Ohio Bobcats
Mid-AmericanAthens, OHPeden Stadium
2026: 5–2 (3–0 Mid-American). Last: won at Sacramento State 48–7. Next: Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Oct 24, 4 p.m. ET.
- L 21–49at Nebraska
- W 29–27Jacksonville State
- L 36–41at South Alabama
- W 35–7Stonehill
- W 13–10at Kent State
- W 31–14Central Michigan
- W 48–7at Sacramento State
- Oct 24Eastern Michigan
- Nov 3at Akron
- Nov 10at Miami (OH)
- Nov 17Ball State
- Nov 27Toledo
- Outfitted by Adidas
Ohio has played football since 1894 and is officially 626–593–48; 773 of its 1,267 games are in our file. Their best finish in the final AP poll is No. 20, in 1968. They have won six Mid-American Conference titles (the last in 2024) and six Buckeye Conference titles, counting shared titles. Since 1936, the NFL Draft has taken 16 players from here in its first seven rounds, 1 of them in the first round. The AAFC draft also took one player from here. The College Football Hall of Fame holds 1 coach from Ohio. Frank Solich (2005–2020) won more games here than any other coach: 115. The most-played rival is Miami (OH): 64 meetings, Miami (OH) leads 33–30–1. This season, under John Hauser, they’re 5–2.
From the numbers
- Ohio has won 16 straight home games, the longest active home streak in FBS.Share
Computed from every game through Oct 10 and the score after every scoring play; a note appears only when few teams share it. All the numbers.
On this date in 2024Ohio lost to Miami (OH) 30–20 on the road.
Résumé
- All-time record
- 626–593–48 official; 353–411–9 on file; how we count
- Postseason
- 9–8 matches the official bowl record
- AP No. 1 finishes
- 0
- Weeks at No. 1
- 0 of 8 ranked
- Elo now
- 1583 43rd of 138 FBS
- Computer rankings
- Massey No. 92 · Composite No. 81 in FBS, Oct 17; up 2 since Oct 11. From Massey Ratings
- Conference titles
- 12 last in 2024
- Seasons
- 93 since 1905, 773 games
Identity
- Fight song
- Stand Up and Cheer
- Mascot
- Rufus
- Student section
- O Zone
- Apparel
- Adidas deal through 2027
- Band
- Ohio University Marching 110 since 1923, about 250 members
2026 season 5–2
RosterFull 2026 season| Date | Opponent | Result | Elo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 | at Nebraska | L 21–49 | 54% |
| Sep 12 | vs Jacksonville State | W 29–27 | 63% |
| Sep 19 | at South Alabama | L 36–41 | 55% |
| Sep 26 | vs Stonehill | W 35–7 | 92% |
| Oct 3 | at Kent State | W 13–10 | 62% |
| Oct 10 | vs Central Michigan | W 31–14 | 69% |
| Oct 17 | at Sacramento State | W 48–7 | 81% |
| Oct 24 | vs Eastern Michigan | Preview | 79% |
| Nov 3 | at Akron | Preview | 76% |
| Nov 10 | at Miami (OH) | Preview | 56% |
| Nov 17 | vs Ball State | Preview | 85% |
| Nov 27 | vs Toledo | Preview | 61% |
Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.
This season, game by game
Future schedule
2027–35- 20274 games: 2 home, 2 away, non-conference only
- 20283 games: 1 home, 2 away, non-conference only
- 20292 games: 1 home, 1 away, non-conference only
- 20301 game: 1 away, non-conference only
- at Tennessee
- 20351 game: 1 away, non-conference only
Ohio’s announced games beyond the seasons on our schedule, as its Wikipedia article lists them (announced schedules as of October 1, 2026). Schedules change; a season shows only the games named so far, and many articles list non-conference games only. Future schedules: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
On the 2026 team
- Michael Molnar53 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT (leads Ohio in tackles)
- Riley Neer32 catches, 440 yards, 5 TD (leads Ohio in receiving yards)
- Nick Poulos503 passing yards, 5 TD (leads Ohio in passing yards)
- Matt Vezza444 passing yards, 4 TD
- Duncan Brune330 rushing yards, 3 TD (leads Ohio in rushing yards)
- Victor Rosa324 rushing yards, 5 TD (leads Ohio in rushing touchdowns)
Around the program
- Apparel
- Adidas · Official source
- Ohio Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- Ohio University Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- SGB Media; read 2026-10-10
- Mascot
- Rufus · Official source
- Ohio University Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- The Post; read 2026-10-10
- Student section
- O Zone · Sources disagree 1 source give O Zone; others give Prokos Rentals Student Section (1 source). Chosen by count of sources, then the newest, for this season; needs a reviewer.
