| Ohio Bobcats football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1894; 131 years ago | ||
| Athletic director | Julie Cromer | ||
| Head coach | Brian Smith 1st season, 1–0 (1.000) | ||
| Stadium | Peden Stadium (capacity: 25,210) | ||
| Field | Frank Solich Field | ||
| Field surface | Field Turf | ||
| Location | Athens, Ohio | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FBS | ||
| Conference | Mid-American Conference | ||
| Past conferences | Ohio Athletic Conference Buckeye Athletic Association | ||
| All-time record | 608–587–48 [1] (.508) | ||
| Bowl record | 8–8 (.500) | ||
| Claimed national titles | 1 (1960, small college) | ||
| Conference titles | 12 | ||
| Division titles | 5 | ||
| Rivalries | Miami (rivalry) Marshall (rivalry) | ||
| Current uniform | |||
 | |||
| Colors | Hunter green and white[2] | ||
| Fight song | Stand Up and Cheer | ||
| Mascot | Rufus the Bobcat | ||
| Marching band | The Ohio University Marching 110 | ||
| Outfitter | Adidas | ||
| Nickname | Bobcats | ||
| Website | OhioBobcats.com | ||
The Ohio Bobcats football team is a major intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University. The team represents the university as the senior member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), playing at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Bobcats have played their home games in Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio since 1929.
Ohio University is also the first team to produce a shut out during a MAC Bowl game. Ohio's first football game is reported[3] in 1894, an 8–0 loss to Marietta College.[4] Since then, the Bobcats have posted an over 500 wins over their 125-year existence and over 200 wins in their 72 years in MAC games. The Bobcats have won six MAC championships, in 1953, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1968, and 2024, and five MAC East Division championships, in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2022. Prior to joining the MAC, the Bobcats won six Buckeye Athletic Association championships, in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1936, and 1938. During that era, “All State” Bobcat player Chris Stefan broke all collegiate records by running for an amazing 104 yards touchdown, by first faking a kick from behind his own end zone, and rushing unabated to score against Xavier of Ohio (as documented by conference officials, and reported by both AP and Ohio Press). In 1960, the Bobcats were crowned National Small College Champions after compiling a 10–0 record under Bill Hess. The Bobcats have appeared in twelve bowl games, losing 15–14 to West Texas State in the 1962 Sun Bowl, losing 49–42 to Richmond in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl, falling 28–7 to Southern Mississippi in the 2007 GMAC Bowl, losing 21–17 to Marshall in the 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, and a defeat at the hands of Troy in the 2010 New Orleans Bowl. Ohio won their first bowl game on December 17, 2011, with a 24–23 victory over the Utah State Aggies in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Ohio followed up that bowl win with another in 2012 over Louisiana–Monroe in the 2012 Independence Bowl, by the score 45–14. In 2013, Ohio played in their fifth consecutive bowl game, losing to East Carolina in the 2013 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl. Ohio lost in the 2015 Camellia Bowl and the 2016 Dollar General Bowl, before defeating UAB in the 2017 Bahamas Bowl and San Diego State in the 2018 Frisco Bowl. In 2021, the Ohio Bobcats broke the NCAA all-time record for the longest ever TD Run by a Quarterback in a 99-yard run against MAC foe Buffalo.[5]
- ^ NCAA Statistics https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/history?utf8=%E2%9C%93&org_id=519&sport_code=MFB
- ^ "Colors – Ohio University". Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "Local Matters", Athens Messenger and Herald, Athens, OH, p. 5, November 22, 1894
- ^ "Hear Our Tale of Woe", Athens Messenger and Herald, Athens, OH, p. 1, November 29, 1894
- ^ "Buffalo wins 27-26 on last play, Ohio has record 99-yard TD". ESPN.com. ESPN. October 16, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2022.