The 2022 Ohio Bobcats football team represented Ohio University as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Tim Albin and played their home games at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio. They finished the season 10–4 and 7–1 in the MAC and won the MAC East for the first time since 2016. They lost to Toledo in the MAC Championship Game. Ohio defeated Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl
Ohio entered the 2022 season with coming off of their worst season since 2003 and was predicted to finish near the bottom of the MAC East. The Bobcats finished their non-conference schedule 2–2 with high-scoring home wins 41–38 over Florida Atlantic and 59–52 over FCS Fordham and with losses at power conference foes Penn State and Iowa State. They opened conference play with an overtime loss to media preseason MAC East favorite Kent State where they surrendered 736 offensive yards to the Golden Flashes. After a 55–34 win over MAC cellar dweller Akron in which Akron passed for 418 yards, the Bobcats got back to .500 on the season with a 3–3 record and 1–1 mark in the conference. While Ohio's offense was prolific and the passing attack was setting records behind MAC Player of the year quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who had 537 yards against Fordham, Ohio's defense was struggling mightily. Through six games Ohio was surrendering 40.6 points, 561 yards, and 387 passing yards per game. However, the Akron win was the beginning of a second half winning streak during which the defense would turn things around dramatically.
In the seventh game Ohio notched their second MAC win and first road win of the season with a 33–14 win over Western Michigan. Ohio's defense gave up only 14 points while forcing 6 turnovers, 5 of which were interceptions, and getting 5 sacks. Ohio defeated Northern Illinois with Rourke only passing for 200 yards. The defense led the way holding the Huskies to 17 points. In a home game against Buffalo for control of the MAC East, Rourke threw a school record tying 5 touchdown passes in an easy 45–24 win. The Bulls were held to 260 total yards on the game.
Ohio went on the road for wins over rival Miami (OH) and Ball State. Rourke threw tor 362 yards and 3 touchdowns against the RedHawks but suffered a season ending torn ACL against the Cardinals. Ohio was forced to rely on its running game and defense. The Bobcats ran for 224 yards with 148 and two touchdowns coming from MAC Freshman of the Year Sieh Bangura. Ohio's defense forced three turnovers and held the Cardinals to 18 points. With Rourke and Parker Navarro out for the season Ohio turned to CJ Harris at quarterback to wrap up the division against Bowling Green. Harris led the Bobcats to a 38–14 win. Again, it was the running game and defense that led the way as the Falcons were held to 279 yards of offense. Prior to the season the university installed new turf in Peden Stadium. The field at Peden was christened "Frank Solich Field" after the MAC's all-time coaching wins leader to whom Albin was a long time assistant. With the win over Bowling Green, Ohio remained unbeaten on the new field. After the regular season Albin was named MAC Coach of the Year after bringing the Bobcats back from their first losing season in 13 years after he took over the program on short notice following the unexpected retirement of Solich prior to the 2021 season. In spite of missing the last three and a half games of the season Kurtis Rourke became Ohio's first winner of the Vern Smith Leadership Award for MAC Player of the Year which has been given out since 1982.
Ohio's offense struggled without Rourke in 17–7 championship loss to Toledo. The Bobcats rebounded to win the Arizona Bowl 30–27 in overtime over Wyoming where Harris was named the MVP
Offseason
Transfers Source:
Outgoing Shakari DensonATHAlabama A&MJerome BucknerWRIllinois StateJett EladSBryce McNairTSouthernPierre KemeniCBTexas StateTillman WeaverDLIsiah CoxWRAlabama A&MWalter Wilbon IIIWRIowa Central Community CollegeSamson JacksonTAlabama A&MWyatt WaltonOLGary HooverTOld DominionCedric HillsmanDL
Incoming Parker NavarroQBUCF August PitreWRRice Dontay Hunter IIDLPurdue Sam WigluszWROhio State
Recruiting
Preseason
Preseason polls
Media Poll On July 26 the MAC announced the preseason media poll. Ohio was picked to finish fourth in the East and received no votes to win conference.
