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ATHENS, Ohio – Football and men's basketball are on the road, with cross country set for NCAA Great Lake Regionals, while volleyball closes out the regular season with a battle for second place in the MAC. Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints, presented by Memorial Health System.
FOOTBALL
Nov. 11 / at Western Michigan / Kalamazoo, Mich. / Stafford-Smith Field at Waldo Stadium / 8 p.m. ET / ESPN2 / Watch / Live Stats / Listen / Ohio Notes / WMU Notes / Digital Guide
The Ohio football team (6-3, 4-1 MAC) is set to continue "midweek MACtion" when it hits the road on Tuesday, Nov. 11 to take on the Western Michigan Broncos (5-4, 4-1 MAC). Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium and can be seen on ESPN2 Network with Clay Matvick and Chase Daniel on the call.
The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Veteran Ohio radio personality Marty Bannister is reprising his role as Ohio's play-by-play broadcaster. Bannister will be joined by color analyst Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for more than two decades.
The Bobcats and the Broncos have met 66 times since 1939, posting a 32-33-1 overall record. Ohio maintained its lead the entire game when the two last met in 2023, securing a 20-17 lead at Frank Solich Field. Running back Sieh Bangura scored one of Ohio's two touchdowns on the day.
Ohio is coming off a thrilling 24-24 win over Miami on Nov. 4 in Athens.
Among the most impactful players for Ohio was redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura who rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown to go along with a 97-yard kick return for a touchdown. By the game's end, Bangura had a game-leading 229 all purpose yards. Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro had another great game for the Bobcats, recording 201 yards in the air, including a touchdown, and 28 yards on the ground. Catching passes from Navarro was redshirt junior wide receiver Rodney Harris II, who tallied 92 receiving yards that included the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Ohio's other top receivers were junior wide receiver Chase Hendricks, who had three catches for 40 yards, and redshirt sophomore Mason Williams, who had two catches for 23 yards.
On defense, the Bobcats were led by true freshman linebacker Charlie Christopher, who tallied 12 total tackles, including six solo stops. Junior safety Jalen Thomeson tallied his first career interception in the fourth quarter to seal the game for Ohio. Redshirt junior linebacker Jack Fries contributed eight total tackles, including half a sack.
The Broncos are currently 5-4 overall, posting a 4-1 record against conference opponents. Western Michigan's only loss of the season is to the Miami RedHawks (Oct. 25) and is coming off a 24-21 victory over Central Michigan (Nov. 1). As a team, WMU averages 22.33 points on 157.9 rushing yards and 161.11 passing yards per game.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Broc Lowry leads the Broncos in the air and is currently 125-for-193 with one interception and seven touchdowns on 1,314 yards. A dual threat, Lowry also leads the team on the ground, logging team highs in rushing yards (591), carries (125) and rushing touchdowns (8). Responsible for 50 total points this season, Lowry is the Broncos' leading scorer. Junior running back Ofa "Lolo" Mataele has scored three times on 181 yards and 39 carries, while redshirt junior running back Jalen Buckley and senior running back Devin Miles have both scored twice on 98 and 57 touches, respectively.
On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt senior linebacker Sefa Saipaia Jr. leads the Broncos with 54 tackles, including 20 solo stops. Graduate student safety Tate Hallock owns a team-best 24 solo tackles and is one of six WMU defenders to snag an interception so far this season. Redshirt senior defensive end Nadame Tucker accounts for 15 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, while senior defensive lineman Rodney McGraw snagged two fumble recoveries.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 11 / at Saint Mary's / Moraga, Calif. / University Credit Union Pavilion / 10 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Listen / Ohio Notes / Saint Mary's Notes / Digital Guide
Nov. 15 / at #11 Louisville / Louisville, Ky. / KFC Yum! Center / 12 p.m. ET / The CW / Watch / Live Stats / Listen / Ohio Notes / Louisville Notes / Digital Guide
The Ohio men's basketball team (1-1) hits the road for the first time during the 2025-26 season this week when the Bobcats go coast to coast for two matchups. The week begins on Tuesday, Nov. 11 when Ohio heads to Moraga, Calif. to take on Saint Mary's (2-0). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside University Credit Union Pavilion and can be seen on ESPN+. Ohio is back on the road on Saturday, Nov. 15 when the Bobcats head to Louisville, Ky. to take on No. 11 Louisville (2-0). Tip-off is set for Noon ET inside the KFC Yum! Center and can be seen on The CW.
