Ohio Bobcats 2025 College Football Preview
Posted August 7, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 11-3
ATS – 8-5-1
Yes, guy.
The Bobcats finally got the MAC Championship they’d been dreaming of for so long (1968). Things didn’t look great after a loss to Miami Ohio as they sat at 4-3 knowing they’d probably have to run the table to get a shot at the conference title. Well, the Bobcats got on a major roll and won their final five regular season games, and they followed that up with an absolute TRUCKING of the Redhawks in the MAC Championship Game (W 38-3). Ohio finished the year in style by taking down a scrappy Jacksonville St team in the Cure Bowl and that gave the Bobcats their first 11-win season in program history.
Former head coach Tim Albin is off to Charlotte and let’s see what new boss Brian Smith has to work with in 2025.
Ohio Bobcats 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Bobcats had the #1 scoring offense in the MAC LY (29.3 PPG) and the #1 total offense (406 YPG) and they can thank a DEVASTATING rushing attack for the majority of their success (213 YPG rushing, #1 MAC, #12 FBS). Star QB Parker Navarro is back to lead the offense and whilst he was inconsistent with the THROW GAME (66%, 13-11 TD to INT) he was almost unstoppable down the stretch on the ground. Navarro finished with over 1,000 (!) yards rushing and 18 (!) TDs and note that he booked 14 of those rushing scores in November and December when the team needed them the most. It stings to lose 1,200-yard RB Anthony Tyus but former MAC Freshman of the Year Sieh Bangura returns to Ohio where he’s had big seasons in the past (1,078 yards in 222, 811 yards in 2023). We’re very excited about backup RB Duncan Brune who hails from Germany **** and apparently has a ton of speed. The Bobcats return three of their top-four WRs but sadly they’ll be without star Coleman Owen who had a monster year in 2024 (1,245, 8 TD; NFL – Colts). WR Chase Hendricks is a highly-touted specimen (40-471, TD LY) that could play a big role in the passing attack this season. The offensive line might take a step back as they only return one starter to the group and note that the Bobcats have a new OL coach. On a somber note, losing the ability to make Parker TITSWORTH content is a tough blow for our MAC staff.
**** Here are a few handy German phrases for those traveling abroad in the near future.
“Es gibt Sauerkraut in meiner Lederhose” <There is sauerkraut in my lederhosen>
“Ich will einen Schnauzer zu meinem Wiener Schnitzel” <I want a schnauzer with my wienerschnitzel>
DEFENSE
Ohio was extremely impressive on defense LY (#1 MAC scoring D, #2 MAC scoring D) and they yielded a mere 13.6 PPG and 257 YPG in MAC play whilst doing a good job of getting heat on the QB (35 sacks, #2 MAC). There’s a significant reload taking place on this side of the football as the Bobcats need to replace leading sack producer DE Bradley Weaver (8.5), #2 sack man DE Marcel Walker-Burgess, as well as their top-three (!) leading tacklers (two at LB). Ace DC John Hauser will have his work cut out for him in 2025 and he’ll try and cobble together a legitimate stop unit using transfer pieces and backups from LY’s squad. Some players to keep an eye on include DE Evan Hermann (Vanderbilt), DE Kaci Seegars, LB Michael Molnar, LB Charlie Christopher (true freshman), safety DJ Walker, and CB Tank Pearson. It’s impossible to ask the Bobcats’ defense to be as good as they were LY but they’ve got enough talent to eventually mold into a solid MAC unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio had the 2nd best special teams unit in the MAC LY according to the intrepid Phil Steele but they’ll have to find a new PK to replace Gianni Spetic (13/16 FG, 47/48 XP LY; off to Memphis) and introduce a new punter. On a positive note, KR Eamonn Dennis is back this season and recall that he booked a KR TD vs Kent St in 2024.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The Bobcats miss Toledo on the MACtion slate but they could easily start the season 0-3 after facing Rutgers (A), West Virginia (H), and Ohio St (A). Thankfully, there are no back-to-back road games on the entire schedule.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Ohio St (Sept 13)
This will be the 3rd consecutive game vs Power 4 opposition and the team might a bit banged up at this point. Also note that Ohio St has a bye week after this game so the Bobcats will garner full attention.
Season Win Total
Market consensus – August 7
Over 7.5 +115
Under 7.5 -145
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
If the Bobcats start 0-3 they’ll have to go 8-1 or better the rest of the way to hit the ‘over’.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
There’s quite the winning tradition to be proud of in Athens as the Bobcats have tallied double-digit wins in three consecutive seasons and emerged victorious in six straight bowl games.
Ohio became the first MAC team to shut out the opposition in a bowl game when they plastered San Diego St 27-CACK in the 2018 Frisco Bowl.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
It’s gonna be tough for the Bobcats to repeat as MAC champs this year despite having one of the best players in the conference at the QB position in Parker Navarro. There’s a lot of production to be replaced on defense and it’s never good to lose 1,200-yard performers at RB and WR. Oh, and they’ve also got a new head coach. In any event, we expect the Bobcats to be in the MAC hunt heading into November and their fortunes will be decided in match-ups with Miami-Ohio (H) and Buffalo (A). They’re a definite contender in the conference but not our top choice to win it.