East 1 Miami (OH) 139 (20) 2 Kent State 116 (3) 3 Buffalo 78 4 Ohio 72 5 Bowling Green 71 (1) 6 Akron 28 West 1 Northern Illinois 122 (11) 2 Toledo 120 (9) 3 Central Michigan 112 (4) 4 Western Michigan 56 5 Eastern Michigan 52 6 Ball State 42
Media poll (MAC Championship) 1 Northern Illinois 9 2 Toledo 6 3 Miami (OH) 5 3 Central Michigan 4
Coaches Poll On August 29 the MAC released the coaches poll. Ohio was selected fifth the East.
East 1 Kent State 61 (5) 2 Miami (OH) 60 (6) 3 Buffalo 43 4 Bowling Green 36 (1) 5 Ohio 35 6 Akron 16 West 1 Northern Illinois 61 (6) 2 Toledo 51 3 Central Michigan 50 (2) 4 Western Michigan 45 (3) 5 Eastern Michigan 24 6 Ball State 21 (1)
Coaches poll (MAC Championship) 1 Northern Illinois 4 2 Kent State 3 3 Miami (OH) 2 3 Western Michigan 2 5 Ball State 1
Award watch lists Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardKurtis RourkeQBJr.
Schedule
Game summaries
Vs. Florida Atlantic
Statistics FAU OHIO First downs 25 26 Total yards 478 476 Rushes/yards 29/114 39/131 Passing yards 364 345 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–42–0 27–34–0 Time of possession 24:19 35:41 Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida Atlantic Passing N'Kosi Perry 24/42, 364 yards, 5 TD Rushing Larry McCammon 14 rushes, 60 yards Receiving Je'Quan Burton 5 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TDOhio Passing Kurtis Rourke27/34, 345 yards, 4 TD Rushing Sieh Bangura 23 rushes, 114 yards Receiving James Bostic 6 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
Ohio recovered from an early deficit and then had to hold on to avoid surrendering a late 17 point lead in winning a shootout against Florida Atlantic. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke and freshman kicker Nathanial Vakos both earned MAC East Player of the Week awards.
At Penn State
Statistics OHIO PSU First downs 16 27 Total yards 263 572 Rushes/yards 26/99 34/234 Passing yards 264 338 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–40–0 31–42–0 Time of possession 28:02 31:58 Team Category Player StatisticsOhio Passing Kurtis Rourke 14/30, 119 yards Rushing Kurtis Rourke 5 carries, 29 yards Receiving Sieh Bangura 2 receptions, 35 yardsPenn State Passing Sean Clifford 19/27, 213 yards, TD Rushing Nicholas Singleton 10 carries, 179 yards, 2 TD Receiving Parker Washington 4 receptions, 60 yards
Penn St jumped out to an early lead and pulled away in an easy 46–10 over the Bobcats.
At Iowa State
Statistics OHIO ISU First downs 12 22 Total yards 233 463 Rushes/yards 22/24 32/163 Passing yards 209 300 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–40–2 32–42–0 Time of possession 28:58 31:02 Team Category Player StatisticsOhio Passing Kurtis Rourke 14/30, 194 yards, 1 TD Rushing Nolan McCormick 7 carries, 43 yards Receiving Miles Cross 4 receptions, 48 yardsIowa State Passing Hunter Dekkers 28/36, 298 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jirehl Brock 7 carries, 78 yards Receiving Xavier Hutchinson 9 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD
The Bobcat offense was shut down for the second straight week as 2022 Iowa State held them to a season low 233 yards in an easy victory for the Cyclones.
Vs. Fordham
Statistics FORD OHIO First downs 28 32 Total yards 640 692 Rushes/yards 33/137 32/155 Passing yards 503 537 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27-35-0 41-50-0 Time of possession 23:13 36:47 Team Category Player StatisticsFordham Passing Tim DeMorat 27/35, 503 yards, 6 TD Rushing Trey Sneed 19 rushes, 88 yards Receiving Fotis Kokosioulis 13 receptions, 320 yards, 4 TDOhio Passing Kurtis Rourke 41/50, 537 yards, 4 TD Rushing Nolan McCormick 17 rushes, 62 yards Receiving Jacoby Jones 6 receptions, 104 yards, 2 TD
In another shootout win Kurtis Rourke passed for 537 yards which was the most in Bobcat History while earning his second MAC East Offensive Player of the Week award of the season. Fordham's Fotis Kokosioulis broke the Patriot League record for receiving yards in a game with 320 and was player of the week for the entire FCS.
