For the second year in a row, Ohio will look to collect itself after a devastating loss at the hands of its bitter rival, Miami. After a 30-20 loss on the road, Ohio will look to regain its winning ways from weeks prior.
Ohio and Buffalo are currently tied for second place in the Mid-American Conference which gives this matchup potential MAC title implications.
Ohio coach Tim Albin sat down with the media on Monday morning for his weekly press conference; here is what we learned.
Happy to be home
It’s been almost a month since Ohio played on its home turf at Peden Stadium. With a bye week and back-to-back away games, the Bobcats haven’t played in front of their home fans since September 28.
This weekend, Ohio will commemorate former coach and recent Hall of Fame inductee Frank Solich. This event should bring some extra fans into the gates of Peden to help with Ohio’s home-field advantage against Buffalo.
Frank Solich Day brings an extra emotion to the current Ohio coach, Albin, who sees Solich as a mentor and great friend. Having Solich in attendance should give the team some extra motivation to get the win.
Another elite linebacker
Against Miami, Ohio faced the MAC’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, linebacker Matt Salopek. The senior linebacker had his way against Ohio with a huge game that included an interception.
This week against Buffalo, Ohio will again face one of the conference's best linebackers, Sean Dolac.
Dolac is among the best in the nation in tackles and has impacted every game he’s appeared in this season. Alongside Dolac is an equally talented linebacker in redshirt sophomore Red Murdoch.
Albin said Murdoch and Dolac remind him of Ohio’s record-breaking linebacker duo last season in Bryce Houston and Keye Thompson. Dolac and Murdock rank first and third in the country in tackles respectively.
The quarterback
For the second time this season, Ohio decided to bench its starting quarterback, Parker Navarro, midway into a game. With two interceptions in three quarters against Miami, Albin and the coaching staff decided to pull Navarro and go to transfer backup Nick Poulos.
Despite Navarro’s struggles in Oxford, Albin remains confident in his starter but didn’t rule out the possibility of Poulos getting some more time down the road.
The starting position; however, will still belong to Navarro going forward.
Injuries
Albin announced that the team's leading rusher and one of the most productive running backs in the MAC, Anthony Tyus, will miss “an extended period of time” with a lower-body injury. Tyus was seen leaving Yager Stadium in Oxford with a boot on his foot.
Without Tyus, Ohio will turn to competent but inexperienced options in redshirt freshman Rickey Hunt and true freshman Duncan Brune.
Additionally, Albin stated there is no timeline for the return of safety Austin Brawley, who has missed back-to-back games due to a personal matter.
