PAW PRINTS: The Week Ahead in Ohio Athletics

Thursday, November 12

Oxford, OH

6 p.m. ET

Miami (OH)

11/9/2026 9:53:00 AM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Volleyball, Wrestling

ATHENS, Ohio – It's a big week for the Bobcats as cross country heads to NCAA Great Lakes Regionals, while Ohio volleyball wraps up the regular season. Also, football heads to Miami for the Battle of the Bricks, men's basketball takes on Purdue and women's basketball hosts Georgia! Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints.

FOOTBALL
Nov. 10 / at Miami / Oxford, Ohio / Yager Stadium / 8 p.m. ET/ ESPN2 / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Ohio Notes / Miami Notes

The Ohio football team (7-2, 5-0 MAC) heads to Oxford, Ohio, to take on rival Miami in midweek MACtion on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The Bobcats will look to stay perfect in MAC play and extend their overall win streak to seven games. Kickoff at Yager Stadium is set for 8:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN2 with Clay Matvick and Rocky Boiman on the call. The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on The Varsity Sports Network. 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 part of the broadcasts for more than two decades.

This matchup marks the 58th Battle for the Bricks, with Ohio seeking their third win in a row against Miami, and their 27th victory over their rival. The Bobcats' last matchup against the RedHawks was a 24-20 home win, thanks to running back Sieh Bangura rushing for over 100 yards and linebacker Charlie Christopher recording double-digit tackles. The rivalry has gone back and forth, but one of the most notable moments was the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championship game, where Ohio dominated Miami, 38-3, the largest margin of victory in a MAC Championship game, and Ohio's first since 1968.

Miami enters the matchup after a 34-31 overtime loss to Buffalo that snapped the RedHawks' three-game winning streak. The RedHawks led 31-16 late in the third quarter before Buffalo rallied with 18 unanswered points to force overtime and eventually secure the win. Miami built a 17-10 halftime lead and extended its advantage with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and a pair of third-quarter interceptions.

Offensively, Miami recorded a balanced attack behind running back D'Shawntae Jones, who rushed for a career-high 112 yards on 17 carries and became the program's first 100-yard rusher since 2025. Wide receiver Scoop Smith scored two touchdowns, including a blocked-punt recovery in the end zone and a rushing touchdown, while Braylon Isom posted career highs with six receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Caleb Heavner directed scoring drives that helped Miami build its 15-point second-half lead.

Defensively, the RedHawks generated two interceptions, including the first career pick by Toney Coleman Jr. and another by CJ Young, who became Miami's first player with multiple interceptions this season.

Last time out, Ohio won their fifth straight conference game, defeating Akron, 28-20. Individually, graduate student quarterback Nick Poulos threw for 197 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 45 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Dom Dorwart had four catches for 108 yards and a touchdown while fellow redshirt wide receiver Riley Neer had four catches for 54 yards. Junior running back Duncan Brune had 111 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, redshirt senior linebacker Michael Molnar had 16 tackles and a tackle for loss while redshirt senior linebacker Jack Fries had 10 tackles. Redshirt junior safety DJ Walker had four tackles, and an interception returned for a touchdown. Senior defensive lineman Nehemiah Dukes had three tackles and two tackles for loss.

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 13 / at Purdue / West Lafayette, Ind. / Mackey Arena / 7 p.m. ET/ BIG+ / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Ohio Notes / Purdue Notes

The Ohio men's basketball team (2-0) returns to action on Friday, Nov. 13 when the Bobcats head to West Lafayette, Ind. to take on Purdue (0-2). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside Mackey Arena and can be seen on BIG+.

Ohio is coming off a 2-0 opening weekend that saw the Bobcats defeat South Alabama on the road in the MAC-SBC Challenge, before returning home to defeat North Carolina A&T on Saturday. Through the first tw games this season, fifth year guard Jackson Paveletzke leads Ohio with 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game, while shooting 61.5 percent from the field, 1.000 from three and .733 from the line. Redshirt senior forward Javan Simmons is averaging 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. He added 1.0 assists and 0.5 blocks a game. He went 12-of-17 from the field for a .7-6 field goal percentage and went 4-of-6 from the line in over 30 minutes per game on the floor. Redshirt junior guard Kolton Mitchell adds 13.5 points a game after setting a career-high with seven made threes on Monday, and sophomore forward Dusan Makitan addd a double double with 10.0 points and 12.0 rebounds a game.

Purdue is currently 0-2 overall and is coming off an OT loss to Valpo last Friday. Purdue will faceoff with Illinois State Monday night at home. Through two games, Purdue is averaging 76.0 points per game, while shooting 42.0 percent from the field, 20.4 percent from three and 79.2 percent from the line. They also average 38.5 rebounds and 18.0 assists per game. Individuall, Daniel Jacobsen leads Purdue with 25.0 points and 8.5 rebounds a game, while shooting 75.0 from the field and 82.4 percent from the line.

