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ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio football wraps up the home schedule on Tuesday against UMass, while men's basketball is back in the Convo and volleyball looks to continue their dominate second-half of the season as the begin their quest for a MAC Championship. Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints, presented by Memorial Health System.
FOOTBALL
Nov. 18 / vs UMass / Athens, Ohio / Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium / 7 p.m. ET / CBSSN / Watch / Live Stats / Listen / Ohio Notes / UMass Notes / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio football team (6-4, 4-2 MAC) is set to continue "midweek MACtion" when it returns to Athens on Tuesday, Nov. 18, to host the Massachusetts Minutemen (0-10, 0-6 MAC) for the final home game of the 2025 campaign. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium and can be seen on CBS Sports Network with Fran Charles and Taylor McHargue 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 are 4-0 against the Minutemen, meeting four times from 2012-18.
This matchup marks the first time the programs will face off following UMass's return to the Mid-American Conference. En route to the Bobcats' 58-42 victory in Athens in 2018, quarterback Nathan Rourke rushed for a career-high 189 yards, scoring one touchdown, while running backs Maleek Irons and A.J. Ouellette accounted for the other three rushing touchdowns.
Ohio is coming off a 17-13 road loss at WMU last Tuesday. Redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura led the Bobcats on offense with 97 rushing yards including a touchdown after averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro also had an impressive day on the ground with 105 yards and a rushing touchdown. In the pass game, Ohio was led by redshirt sophomore tight end Mason Williams, who had two receptions for 20 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bobcats were led by redshirt junior linebacker Jack Fries who had 11 total tackles. Freshman linebacker Charlie Christopher had seven tackles including four solo stops in the effort.
The Minutemen are currently 0-10, posting a 0-6 record against conference opponents. They are coming off a 45-3 loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies. UMass averages 10.5 points on 79.5 rushing yards and 166.80 passing yards per game. The Minutemen's opponents average 37.6 points per game.
Redshirt freshman quarterback AJ Hairston has appeared in nine games this season, going 107-for-215 with four interceptions and four touchdowns. Hairston threw his longest pass of the year against Buffalo (Oct. 18), connecting with redshirt junior tight end Max Dowling to take a 21-17 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt junior linebackers Tyler Martin and Timmy Hinspeter lead the Minutemen. Martin is among the top 10 tacklers in the MAC with 81 total tackles and 52 solo stops. Hinspeter trails Martin in both total tackles (69) and solo tackles (49) and is second on the team in both sacks (2) and tackles for loss (4). Graduate student defensive lineman Marques White is fifth in the MAC in tackles for loss with 11, also leading Massachusetts in sacks, with five.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 19 / vs Bethune-Cookman / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Listen / Ohio Notes / Bethune-Cookman Notes / Roster Card / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio men's basketball team (1-3) is back in Athens this week on Wednesday, Nov. 19 when Ohio hosts Bethune-Cookman (1-3). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+. Wednesday will be Lung Cancer Awareness Night and fans will be able to pick up their free 2025-26 schedule posters.
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 an 0-2 week that saw two tough road battles, with Ohio falling to Saint Mary's and No. 12 Louisville. Senior guard Jackson Paveletzke led the Ohio offense this past week. Overall, Paveletzke averaged 23.5 points, while shooting .556 (15-of-27) from the field, .857 (6-of-7) from three and .846 (11-of-13) from the line. He added 1.5 boards, 1.5 steals and 4.0 assist per game. On Nov. 15 at #12 Louisville, where he tied his career-high with a game-high 28 points, going 8-of-14 from the field, 3-of-4 from three and 9-of-10 from the line. He also has four assists and hd two steals.
Bethune-Cookman is 1-3 overall and is coming off a 91-82 loss at Dayton Saturday night. The Wildcats have picked up a win over Coastal Georgia abd have losses against Miami and Auburn. Against Dayton, four Wildcats finished in double-figures. Arterio Morris once again led the way for B-CU with 19 points and also had three rebounds and three assists, while Jakobi Heady scored 14 points on 7-14 shooting in his return to the lineup. Bethune-Cookman shot 49% from the field and only had 10 turnovers.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 20 / at Xavier / Cincinnati, Ohio / Cintas Center / 6:30 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Ohio Notes / Xavier Notes / Digital Guide
The Ohio women's basketball team (2-1) is back in action this week when they head to Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, Nov. 20 to take on Xavier (2-2). Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET inside teh Cintas Center and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off a 1-0 week that saw the Bobcats defeat Morehead State, 76-60, inside the Convocation Center. In that game, Ohio shot 35.3 percent from the field, 20.7 percent from the arc and 75.9 percent from the line. The Bobcats tallied 52 rebounds, 10 assists, 15 steals and two blocks. Ohio forced Morehead State to give up 22 turnovers, tallied 22 points off turnovers and 18 fast break points.Graduate student Aliah McWhorter matched her career high with 18 points; finishing 6-for-10 from the field and 6-for-8 from the line. McWhorter added four rebounds and one steal. Two more Bobcats finished with double figure points. Junior Bailey Tabeling recorded 15 points and sophomore Gigi Bower added 13 points. Tabeling also recorded a team-high five assists.