The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Jason Toy begins his second season on the mic for the Bobcats and will be joined by Dave Cecutti. WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station net- work's flagship and can be heard on the Varsity Network App
Ohio is coming off a 1-1 week that saw the Bobcats defeat the Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorites Thursday night inside the Convocation Center. Over week one, senior forward Aidan Hadaway averaged 18 points and seven rebounds, while senior guard Jackson Paveletzke averaged 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds. Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons added 15 points and 3.5 boards per game, while redshirt senior forward Jalen Breath added 10 points. Hadaway scored a career-high 28 points in the season opener against Arkansas State, while Paveletzke scored 19 points and dished out six assists on Thursday against Illinois State.
Saint Mary's is currently 2-0 after the first week of the season, defeating St. Thomas and Chattanooga. The Gaels open the year receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches polls, and find themselves ranked second in the preseason College Insider Mid-Major Top-25, behind only WCC Rival Gonzaga. The Gaels were picked to finish second in the preseason West Coast Conference Coaches Poll, but had the most preseason All-WCC selections. Currently, Mikey Lewis leads the Gaels with 25.5 points a game, while shooting .583 from the field, followed by Paulius Murauskas with 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and is averaging .632 from the field.
Louisville is currently 2-0 overall after opening the season with wins over South Carolina State and Jackson State, and will take on Kentucky on Tuesday in Louisville before hosting the Bobcats. Early on in the season, six Cardinals are averaging double figures, with Khani Rooths leading the team with 18.0 points a game and 8.5 rebounds, while shooting .619 from the field. Ryan Conwell adds 15.5 points and 5.5 boards, while shooting .417 from three. Mikel Brown, Jr. adds 14.5 points, 4.5 boards and 7.5 assists a game.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 13 / vs. Morehead State / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 11 a.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Ohio Notes / Morehead State Notes / Digital Guide / Roster Card / Tickets
The Ohio women's basketball team (1-1) is back in action for one game this week after a successful opening week of the season. The Bobcats are back in the Convo on Thursday, Nov. 13 when they take on Morehead State (1-1) for their annual Rufus Field Trip Game. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off a 1-1 week that saw the Bobcats open the season with a win at Texas State on the road, before falling to Columbia at home on Sunday afternoon. Early in the season, graduate student Elli Garnett leads Ohio with 14.0 points per game, while shooting .563 from the field and .500 from three, while junior Asiah Baxter adds 13.5 points, while also shooting 56.3 percent from the field and leading the team with 4.0 boards a game.
Morehead State is currently 1-1 overall after opening the season at No. 20 Kentucky and defeating Bellarmine on the road on Friday. Marie Sepp leads Morehead State with 16.5 points a game, while shooting .478 from the field. Laura Toffali adds 15.5 points a game and 7.0 rebounds, while Violet McNece averages 14.0 points a game, while footing 40 percent from three.
VOLLEYBALL
Nov. 13 / vs Western Michigan / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live States / Digital Guide / Tickets
Nov. 14 / vs Western Michigan / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live States / Digital Guide / Tickets / Senior Day
The Ohio volleyball team (13-15, 11-5 MAC) concludes the 2025 regular season this weekend for a pivotal matachup for the No. 2 seed at the 2025 MAC Tournament next week in Bowling Green. The week begins on Thursday, Nov. 13 when the Bobcats host Western Michigan (15-14, 12-4 MAC). First serve is set for 6 p.m. ET. Ohio wraps up the regular season on Friday, Nov. 14 against WMU at 6 p.m. ET. Both matchups will take place inside the Convocation Center and be seen on ESPN+, with Friday set to serve as Ohio's Senior Night with a pregame ceremony prior to first serve.