- Wikipedia; read 2026-10-10
- Athletic director
- Slade Larscheid · Official source
- Ohio University; read 2026-10-10
- Offensive coordinator
- Scott Isphording · Official source
- ohiobobcats.com; read 2026-10-10
- Defensive coordinator
- Kurt Mattix · Official source
- ohiobobcats.com; read 2026-10-10
Found by several AI researchers searching the web, then kept only where the page loads and says so in words naming the program; every quote is checked again each time the data is rebuilt. Official source: the school’s own page. All of them.
The apparel deal
Adidas, July 2017 through June 2027. Multi-year extension. Started July 1, 2017 on an eight-year deal. Extended in July 2025, adding Game One. Nike takes over in July 2027.
- Ohio Athletics, Jul 30, 2025: Extension keeping Adidas as official apparel brand through June 30, 2027
Next: Nike, from July 2027 (official). 5 years. Covers all 16 programs. Distributed through BSN SPORTS. Replaces Adidas.
- Ohio Athletics, Oct 2, 2026: Five-year Nike deal through BSN SPORTS starting July 2027, covering all 16 programs
Apparel deals: Field Drip. Terms as the outlets reported them; checked Oct 5, 2026.
Program strength since 1905
Best seasons everOn Bluesky
The FBS leaders in yards-per-dropback both play for Miami... Darian Mensah at Miami (Florida) - 10.5 David McComb at Miami (Ohio) - 9.9
Read on Bluesky
From reporters and writers who cover college football, linked to their posts on Bluesky.
More coverage
- NCAA sues Ohio governor over his executive order allowing schools to ignore new eligibility rule, wccbcharlotte.com,
- Rodney Nelson has 142 rushing yards and 2 TDs, Miami (Ohio) beats Akron 34-14, winnipegfreepress.com,
- NCAA sues Ohio governor for executive order related to eligibility rule, timesfreepress.com,
- Ohio vs. Sacramento State Oct. 17: TV, Stream, iheart.com,
- NCAA sues Ohio governor over order allowing schools to ignore new rule, fortmorgantimes.com,
- Ohio Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment Portal - Paulding Progress, progressnewspaper.org,
- Matchup between 3 elite receivers could overshadow QBs when No. 4 Ohio St. takes on No. 5 Indiana, morningjournal.com,
- Ohio governor passes order that gives no help to the Ohio State Buckeyes, scarletandgame.com,
Found through the GDELT Project, which indexes news sites worldwide. Each link opens the story on the outlet’s own site; each picture is that outlet’s own preview of its story, shown from its site and credited to it.
Head coaches
| Coach | Years | Record |
|---|---|---|
| John Hauser | 2025–2026 | 6–2 |
 Brian Smith | 2024–2025 | 9–4 |
 Tim Albin | 2021–2024 | 33–19 |
| Frank Solich | 2005–2020 | 115–82 |
| Brian Knorr | 2001–2004 | 11–35 |
 Jim Grobe | 1995–2000 | 33–33–1 |
| Tom Lichtenberg | 1990–1994 | 8–45–2 |
| Cleve Bryant | 1985–1989 | 9–44–2 |
| Brian Burke | 1979–1984 | 31–34–1 |
| Bob Kappes | 1978 | 3–8 |
 Bill Hess | 1958–1977 | 86–84–3 |
| Carroll Widdoes | 1949–1957 | 1–6 |
| Harold Wise | 1948 | 1–2 |
| Don Peden | 1945 | 1–0 |
Most-played series
All rivalries- Miami (OH)
30–33–1 in 64
- 2016 W 17–7
- 2017 W 45–28
- 2018 L 28–30
- 2019 L 21–24
- 2021 W 35–33
- 2022 W 37–21
- 2023 L 16–30
- 2024 L 20–30
- 2024 W 38–3
- 2025 W 24–20
Won the last two.
