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ATHENS, Ohio — For the first time since 1969, Ohio Football will play a conference game as the reigning Mid-American Conference Champions when it takes on Bowling Green this Saturday, Nov. 27. 
 
While Ohio head coach Brian Smith and the team have put 2024 behind them, excitement has spread throughout Athens as the Bobcats begin their MAC title defense this weekend. 
 
The last two weeks for Ohio
In Ohio's final two weeks of non-conference play, it faced the No. 1 team in the country on the road at Ohio State and the FCS's Gardner-Webb at home. In those games, Ohio fell to Ohio State 37-9 after a hard-fought battle that was close until the fourth quarter and beat Gardner-Webb 52-35 in a game that saw several Bobcats post career-high statistics. 
 
The Bobcats faced one of the more difficult non-conference schedules among Group of Five schools, with three Power Five schools to start the season, but still came out with a 2-2 record thanks to wins over Gardner-Webb and West Virginia. 
 
One of the standouts from the last two weeks of action has been junior wide receiver Chase Hendricks (St. Louis, MO.), who will go into MAC play as the nation's best receiver in terms of receiving yards with 456. 
 
On defense, Ohio has been led by redshirt junior Michael Molnar (Mason, Ohio), who has accumulated 31 total tackles and 1.5 sacks in his first few games as Ohio's starting linebacker. 
 
How the MAC has fared so far
Four MAC programs have already begun conference play in the past two weeks, with Western Michigan and Buffalo getting wins to start their year. 
 
In the non-conference, the MAC didn't fare well against the Power Four, with Ohio being the only program to secure a win over such opponents. 
 
Outside of Ohio's win against West Virginia, notable wins for the conference so far include Eastern Michigan taking down Louisiana in a high-scoring game at home and Bowling Green defeating Liberty at home in Week Three. 
 
Despite a conference-opening loss to Western Michigan, Toledo ranks as the best scoring offense in the country with 33.5 points per game and the best scoring defense, allowing just 14.8 points per game. 
 
Last Season
The last time Ohio took the field against a MAC opponent, it was the historic 38-3 victory against Miami (Ohio) at Ford Field in the MAC Championship game. Before that game, Ohio was coming off five straight conference wins dating back to Oct. 26, 2024. 
 
During 2024 MAC play, Ohio found its stride and put it all together for one of the most historic seasons in program history. The offense averaged a conference-leading 415.8 yards per game while the defense also led the conference, allowing just 268.5 yards per game. 
 
The Bobcats also had the best scoring defense in the MAC during conference play, allowing just 14.9 points per game compared to the offense's 33.3 points per game. 
 
In each of the past few seasons, Ohio has found a way to come together as a complete team and dominate opponents as soon as MAC play begins. It will look to do the same in 2025, starting this Saturday against Bowling Green. 
 
Defending the Frank
Ohio is 17-1 when playing at home, dating back to the 2022 season. The program has prided itself on "Defending the Frank," a tradition it has upheld since the stadium added legendary coach Frank Solich's name to the facility. 
 
In MAC play in 2025, Ohio will play four games at Peden Stadium at Frank Solich Field, where it aims to continue its dominance on home turf. 
 
One of the more notable matchups in Athens this season will be when Miami comes to town Nov. 4 for a MAC Championship rematch. Miami is the only program to have gone into Athens and won a game since 2022. 
 
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