At Kent State
Statistics OHIO KENT First downs 19 36 Total yards 450 736 Rushes/yards 30/128 59/338 Passing yards 322 398 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–39–0 24–37–0 Time of possession 30:06 29:54 Team Category Player StatisticsOhio Passing Kurtis Rourke 25/39, 322 yards, 2 TD Rushing Sieh Bangura 18 rushes, 99 yards, 1 TD Receiving Sam Wiglusz 6 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TDKent State Passing Collin Schlee 24/37, 398 yards, 1 TD Rushing Marquez Cooper 40 rushes, 240 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dante Cephas 13 receptions, 246 yards, 1 TD
Kent State won a shootout in overtime. Ohio's defense continued to struggle as they gave up 736 yards in the game, of which, 711 yards were in regulation. Kent State's running back Marquez Cooper and wide receiver Dante Cephas became the first FBS teammates to respectively get 240 yards rushing and receiving in the same game.
Vs. Akron
Statistics AKR OHIO First downs 33 25 Total yards 473 561 Rushes/yards 26/60 31/134 Passing yards 418 427 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 43–54–1 24–27–0 Time of possession 32:24 27:36 Team Category Player StatisticsAkron Passing DJ Irons 43/54, 418 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Clyde Price III 14 rushes, 47 yards, 3 TD Receiving Shocky Jacques-Louis 11 receptions, 152 yards, 2 TDOhio Passing Kurtis Rourke 24/27, 427 yards, 3 TD Rushing Sieh Bangura 16 rushes, 92 yards, 3 TD Receiving Sam Wiglusz 7 receptions, 144 yards, 2 TD
Ohio won by 21 points in spite of surrendering 473 yards to Akron. Through six games Ohio was surrendering 40.6 points, 561 yards, and 387 passing yards per game to opposing offenses. The Bobcat offense continued to shine helping Ohio get to 3–3 on the season. With their first conference win they moved to 1–1 record in the MAC. Sam Wiglusz had 7 catches for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns while Kurtis Rourke had 427 yards passing and 4 touchdowns along with 32 rushing yards. However, it was Sieh Bangura who won MAC East Offensive Player of the Week with 92 rushing yards and 4 total touchdowns.
At Western Michigan
Statistics OHIO WMU First downs 17 17 Total yards 383 333 Rushes/yards 35/119 31/84 Passing yards 264 249 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–34–1 17–31–5 Time of possession 33:20 26:40 Team Category Player StatisticsOhio Passing Kurtis Rourke 22/34, 264 yards, 1 INT Rushing Sieh Bangura 25 rushes, 77 yards, 2 TD Receiving Sam Wiglusz 8 receptions, 76 yardsWestern Michigan Passing Jack Salopek 17/31, 249 yards, 1 TD, 5 INT Rushing Sean Tyler 19 rushes, 84 yards Receiving Corey Crooms 5 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD
Ohio's defense had their best game of the season to this point giving up only 14 points while forcing 6 turnovers, 5 of which were interceptions, and getting 5 sacks and 8 tackles for losses. However, the passing offense was slowed some for the first time since back to back games against power five teams Penn State and Iowa St. as Kurtis Rourke was held to 264 yards. It was the running game on offense and impressive kicking that carried the way. Freshman running back Sieh Bangura earned his second straight MAC East Offensive Player of the Week and Nataniel Vakos earned his second special teams player of the week award of the season by converting on 4 field goals including a career long of 55 yards. That helped the Bobcats score 33 points to defeat Western Michigan.
Vs. Northern Illinois
Statistics NIU OHIO First downs 17 20 Total yards 377 354 Rushes/yards 48/267 33/154 Passing yards 110 200 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–18–0 14–26–0 Time of possession 32:30 27:30