Next: Nov 10
- Kent State
40–21–2 † in 63
- 2015 W 27–0
- 2016 W 14–10
- 2017 W 48–3
- 2018 W 27–26
- 2019 W 45–38
- 2021 L 27–34
- 2022 L 24–31
- 2023 W 42–17
- 2024 W 41–0
- 2026 W 13–10
Won the last three.
- Bowling Green
28–33–1 in 62
- 2015 L 24–62
- 2016 W 30–24
- 2017 W 48–30
- 2018 W 49–14
- 2019 W 66–24
- 2020 W 52–10
- 2021 L 10–21
- 2022 W 38–14
- 2023 W 38–7
- 2025 W 35–20
Won the last three.
| Opponent | Games | OHIO record |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 64 | 30–33–1 |
| Kent State | 63 | 40–21–2 † |
| Bowling Green | 62 | 28–33–1 |
| Western Michigan | 49 | 18–31 |
| Toledo | 44 | 13–30–1 |
| Central Michigan | 37 | 8–27–2 |
| Marshall | 36 | 19–17 |
| Eastern Michigan | 35 | 22–12–1 |
Official records. † Without wins the NCAA vacated. ‡ The rivalry’s own count, where it differs from the games on file. Each series page gives both.
Rivals the program names: Marshall, Buffalo.
Every opponent (114)
Every program Ohio has played, A to Z, with Ohio’s record against it. Each links to the series, game by game.
- Akron 23–10
- App State 0–1
- Army 0–1
- Austin Peay 1–0
- Ball State 13–16
- Boston College 1–0
- Boston University 1–0
- Bowling Green 28–33–1
- Buffalo 19–10
- Cal Poly 1–0
- Central Michigan 8–27–2
- Cincinnati 5–9
- Colorado State 0–1
- Columbia 1–0
- Dayton 8–3
- Delaware 0–1
- Duke 0–2
- Duquesne 1–1
- East Carolina 0–3
- Eastern Illinois 1–0
- Eastern Michigan 22–12–1
- Florida 0–1
- Florida Atlantic 2–0
- Florida State 0–1
- Fordham 1–0
- Furman 1–0
- Gardner-Webb 4–0
- Georgia Southern 1–0
- Hampton 1–0
- Harvard 0–3
- Hawai’i 1–0
- Howard 1–0
- Idaho 3–1
- Illinois 3–2
- Illinois State 1–0
- Indiana 1–4
- Iowa State 1–8
- Jacksonville State 2–0
- Kansas 3–0
- Kansas State 0–1
- Kent State 40–21–2 †
- Kentucky 2–4
- Long Island University 1–0
- Louisiana 2–2
- Louisville 0–1
- LSU 0–1
- Marshall 19–17
- Maryland 1–1
- Massachusetts 5–0
- Miami (OH) 30–33–1
- Michigan State 0–1
- Minnesota 1–9–1
- Missouri 0–1
- Morehead State 1–0
- Morgan State 1–0
- Navy 1–0
- NC State 0–3
- Nebraska 0–1
- Nevada 1–0
- New Mexico State 2–0
- Norfolk State 1–0
- North Carolina 0–3
- North Texas 2–0
- Northeastern 0–1
- Northern Illinois 12–14
- Northern Iowa 0–1
- Northwestern 1–4
- Ohio State 0–3 †
- Ole Miss 0–1
- Penn State 1–6
- Pittsburgh 1–5
- Purdue 0–8
- Rhode Island 1–0
- Richmond 2–1
- Rutgers 0–3
- Sacramento State 1–0
- San Diego State 1–1
- SE Louisiana 1–0
- South Alabama 1–1
- South Carolina 0–2
- Southeast Missouri State 1–0
- Southern Miss 0–1
- Stonehill 1–0
- Syracuse 0–4
- Temple 4–1
- Tennessee 0–2
- Tennessee Tech 3–0
- Texas State 0–1
- Toledo 13–30–1
- Troy 0–2
- Tulane 1–1
- Tulsa 0–1
- UAB 1–0
- UCF 2–1
- UConn 0–2
- UL Monroe 1–0
- UNLV 1–1
- UT Martin 1–0
- Utah State 1–1
- Vanderbilt 0–1
- Virginia 0–2
- Virginia Tech 0–4
- VMI 2–0
- Washington & Jefferson 0–1
- Washington and Lee 0–1
- West Texas 1–2
- West Virginia 3–8
- Western Michigan 18–31
- William & Mary 2–2
- Wisconsin 0–1
- Wofford 1–0
- Wyoming 1–2
- Xavier 5–4
- Youngstown State 0–2
Official records. † Without wins the NCAA vacated, or with forfeits counted. ‡ The rivalry’s own count, where it differs from the games on file.
