3 from the line. Senior forward AJ Calyton added 16 points and five rebounds, going 4-of-6 from three.
Austin Peay is currently 4-6 overall and is coming off a 65-60 loss against Southern Illinois on Saturday in Clarksville.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 22 / at UIC / Chicago, Ill. / Credit Union 1 Arena / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide
Ohio women's basketball (2-6) is back in action on Sunday, Dec. 22 when the Bobcats head to Chicago Ill. to take on UIC (2-5). Tip-off is set for 1 p.m ET inside Credit Union 1 Arena and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off a loss at St. Louis on Sunday afternoon. Three Bobcats finished with double figures. Sophomore Bailey Tabeling led the team in scoring with 15 points. Senior Kennedi Watkins and freshman Danni Scully scored 11 points each, a new career-high for Scully.
UIC is currently 2-5 overall and is coming off a loss to DePaul on Friday. UIC will host LSU on Thursday before hosting the Bobcats on Sunday.
WRESTLING
Dec. 17 / at Drexel / Philadelphia, Pa. / Daskalakis Athletic Center / 6 p.m. ET / FloWresting / Watch
Dec. 18 / at Bloomsburg / Bloomsburg, Pa. / Nelson Field House / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
Dec. 22 / vs Gardner-Webb / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
Thw Ohio wresting team (1-1, 0-0 MAC) concludes 2024 with three duals this week starting on Tuesday, Dec. 17 when the Bobcats head to Philadelphia, Pa. to take on Drexel (1-4). The meet is set to begin at 6 p.m. and cam be seen on FloWrestling. Ohio is back in action for their first MAC dual on Wednesday, Dec. 18 when Ohio heads to Bloomsburg, Pa. for a matchup with Bloomsburg (0-6, 0-2 MAC) at 7 p.m. inside Nelson Field House. The meet can be seen on ESPN+. Ohio then concludes the week in Athens on Sunday, Dec. 22 to host Gardner-Webb (2-3) at 1 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off the 2024 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite Dec. 6-7. Redshirt junior Garrett Thompson had an outstanding performance, placing third overall in the 174-pound class after kicking it off with a Fall in the second period against Joseph Martin (Northwestern). From there, Thompson faced off against #8 Jared Simma (Northern Iowa), and #3 Cade DeVos (South Dakota State), winning against both ranked opponents with decisions. In the semifinals, Thompson lost to #12 Lorenzo Norman (Stanford) after a decision of 10-6, but finished the tournament by winning his final matchup against #11 Simon Ruiz (Cornell) with a 10-7 decision, earning him the bronze. Thompson was named MAC Wrestler of the Week for his performance.
Drexel enters the matchup with Ohio with a 1-4 record and is coming off a win at Clarion on Dec. 4, while Bloomsburg is 0-6 and 0-2 in the MAC and is coming off a loss to Wisconsin on Dec. 8. Gardner-Webb enters the matchup with Ohio with a 2-3 mark and is coming off a loss to No. 7 Rutgers and will take on George Mason on Thursday before heading to Athens.
#OUohyeah