Xavier is currently 2-2 overall and is coming off an eight-point loss against Kent State on Friday in Cincinnati. For Xavier, Meri Kanerva scored a game-high 23 points on 10-for-21 shooting. She added five rebounds, four assists and one steal. Overall, Xavier has wins against New Haven and Purdue Fort Wayne, while losses to Kent State and Dayton.
VOLLEYBALL
Nov. 21 / at 2025 MAC Tournament Quarterfinals / vs TBA / Bowling Green, Ohio / Stroh Center / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live States / Championship Central / Bracket
Nov. 22 / at 2025 MAC Tournament Semifinals / vs TBA / Bowling Green, Ohio / Stroh Center / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live States / Championship Central / Bracket
Nov. 23 / at 2025 MAC Tournament Finals / vs TBA / Bowling Green, Ohio / Stroh Center / 4 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live States / Championship Central / Bracket
The No. 3 Ohio volleyball team (14-16, 12-6 MAC) are set to open the 2025 Mid-American Conference Tournament Nov. 21-23 at Bowling Green. Th Bobcats begin their quest for a championship on Friday, Nov. 21 when Ohio takes on host, No. 6 Bowling Green (16-14, 10-8 MAC). First serve is set for 7 p.m. ET inside the Stroh Center and can be seen on ESPN+.
With a win, Ohio would take on No. 2 Western Michigan (16-15, 13-5 MAC) on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. in the MAC Semifinals, while the MAC Championship set for 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 23. Both those matchups can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off a 1-1 final weekend of the season that saw the Bobcats split a series with Western Michigan. The Bobcats dropped the first matchup in four sets on Thursday, before rebounding with a four-set Senior Night Victory. In Friday's win, Ohio finished with a .226 attack percentage, 56 kills, five aces, nine blocks, 53 assists and 59 digs. Western Michigan finished with a .258 attack percentage, 58 kills, two aces, six blocks, 54 assists and 65 digs. Freshman Mady Long was a standout player on both sides of the court for Ohio. Offensively, Long recorded a .542 attack percentage with 13 kills and no errors on 24 total attacks. She also tallied two aces, 12 digs and 15.0 points. In an impressive feat, Long finished 30-for-31 (.968) in serve receive.
Bowling Green is 16-14 overall and finished MAC play 10-8. The Falcons are coming off a weekend sweep of Buffalo, defeating the Bulls, 3-1 on Friday and 3-0 on Saturday. The Falcons defeated Ohio in their only matchup this season, 3-1, in the conference opener on Sept. 25.
SWIM AND DIVE
Nov. 21-23 / at 2025 TYR '85 Invite / Lynchburg, Va. / Liberty Natatorium / Prelims: 10 a.m. ET; Finals: 6 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. ET on Sunday
The Ohio swim and dive team is back in action for their mid-year invitational Nov. 21-23 at the 2025 TYR '85 Invite. The three-day event is hosted by Liberty in Lynchburg, Va. inside the Liberty Natatorium.
This is the third-straight year that the Bobcats have competed at the TYR '85 Invite, with Ohio finished second last year.
Ohio is coming off a 152-148 victory at Ball State on Nov. 7. In the meet, junior Astrid Pichardo placed first in the 1M dive with a score of 271.28, securing for NCAA Zone Cut for the 1m board. She also placed second in the 3M event with a score of 272.10.
WRESTLING
Nov. 23 / at Mountaineer Open / Boone, N.C. / Varsity Gym / 10 a.m. ET
The Ohio wrestling team (1-1) is back in action on Sunday, Nov. 23 when they head to Boone, N.C. to take part in the Mountaineer Open hosted by App State inside Varsity Gym. The event is set to begin at 10 a.m. ET.
Ohio is coming off a dual loss against Wisconsin at home on Saturday in Athens.
In the dual, redshirt senior Sal Perrine defeated Cale Anderson from Wisconsin by major decision 10-2. Perrine maintained control of all three periods on his way to victory. Jeremy Olszko defeated Luke Condon by decision, 7-1, while redshirt senior Zayne Lehman (Akron, Ohio) delivered another win for the Bobcats, defeating Wyatt Ingham in by decision, 7-0.
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