Bowl season is weird. Honestly, it’s basically a chaotic fever dream of mascot shenanigans, sponsorship gimmicks, and players entering the transfer portal before the confetti even hits the turf. But the 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl wasn’t just another game on a Tuesday afternoon in Boise. It was a statement. While the college football world was busy arguing about the expanded 12-team playoff and whether the SEC is "top-heavy," two gritty programs—the Ohio Bobcats and the North Texas Mean Green—showed up at Albertsons Stadium to remind everyone why the Smurf Turf is holy ground for die-hard fans.
It was cold. Really cold.
If you weren't there, you probably saw the clips of the "French Fry Bath" on social media, but the actual 41-31 victory for Ohio was a masterclass in mid-major toughness. People kinda overlook the MAC and the AAC until they realize these teams play with a chip on their shoulder that Power Four schools just can't replicate. Ohio came into this game under head coach Tim Albin looking to secure their third straight 10-win season, a feat that sounds easy until you try to actually do it in a league where every road trip feels like a trap.
The Blue Turf Mystique and the 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
There is something inherently strange about a football field that isn't green. If you’ve ever stood on the sidelines at Boise State, the blue is disorienting. It’s vibrant. It’s distracting. For the Mean Green of North Texas, it seemed to be a bit of a hurdle early on. They brought one of the most explosive offenses in the country, led by quarterback Chandler Morris, who had spent the season putting up video game numbers. But the 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl didn’t care about your passing yards. It cared about who could handle the 20-degree wind chill and a slippery surface that makes every cut a gamble.
Ohio didn't blink.
The Bobcats are built differently. They play "MAC-tion" ball, which is basically a polite way of saying they want to run the ball down your throat until you quit. Rickey Hunt Jr., the standout running back who famously scored five touchdowns in the previous year’s bowl game, was once again the focal point. While North Texas tried to stretch the field with vertical routes and speed, Ohio just kept churning out four-yard gains. It wasn't always pretty. It was effective.
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You have to appreciate the sheer absurdity of the setting. You have a giant potato on a flatbed truck. You have fans wearing potato sacks. And in the middle of it all, you have elite athletes competing for a trophy that is literally a bowl of potatoes. It’s peak Americana.
Why the Defense Defined This Matchup
Most people expected a shootout. North Texas averages over 35 points a game, and their defense... well, let's just say they usually invite you to score so they can get the ball back faster. But the Ohio defense, spearheaded by veterans like Bradley Weaver, decided to play spoiler. They pressured Morris relentlessly. They didn't just sack him; they moved him off his spot.
Football is a game of leverage.
In the second quarter, there was a pivotal moment where North Texas had a 4th-and-2 near midfield. In a regular-season game, Morris probably zips a quick slant for a first down. But in the 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, the conditions changed the math. The ball was heavy. The receivers were stiff. Ohio blew up the play in the backfield, and the momentum shifted for good.
It’s easy to look at the final score and think it was a blowout, but it was a game of inches and frozen toes. North Texas kept clawing back. They have this "never say die" attitude under Eric Morris that makes them dangerous, even when they’re down two scores. They cut the lead to three late in the third quarter, and for a second, it felt like the Bobcats might crumble. They didn't.
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Key Stats That Actually Matter
- Time of Possession: Ohio held the ball for nearly 38 minutes. You can't score if you don't have the rock.
- Turnover Margin: Ohio forced three fumbles, recovering two. On a frozen field, ball security is literally everything.
- Third Down Conversions: The Bobcats went 9-for-15. That is clinical.
The Transfer Portal Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about who wasn't there. It’s the elephant in the room for every bowl game now. Both rosters were missing key contributors who had already "opted out" or entered the portal. It sucks. There’s no other way to put it. Fans buy tickets to see the stars, and sometimes the stars are already looking for their next NIL deal.
However, this actually made the 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl more interesting in a weird way. We got to see the "next man up" philosophy in real-time. Younger guys like Ohio’s freshman wideouts got reps they wouldn't have seen otherwise. It turned the game into a preview of the 2025 season rather than just a conclusion to 2024.
North Texas's backup offensive linemen struggled with the Bobcats' stunt packages. That’s a coaching point that Eric Morris will be screaming about in spring ball. Ohio’s depth, on the other hand, looked seasoned. They didn't look like a team missing starters; they looked like a machine that just kept swapping parts.
Misconceptions About the Potato Bowl
People joke about this game. They call it a "low-tier" bowl. They’re wrong.
The 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is one of the longest-running bowl games in its current location for a reason. It has an identity. Unlike the "Generic Corporate Name Bowl" played in an empty NFL stadium, Boise actually cares. The city turns out. The atmosphere is intimate and loud. If you’re a player, winning this game means getting a ring and a story about the time you conquered the blue turf in a blizzard.
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Also, the "Potato" branding isn't just a gimmick. It’s a massive economic driver for the region. The Idaho Potato Commission puts serious muscle behind this, and it shows in the production value. The players get treated like royalty. They get gifts, they go to events, and yeah, they eat a ton of potatoes. It’s one of the few bowl games that feels like it has a soul.
Practical Takeaways for Next Season
If you're a bettor or a scout, what did we actually learn from this game?
First, the MAC is increasingly becoming a developmental powerhouse for defensive linemen. Ohio’s front four played with a technical proficiency that you usually only see in the Big Ten. If you see an Ohio defensive end in the portal next year, expect high-major programs to come calling.
Second, the "Air Raid" offense that North Texas runs is vulnerable to extreme weather. That sounds obvious, but the lack of a "Plan B" power run game hurt the Mean Green when the winds picked up in the fourth quarter. Success in December requires a level of versatility that North Texas hasn't quite mastered yet.
Third, coaching stability is the ultimate "cheat code" in the Group of Five. Tim Albin has built a culture at Ohio that survives roster turnover. They don't rebuild; they reload.
How to Follow These Teams in 2025
- Watch the MAC Schedule: Ohio is the early favorite to return to the conference championship. Keep an eye on their home opener.
- Monitor the AAC Transfer Market: North Texas will likely hit the portal hard for defensive help. They have the offense; they just need a secondary that doesn't leak yards.
- Plan Your Trip: If you ever get the chance to go to Boise for this game, do it. Just bring a heavy parka and expect the unexpected.
The 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl reminded us that football isn't always about the national championship. Sometimes, it's about a group of guys playing for pride, a plastic trophy, and the right to dump a bucket of fries on their coach's head. It was gritty, it was cold, and it was perfect.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Review the Box Score Beyond Points: Look at the "Successful Play Rate" for Ohio’s rushing attack. It explains the win better than the final score.
- Evaluate Portal Impact: Check which players from this game enter the portal in the next 48 hours. This game was a high-level audition for many of them.
- Support the G5: Watch these games. The TV ratings for the Potato Bowl directly impact the funding and survival of these programs in the new era of college football.
The victory for Ohio marks a turning point for the program, solidifying Tim Albin as one of the most underrated coaches in the country. For North Texas, it’s a lesson in situational football and the need for a stouter defensive identity. Boise will hold onto the memories of the blue turf turning white with frost, and we’ll all be back next year to do it again.