If you were looking for the latest ohio university football score, you probably saw the final result: a 17-10 victory over UNLV. But numbers on a screen never tell the full story. Honestly, that game at the Ford Center in Frisco was less of a football game and more of a gritty, defensive street fight.
The Bobcats closed out their 2025 season on December 23 with a win that felt like a perfect microcosm of their entire year. It wasn't always pretty. It certainly wasn't flashy. But it worked.
How the Bobcats Ground Out a Bowl Win
Parker Navarro has been the heartbeat of this team. In the Frisco Bowl, he didn't put up eye-popping air yards—throwing for just 143—but his legs did the talking. He’s basically been a dual-threat nightmare for MAC defenses all year. Against UNLV, the Bobcats relied heavily on Sieh Bangura, who ripped off 149 rushing yards. When you can run the ball like that, you control the clock. You dictate the terms.
Ohio finished the season with a 9-4 record. That’s solid. Actually, it’s better than solid when you consider they went 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference. They finished in a three-way tie for second place in the MAC with Miami (OH) and Toledo, trailing only Western Michigan.
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Breaking Down the 2025 Campaign
Think about the high points. Remember the upset? On September 6, the Bobcats stunned West Virginia with a 17-10 win in front of a sold-out Frank Solich Field. That was the moment people started taking this roster seriously.
- The Rutgers Opener: A heartbreaking 31-34 loss that proved they could hang with Big Ten talent.
- The Ohio State Game: A 9-37 reality check in Columbus, though Chase Hendricks did provide a spark with a 67-yard touchdown catch.
- The MAC Streak: They won three straight to close out the regular season, including a 31-26 nail-biter against Buffalo.
One thing you've gotta love about this team is their home-field advantage. They went a perfect 6-0 at Peden Stadium. There is something about those Tuesday night "MACtion" games in Athens that just makes opposing teams crumble.
The Stats Behind the Ohio University Football Score
If you're a person who lives and breathes the box score, the cumulative stats for 2025 tell a story of efficiency. The Bobcats averaged 27.8 points per game while holding opponents to 21.9.
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Navarro finished the year with 886 rushing yards, which is wild for a quarterback. He was the team's second-leading rusher behind Bangura, who eclipsed the 1,300-yard mark and found the end zone 15 times. Defensively, they were opportunistic. They forced 12 interceptions and kept the "Red Zone" defense tight, allowing touchdowns on only about half of the trips opponents made inside the 20-yard line.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The 2025 season is in the books, but the 2026 schedule is already looking spicy. It starts with a massive road trip to Lincoln to face Nebraska on September 5.
- September 5: at Nebraska
- September 12: vs. Wofford
- September 19: at South Alabama
- September 26: vs. Stonehill
The non-conference slate is a bit of a mixed bag. You have the "money game" against the Huskers, followed by two home games against Wofford and Stonehill that should help the Bobcats find their rhythm before MAC play begins.
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Most people get wrong that the MAC is "weak." It's not. It's just chaotic. Any team can beat anyone on a Tuesday night in November. Keeping the ohio university football score on the winning side of that chaos requires a veteran offensive line and a quarterback who doesn't turn the ball over. Fortunately, the Bobcats seem to have found a formula that works under pressure.
To stay ahead of the curve for the upcoming 2026 season, keep an eye on the spring transfer portal. The Bobcats will need to fill a few holes in the secondary if they want to leapfrog Western Michigan for that top spot in the conference. Watch the recruitment of interior defensive linemen specifically; that’s where the 2025 team occasionally got pushed around in their four losses.
Actionable Insights for Bobcats Fans:
- Monitor the 2026 Roster: Check the official Ohio Bobcats Roster for updates on fifth-year seniors returning for their "Covid year" or additional eligibility.
- Check Ticket Windows: Season tickets for the 2026 season at Peden Stadium typically go on sale in the late spring.
- Watch the Nebraska Line: Early betting lines for the Nebraska opener will likely favor the Huskers significantly; look for the "spread" to see if Vegas respects the Bobcats' veteran defense.