Conference titles
12, counting shared titlesAs the program counts them in its Wikipedia article, shared titles included, and listed under each conference’s current name (a Western Conference title of the 1900s counts as a Big Ten title); season pages use the name the conference had that year. A title the article files under a conference the team wasn’t in that season is listed under the one it was. Division titles include years the team tied for its division.
Conferences
- Independent 1894–1909
- Ohio Conference 1910–1925
- Buckeye Athletic Conference 1926–1938
- Independent 1939–1942 and 1945–1946
- Mid-American Conference since 1947
Ohio’s football conferences by season, from CollegeFootballData.com’s memberships (renamed conferences keep the name of the time).
Led the nation 2
| 2020 | De’Montre Tuggle kickoff return average (45.0) |
| 1989 | Larry Hargrove punt return average (18.2) |
The NCAA’s official national leaders since 1937, from Wikipedia’s yearly leader lists.
In the Hall of Fame
Every inductee- Players
- 0
- Coaches
- 1
| 2024 | Frank Solich coach here, 2005–2020 |
In the draft
By college- NFL picks, rounds 1–7
- 16 since 1936
- First-round picks
- 1
- AAFC picks
- 1 1948
| 1936 | Art Lewis OT | No. 9, New York Giants |
Who came and went in the 2026 transfer portal, and every portal year.
The school
Ohio University-Main Campus- Enrollment
- 26,323 20,444 undergraduates, fall 2024
- Where
- Athens, Ohio
- Public or private
- Public Research 1
- Founded
- 1804
- Graduates’ median earnings
- $52,581 10 years after starting
Enrollment, place and Carnegie research tier from the National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS, public domain). Earnings from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard (CC BY 4.0): the median for students who received federal aid and were working, not in school. Founding year from Wikidata. Every school’s in the data.
Official accounts
- Football
- X @OhioFootballInstagram @OhioFBFacebook OhioFootball
- Athletics department
- X @OhioBobcatsInstagram @ohiobobcatsFacebook ohiobobcats
Official accounts: the schools’ athletics websites: the ones ohiobobcats.com lists for its football program and athletics department, as of Oct 12, 2026.
On the newsreel
- OHIO 23
Universal Newsreel, National Archives (catalog record). Story titles and words as Universal’s release sheet gives them; the films themselves may still be under copyright, so we link to the record rather than show them.
