In the 130-year history of Ohio football, there has perhaps never been a game like this.
Ohio’s last Mid-American Conference Championship victory was in 1968 when Ohio coach Tim Albin was just 3 years old. That championship was Ohio’s second in a row, its fourth of the decade, and its fifth overall. In the 54-year Championship drought, Ohio has only competed for the title five times. For the second time in three years, Ohio has a chance to end the drought.
For the first time in program history, the MAC Championship game will pit Ohio against its long-time rival Miami. Friday, Miami beat Bowling Green for a chance to take down its rival for a second time in the same season.
The first matchup of the season, played Oct. 19, saw Ohio lose 30-20 in Oxford. Ohio turned the ball over twice and couldn’t outgain Miami despite taking 25 more snaps than its opponent. However, the Bobcats quickly put the loss behind them.
The loss to Miami was the last of Ohio’s season, its first and only loss in MAC play. In the five games following, the Bobcats have averaged 37.8 points per game, which leads the conference by over a touchdown. This has been a new Ohio team since the loss to Miami, and now it has a chance to show rejuvenation in a rematch against its rival with a Championship on the line.
Here’s everything to know before the game.
Game information
Opponent: Miami RedHawks (8-4, 7-1 MAC)
Location: Ford Field (Detroit, Michigan)
Time: Saturday at noon
Where to watch: ESPN
Historical record vs. Miami: 24-30-1
Miami notes (offense)
The RedHawks’ sixth-year quarterback, Brett Gabbert, leads the way for this offense. Gabbert ranks in the top five in the conference in passing touchdowns, total passing yards and passing yards per game.
Miami’s talented group of receivers, led by Reggie Virgil and Javon Tracy, who have combined for 1,547 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, have aided Gabbert tremendously this season. However, perhaps the RedHawks’ most dangerous weapon is the MAC’s leading rusher, Keyon Mazee, who has tallied 1,045 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on the season.
Despite this, the offense is not where Miami won the right to play for its second-consecutive MAC Championship. The RedHawks rank just seventh in total yards and ninth in touchdowns. In the red zone, they’ve converted 82.9% of their 39 opportunities.
Miami notes (defense)
Sixth-year linebacker Matt Salopek has been the enforcer of a talented Miami defense. Salopek has registered 106 tackles, good for fifth in the MAC, and three interceptions which is tied for fourth.
It hasn’t been Salopek alone though, as defensive backs Eli Blakey and Silas Walters have each recorded over 75 tackles and defensive lineman Brian Ugwu has tallied a fifth-in-conference 7.5 sacks.
This team has 12 interceptions and forced six fumbles, putting it toward the top of the conference in turnovers. If Ohio is going to avoid a similar fate to the first round of the Battle of the Bricks this season, it will need to do a much better job keeping the ball out of Miami’s hands.