WMU is currently 14-15 overall and 12-4 in MAC play and sit one game ahead of the Bobcats in the MAC standings, with the Broncos in second and the Bobcats in third. WMU is coming off a sweep of Kent State last weekend at home, with the Broncos taking down the Flashes, 3-0, in both matchups.
Ohio is coming off a 2-0 week that saw Ohio take down NIU on the road to win their 11th matchup out of their last 12 and secure a spot in next week's MAC Tournament in Bowling Green. Ohio took the first match, 3-1, before coming back from two sets down on Saturday to reverse sweep the Huskies in five sets.
On Saturday at NIU, Ohio finished with 55 kills, five aces, seven blocks, 47 assists and 59 digs. Northern Illinois finished 52 kills, eight aces, 13 blocks, 44 assists and 61 digs. Juniors Gentry Brown and Emily Waddell both led the team with 10 kills each. Brown also finished with two assists, two aces, one block, seven digs and 12.5 points. Waddell also contributed three blocks, two digs and 12.0 points. Juniors Olivia Gardner, Torre Kildow and freshman Bailey Blair all tallied eight kills each for Ohio.
CROSS COUNTRY
Nov. 14 / at 2025 NCAA Great Lakes Regional / Evansville, Ind. / Angel Mounds Cross Country Course / TBA / Live Stats / Championship Central
The Ohio men's and women's cross country teams are back in action for the 2025 NCAA Great Lakes Regionals on Friday, Nov. 14. The event is hosted by Evansville at the Angel Mounds Cross Country Course. Start times for Friday's races are still to be determined.
Ohio is coming off a successful trip at the 2025 AMC Championships on Nov. 1 in Buffalo. The women's team placed second overall behind Toledo with 62 points. The men's team finished fifth overall with 103 points.
Graduate student Kelsi Harris led a group of four Bobcats who earned All-MAC honors. Harris recorded her best finish yet at the conference meet, placing sixth (20:56.0) and earning a spot on the All-MAC First Team. Senior Leila Boussedra, senior Allie Martin and junior Andrew Bracken all earned a spot on the women's and men's All-MAC Second Team.
The top-two teams at the Great Lakes Regional will automatically advance to the 2025 NCAA Chapionships. while the first four regional finishers not from an auto qualifier or at-large team also secure and auto-bid to the Championships.
WRESTLING
Nov. 15 / vs. Wisconsin / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Results / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio wrestling team (1-0) is back in action on Saturday, Nov. 15 when the Bobcats host Big Ten opponent Wisconsin (1-0). The meet is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off a commanding 44-2 win over Morgan State Saturday evening at the Ohio Showcase inside the Convo. Ohio won nine out of 10 bouts on the day. At 157 lbs, redshirt junior Derek Raike picked up a win in his season debut, defeating opponent Sincere Bailey by major decision, 9-0. Redshirt Senior Sal Perrine returned to the mat in dominant fashion, defeating opponent Sam Diggs by technical fall at 5:00. Closing out the meet for the Bobcats was redshirt senior Zayne Lehman, making his debut at 197 lbs. with a strong performance, winning by sudden victory (fall) at 3:00. Lehman's victory closed out a dominant 44-2 victory in the Bobcat's first dual meet of the season.
Wisconsin comes to Ohio with a 1-0 record after defeating North Dakota State, 36-3 on Nov. 1 in Madison, Wis. The Bobcats and Badgers met last season in the dual opener at the Wisconsin Showcase, with Ohio coming away with the 25-14 victory.
#OUohyeah