Season by season
National champions| Season | Record | Conf. | AP pre | AP final | Coach | Elo | SP+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5–2 | 3–0 | John Hauser | 1583 | -6.7 | ||
| 2025 | 9–4 | 6–2 | Brian Smith, John Hauser | 1632 | -4.0 | ||
| 2024 | 11–3 | 7–1 | Tim Albin, Brian Smith | 1661 | 2.3 | ||
| 2023 | 10–3 | 6–2 | Tim Albin | 1595 | -1.6 | ||
| 2022 | 10–4 | 7–1 | Tim Albin | 1561 | -4.6 | ||
| 2021 | 3–9 | 3–5 | Tim Albin | 1394 | -11.6 | ||
| 2020 | 2–1 | 2–1 | Frank Solich | 1539 | -3.2 | ||
| 2019 | 7–6 | 5–3 | Frank Solich | 1554 | 3.7 | ||
| 2018 | 9–4 | 6–2 | Frank Solich | 1632 | 4.0 | ||
| 2017 | 9–4 | 5–3 | Frank Solich | 1572 | 3.3 | ||
| 2016 | 8–6 | 6–2 | Frank Solich | 1503 | -2.1 | ||
| 2015 | 8–5 | 5–3 | Frank Solich | 1492 | -0.5 | ||
| 2014 | 6–6 | 4–4 | Frank Solich | 1416 | -11.7 | ||
| 2013 | 7–6 | 4–4 | Frank Solich | 1433 | -11.4 | ||
| 2012 | 9–4 | 4–4 | Frank Solich | 1550 | -8.0 | ||
| 2011 | 10–4 | 6–2 | Frank Solich | 1558 | 0.9 | ||
| 2010 | 8–5 | 6–2 | Frank Solich | 1498 | -6.6 | ||
| 2009 | 9–5 | 7–1 | Frank Solich | 1497 | -8.6 | ||
| 2008 | 4–8 | 3–5 | Frank Solich | 1403 | -9.3 | ||
| 2007 | 6–6 | 4–4 | Frank Solich | 1452 | -11.3 | ||
| 2006 | 9–5 | 7–1 | Frank Solich | 1476 | -9.5 | ||
| 2005 | 4–7 | 3–5 | Frank Solich | 1346 | -20.8 | ||
| 2004 | 4–7 | 2–6 | Brian Knorr | 1336 | -14.8 | ||
| 2003 | 2–10 | 1–7 | Brian Knorr | 1303 | -19.7 | ||
| 2002 | 4–8 | 4–4 | Brian Knorr | 1375 | -11.1 |
Every season back to 1905 (68 more)
| Season | Record | Conf. | AP pre | AP final | Coach | Elo | SP+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1–10 | 1–7 | Brian Knorr | 1324 | -13.8 | ||
| 2000 | 7–4 | 5–3 | Jim Grobe | 1526 | -0.7 | ||
| 1999 | 5–6 | 5–3 | Jim Grobe | 1454 | -6.7 | ||
| 1998 | 5–6 | 5–3 | Jim Grobe | 1464 | -3.7 | ||
| 1997 | 8–3 | 6–2 | Jim Grobe | 1514 | 7.5 | ||
| 1996 | 6–6 | 5–3 | Jim Grobe | 1438 | 1.2 | ||
| 1995 | 2–8–1 | 1–6–1 | Jim Grobe | 1252 | -21.1 | ||
| 1994 | 0–11 | 0–9 | Tom Lichtenberg | 1199 | -25.7 | ||
| 1993 | 4–7 | 4–5 | Tom Lichtenberg | 1334 | -17.2 | ||
| 1992 | 1–10 | 1–7 | Tom Lichtenberg | 1242 | -17.7 | ||
| 1991 | 2–8–1 | 1–6–1 | Tom Lichtenberg | 1266 | -16.9 | ||
| 1990 | 1–9–1 | 0–7–1 | Tom Lichtenberg | 1229 | -24.5 | ||
| 1989 | 1–9–1 | 1–6–1 | Cleve Bryant | 1293 | -22.0 | ||
| 1988 | 4–6–1 | 4–3–1 | Cleve Bryant | 1340 | -15.6 | ||
| 1987 | 1–10 | 0–8 | Cleve Bryant | 1226 | -18.7 | ||
| 1986 | 1–10 | 0–8 | Cleve Bryant | 1265 | -23.8 | ||
| 1985 | 2–9 | 2–7 | Cleve Bryant | 1315 | -16.7 | ||
| 1984 | 4–6–1 | 4–4–1 | Brian Burke | 1395 | -15.6 | ||