This will be the ninth meeting between Ohio and Purdue, with the Boilermakers leading the series 6-2. The Bobcats and Boilermakers last saw each during head coach Jeff Boals' first season when Purdue made the trip to Athens in 2019. Ohio's last trip to Mackey was Dec. 20, 2018.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 9 / vs. Otterbein / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 11 a.m. ET/ ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Ohio Notes / Otterbein Notes / Digital Guide / Roster Card / Free Admission
Nov. 14 / vs. Georgia / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 1 p.m. ET/ ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Ohio Notes / Georgia Notes / Digital Guide / Roster Card / Tickets / Chick-Fil-A for students

The Ohio women's basketball team (1-0) returns for two games in the Convocation Center this week. The Bobcats kick off the week with their Education Day game against Otterbein (1-0) on Monday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. ET. Ohio is also set to host Georgia (3-0) on Saturday, Nov. 14 in the Convocation Center at 1 p.m. ET.

Ohio has a 1-0 overall and 0-0 conference record heading into its game with Otterbein. Ohio averages 57.0 PPG; shooting 29.3 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from the arc and 75.0 percent from the line. The Bobcats average 40.0 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 10.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. Ohio has forced opponents to give up 28.0 turnovers per game and averages 20.0 points off turnovers.

Otterbein has a 1-0 overall and 0-0 conference record heading into its game at Ohio. Otterbein averages 80.0 PPG; shooting 51.7 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from the arc and 61.9 percent from the line. The Cardinals average 44.0 rebounds, 21.0 assists, 13.0 steals and 4.0 blocks per game. Otterbein has forced opponents to give up 24.0 turnovers per game and average 28.0 points off turnovers.

Georgia has a 3-0 overall and 0-0 conference record heading into the week. Georgia averages 71.7 PPG; shooting 42.8 percent from the field, 32.5 percent from the arc and 72.4 percent from the line. The Bulldogs average 36.3 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 13.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game. Georgia has forced opponents to give up 24.0 turnovers per game and average 30.0 points off turnovers.

CROSS COUNTRY
Nov. 13 / 2026 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships / Forest Akers East Golf Course / Women's 6k: 10 a.m. ET; Men's 8K: 11 a.m. ET / Live Stats / Championship Central / Meet Information

The Ohio men's and women's cross country teams continue postseason competition at the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional Championships, hosted by Michigan State, on Friday, Nov. 13. The meet will kick off with the women's 6k at 10 a.m. ET followed by the men's 10k race at 11 a.m. ET.

Last time out, both cross country teams finished sixth at the 2026 MAC Championships. Junior Michael Dellasanta (Columbus, Ohio) was Ohio's top performer of the meet, earning All-MAC Second Team honors after placing 12^th in the men's 8k race.

VOLLEYBALL
Nov. 12 / at Miami / Oxford, Ohio / Millett Hall / 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
Nov. 13 / vs Buffalo / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 5 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets / Senior Day

Ohio volleyball (14-11, 7-7 MAC) is back in action for its final two matchups of the regular season. The Bobcats wrap up their Battle of the Bricks series at Miami on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. ET. Ohio will conclude the regular season with its Senior Day game against Buffalo on Friday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. ET.

Ohio has a 14-11 overall and 7-7 conference record heading into the final week of the regular season. The Bobcats have a .242 team hitting percentage and average 13.48 kills, 12.47 assists, 1.40 aces, 12.83 digs and 1.61 blocks per set.

Miami has an 18-7 overall and 10-4 conference record heading into the week. The RedHawks have a .226 team hitting percentage and average 13.36 kills, 12.40 assists, 1.75 aces, 16.40 digs and 2.00 blocks per set.

Buffalo has a 14-11 overall and 6-8 conference record heading into the week. The Bulls have a .201 team hitting percentage and average 12.55 kills, 11.46 assists, 1.34 aces, 14.41 digs and 2.09 blocks per set.

WRESTLING
Nov. 14 / Princeton Quad Meet / vs. Princeton, Duke and Chattanooga / Princeton, N.J. / Jadwin Gymnasium / 10 a.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Results

The Ohio wrestling team opens the 2026-27 home slate on Saturday, Nov. 7 with the Ohio Showcase. The six-team event will see three mats – a DI, DII, and DIII, all run at the same time. The Ohio Showcase is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center. The DI meet will be streamed on ESPN+, while the other two mats can be seen on YouTube. The DI mat will see Ohio take on Bellarmine, while the DII mat is Ashland vs. UIndy, and the DIII mat is Baldwin Wallace vs. Wabash.

The Bobcats finished last season with a 4-7 overall record and 1-6 in MAC competition.

Ohio's first action of the season was last Sunday (Nov. 1) at the Southeast Open. Sophomore Brayden Teunissen (Belvidere, Ill.) led all Bobcats with five wins, competing in the freshman/sophomore division at 125 lbs. After dropping his opening match, Teunissen won his next five, securing fifth place with an 8-2 decision victory.

Senior Max Hermes (Milan, Ohio) placed sixth in the open division, competing at 165 lbs. Junior Wyatt Schmitt (Shorewood, Ill.) dropped his first match, but won three in a row to finish in sixth place in the 285 lb. open division.

#OUohyeah