The 2026 Ohio Bobcats football team represents Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bobcats are led by John Hauser in his first year as the head coach. The Bobcats play home games at Peden Stadium, located in Athens, Ohio.
Hauser earned his first win as a head coach in the 2025 Frisco Bowl as interim coach after replacing Brian Smith This extended the Bobcats bowl game winning streak to seven. Ohio entered the season having won 13 in a row and 23 out of their last 24 at home since the turf was christened Frank Solich Field prior to the start of the 2022 season. The Bobcats were coming off of a 9 win campaign in 2025 and a program record 40 wins over the prior four seasons.
Ohio entered the season ranked 129th out of 138 FBS teams and tenth in the MAC in returning production as determined by the SP+ rankings as well as last in the nation in returning production on offense. Nick Poulos will take over as the starting quarterback after a training camp battle.
Ohio managed to stay in their opening game at Nebraska until early in the fourth quarter but Nebraska's running attack rolled in the second half as Nebraska pulled away to a 49–21 victory. The Bobcats trailed most of the game the following week against Jacksonville State. After suffering injuries to Poulos, backup quarterback Matt Vezza, running back Duncan Brune, and best defender DJ Walker, getting outgained by 185 yards, and getting two field goal attempts blocked, freshman quarterback Levi Davis scored on a draw play in the 4th overtime to complete the comeback. As they has in the first two games, The Bobcats struggled to stop the run against South Alabama. They failed to overcome mounting injuries and an earl seventeen point deficit and fell to the Jaguars by a score of 41–36. In their final non-conference tune up against Stonehill the Bobcats held the Skyhawks to negative rushing yards and pulled away in the second half for an easy victory. The Bobcats survived their first MAC game and earned their first road win thanks to their defense and special teams in a 13–10 victory at Kent State.
Schedule
Preseason The MAC Football Kickoff was held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan from 9:00 am EDT to 1:30 pm EDT. Ohio was represented by Head Coach John Hauser, running back Duncan Brune, and safety DJ Walker.
MAC coaches preseason poll On July 22 the MAC announced the coaches preseason poll. Ohio was picked to finish fourth in the conference. They received zero votes to win the MAC Championship.
Preseason award watch lists Jim Thorpe AwardDJ WalkerSRS-Jr.Bednarik AwardDJ WalkerSRS-Jr.Wuerffel TrophyDJ WalkerSRS-Jr.
Game summaries
at Nebraska
Statistics OHIONEB First downs 17 28 Plays–yards 65–303 74–523 Rushes–yards 33–139 42–248 Passing yards 164 275 Passing: –– 14–32–1 18–32–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 29:21 30:39 Team Category Player Statistics Ohio Passing Nick Poulos 14/31, 164 yards, TD Rushing Nick Poulos 10 carries, 72 yards, TD Receiving Riley Neer 6 receptions, 104 yards, TD Nebraska Passing Anthony Colandrea 18/32, 275 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jamal Rule 15 carries, 122 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jacory Barney Jr. 5 receptions, 60 yards
This was the first time in well over 100 years of history for both programs that Ohio played Nebraska. The Cornhuskers were quarterbacked by Anthony Colandrea who transferred from UNLV and whom the Bobcats had faced the their bowl win the prior season.
The Bobcats took a quick lead as an offense returning zero started the season fast and scored on their first drive in three plays with Riley Neer on the receiving in of a touchdown pass from Nick Poulos. It didn't take long for Nebraska to answer and tied the game after a twelve play drive to tie the score. The revamped Ohio offense continued to move the ball but has to settle for field goals on their next two drives. Nebraska took their first lead with 8:13 remaining in the half when Colandrea connected with Rule for a 24-yard touchdown. Neither offense was able to do much for the remainder of the half.
After, forcing Nebraska to punt from deep in their own end, Ohio had a chance to retake the lead but failed to connect on a 44-yard field goal. Nebraska extended their lead on their final two possessions of the third quarter with a Colandrea touchdown rush and pass to take a fifteen point lead into the fourth. The Bobcats answered and got back within one score as Poulos took in himself from the 1 and a conversion pass to Dom Dorwart. Ohio entered the game as a 23.5 point underdog and were holding their own to this point. However Nebraska, holding a lead, kept the ball on the ground for most of the rest of the game and scored on their final three possessions with two more touchdown passes from Colandrea and another Rule rush sandwiched between them to win 49–21.
Ohio's defense struggled against the Power Four opponent as they surrendered 523 total yards and 248 rushing yards. Colandrea took revenge on Ohio in his second straight game against them and passed for 275 yards with 3 passing touchdowns and one more on the ground. Poulos threw for 164 yards and a touchdown in his second overall, and first start as the number one quarterback for Ohio. Jamal Rule was the offensive star for Nebraska with 122 rushing yards with two rushing and one receiving touchdown. Riley Neer was a star for Ohio in his first start with 104 receiving yards and a touchdown.
vs Jacksonville State
Statistics JVSTOHIO First downs 22 17 Total yards 72–447 66–262 Rushing yards 46–161 46–165 Passing yards 286 97 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–26–0 13–20–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:25 31:35 Team Category Player Statistics Jacksonville State Passing Caden Creel 18/24, 265 yards, TD Rushing Caden Creel 29 carries, 120 yards, TD Receiving Luke Gilbert 1 reception, 82 yards, TD Ohio Passing Matt Vezza 10/12, 80 yards, TD Rushing Matt Vezza 12 carries, 67 yards Receiving Riley Neer 4 receptions, 38 yards, TD
This was Ohio's second all-time meeting with Jacksonville State. Ohio won the first matchup two seasons ago in the 2024 Cure Bowl when they met as champions of their respective conferences.