| 1983 | 4–7 | 3–6 | Brian Burke | 1390 | -14.4 | ||
| 1982 | 6–5 | 5–4 | Brian Burke | 1429 | -12.8 | ||
| 1981 | 5–6 | 5–4 | Brian Burke | 1446 | -6.7 | ||
| 1980 | 6–5 | 5–4 | Brian Burke | 1490 | -1.7 | ||
| 1979 | 6–5 | 4–4 | Brian Burke | 1438 | 0.5 | ||
| 1978 | 3–8 | 3–5 | Bob Kappes | 1277 | -12.8 | ||
| 1977 | 1–10 | 0–8 | Bill Hess | 1279 | -18.8 | ||
| 1976 | 7–4 | 6–2 | Bill Hess | 1483 | 5.6 | ||
| 1975 | 5–5–1 | 3–3–1 | Bill Hess | 1480 | 6.2 | ||
| 1974 | 6–5 | 3–2 | Bill Hess | 1504 | 7.6 | ||
| 1973 | 5–5 | 2–3 | Bill Hess | 1440 | 4.8 | ||
| 1972 | 3–8 | 1–4 | Bill Hess | 1349 | -17.3 | ||
| 1971 | 5–5 | 2–3 | Bill Hess | 1518 | 9.2 | ||
| 1970 | 4–5 | 3–2 | Bill Hess | 1498 | 3.2 | ||
| 1969 | 5–4–1 | 2–3 | Bill Hess | 1566 | |||
| 1968 | 10–1 | 6–0 | 20 | Bill Hess | 1639 | ||
| 1967 | 5–5 | 4–2 | Bill Hess | 1488 | |||
| 1966 | 5–5 | 3–3 | Bill Hess | 1406 | |||
| 1965 | 0–10 | 0–6 | Bill Hess | 1290 | |||
| 1964 | 5–4–1 | 3–2–1 | Bill Hess | 1507 | |||
| 1963 | 6–4 | 5–1 | Bill Hess | 1535 | |||
| 1962 | 8–3 | 5–1 | Bill Hess | 1590 | |||
| 1961 | 1–1 | Bill Hess | 1527 | ||||
| 1960 | 3–0 | Bill Hess | 1570 | ||||
| 1959 | 1–0 | Bill Hess | 1497 | ||||
| 1958 | 1–0 | Bill Hess | 1478 | ||||
| 1957 | 0–1 | Carroll Widdoes | 1424 | ||||
| 1956 | 0–1 | Carroll Widdoes | 1420 | ||||
| 1955 | 0–1 | Carroll Widdoes | 1427 | ||||
| 1954 | 0–1 | Carroll Widdoes | 1417 | ||||
| 1953 | 0–1 | Carroll Widdoes | 1411 | ||||
| 1950 | 0–1 | Carroll Widdoes | 1404 | ||||
| 1949 | 1–0 | Carroll Widdoes | 1386 | ||||
| 1948 | 1–2 | Harold Wise | 1277 | ||||
| 1945 | 1–0 | Don Peden | 1199 | ||||
| 1940 | 1–0 | 1172 | |||||
| 1938 | 1–0 | 1159 | |||||
| 1937 | 0–1 | 1121 | |||||
| 1936 | 0–1 | 1137 | |||||
| 1935 | 1–0 | 1162 | |||||
| 1934 | 0–2 | 1121 | |||||
| 1933 | 0–1 | 1146 | |||||
| 1932 | 1–1 | 1171 | |||||
| 1931 | 0–1 | 1115 | |||||
| 1929 | 1–0 | 1124 | |||||
| 1927 | 0–1 | 1029 | |||||
| 1922 | 0–1 | 1050 | |||||
| 1921 | 1–2 | 1077 | |||||
| 1916few games on file | 0–1 | 1086 | |||||
| 1905few games on file | 0–1 | 1084 |
Officially 626–593–48 since 1894 (per Wikipedia, rechecked weekly); game by game here, 353–411–9 (773 of its 1,267 games are on file). Our file starts in 1905; the program began in 1894. Some games are missing from our source.
No season on file for 1906–15, 1917–20, 1923–26, 1928, 1930, 1939, 1941–44, 1946–47, 1951–52: the program may not have played, or our source may be missing them.
Records are computed from every game on file at CollegeFootballData.com, whose coverage of the earliest seasons can be incomplete. Elo is this site’s own rating; see how it works on the records page.