The Gamecock offense controlled the game early. After a Bobcat punt to open the game, their offense marched on a 13-play 88-yard drive culminating in an 8-yard rush by quarterback Caden Creel. After the teams exchanging punts for three possessions they scored in a much faster fashion when Creel hit tight end Luke Gilbert for an 82-yard completion on the drives first play early in the second quarter. Ohio responded with a 13-play drive of their own. Matt Vezza, in relief of Nick Poulos who was injured on a targeting penalty early in the game, hit Riley Neer for a touchdown. Ohio's defense held Jacksonville State to a long field goal attempt on the ensuing drive when the ball slipped through holder Carter Lewis's hands. Lewis was able to recover and complete a pass to Angel Toombs for a first down. The drive finally ended on the drive's 14th play with a field goal to put the Gamecocks up 10 with 57 seconds remaining in the half. Darren James-Hamilton got the Bobcats close before the half when he returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. Creel fumbled of the first play of the next drive but Ohio's field goal attempt on the final play was blocked.
Jacksonville State opened the half with another 14-play possession. Kristian Lando scored on a 4-yard pitch to extend the lead back to 10. Ohio followed with 13-play drive that consumed 8:00 but could only manage a Will Hryszko 23-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. After a Gamecock punt. Ohio went on a 18-play touchdown drive that ate most of the remaining game time. Quarterback Levi Davis, now in relief of an injured Vezza scrambled to the 1 an then Victor Rosa tied the game with a 1-yard plunge with 1:34 remaining. JSU got managed 11-plays in the final drive but missed what would have been a game winning 38-yard field goal.
JSU chose to go for it an failed on a 4th an 2 in overtime as Creel's run was stuffed. Ohio's offense only managed one yard on their possession and the winning field goal attempt was blocked. They exchanged field goals in the second overtime and both failed on their conversions in the third. Davis scored on a draw play to start the fourth. A procedure call made the Gamecocks attempt a conversion from the 8-yard line. Creel completed a pass but James-Hamilton made a game saving tackle at the 1-yard line to win the game for the Bobcats.
Creel was the games statistical star as he completed 18 passes for 265 yards and rushed for 120 yards. Ohio was outgained by 185 yards, forced to use three quarterbacks and suffered several other key injuries, had two field goals blocked, barely moved the ball at all in overtime but somehow won a game that featured a second half rain storm, bizzare plays, and multiple long drives by both teams.
at South Alabama
Statistics OHIOUSA First downs 22 21 Total yards 59–387 70–458 Rushing yards 28–153 50–266 Passing yards 234 192 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–31–1 13–20–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:30 32:30 Team Category Player Statistics Ohio Passing Levi Davis 9/15, 121 yards, 2 TD Rushing Victor Rosa 13 carries, 78 yards, TD Receiving Dom Dorwart 5 receptions, 61 yards, TDSouth Alabama Passing Jared Hollins 13/20, 192 yards, TD Rushing Keenan Phillips 18 carries, 116 yards, TD Receiving Jeremiah Jones-Thomas 6 receptions, 74 yards
This was Ohio's second all-time meeting with South Alabama. Ohio won the first matchup 27–20 in 2024 Both teams were forced to start backup quarterbacks. Jared Hollins started for South Alabama in lieu of Bishop Davenport. Ohio started Matt Vezza at quarterback and was without starting back Duncan Brune, and several starters on defense.
The Jaguars marched right down the field and scored on an Keenan Phillips touchdown run on their first drive. The Bobcats matched with a methodical 13-play drive ending in a Riley Neer touchdown catch from Vezza. South Alabama had no trouble regaining the lead as on the ensuing drive Hollins hit Rod Gibbs with a touchdown pass. Vezza was intercepted early in the second quarter and the Jaguars found the endzone again two plays later on a Trae'von Dunbar 32-yard rush. Ohio reached the USA 2-yard line on their next drive but were forced to sub out at center for one play. The snap hit Vezza in the leg and the ball was recovered in endzone by South Alabama for a touchback. The Jaguars held the ball for 18-plays and kicked a field goal just before the half ended.
Ohio wasted no time getting back in the game early in the second half. Darren James-Hamilton's kickoff return set the Bobcat's up with good field position. Victor Rosa scored from 33-yards out on the second play. After a Jaguar three-and-out Vezza found Neer again to get within three on the second play of their next drive. The Jaguars responded with a 10-play touchdown drive to retake a ten point lead. After a series of punts, they went up again by 17 after a 14-play touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter. Levi Davis entered in relief of Vezza and led a touchdown drive culminating in a touchdown pass to tight end AJ Miller. Miller got the Bobcats within nine on the two-point conversion. Ohio's defense held but the Jaguar defense stopped Ohio on a 4th down deep in Ohio territory. Ohio's defense held them to a field goal. Dom Dorwart caught a touchdown pass on the ensuing drive from Davis but an onside kick attempt failed on South Alabama ran out the clock.