Ohio Football Opens 2026 Season Against Nebraska
Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET, with national television coverage broadcast on Fox Sports One.
The Memorial Stadium Matchup and Broadcast Details
The upcoming contest marks the first-ever meeting between the Ohio Bobcats and the Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Big Ten Conference, as reported by ohiobobcats.com. Fans tuning in to the television broadcast will hear play-by-play commentary from Eric Collins alongside color analyst Spencer Tillman on Fox Sports One.
Radio listeners can access the game via The Varsity Sports Network. Veteran broadcaster Marty Bannister handles play-by-play duties for Ohio, joined by color analyst Rob Cornelius, who marks more than two decades on the network’s broadcast team.
Shared History Involving Former Coach Frank Solich
The matchup brings together two programs connected by the legendary career of former head coach Frank Solich. Solich spent 41 seasons at Nebraska as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, compiling a 58-19 record while capturing the 1999 Big 12 Championship and reaching the 2001 BCS National Championship Game.
Following his tenure in Lincoln, Solich took over the Ohio Bobcats in 2005 and coached the program through 2020. He retired as the winningest coach in Mid-American Conference (MAC) history, tallying 115 overall wins, 77 conference victories, 11 bowl appearances, and the first five bowl game victories in Ohio program history.
Scouting the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska enters the 2026 campaign following a 2025 season where the squad finished 7-6 overall and 3-6 in Big Ten play. During that previous year, the Cornhuskers averaged 23.5 points, 154.5 rushing yards, and 218.8 passing yards per contest.
The Nebraska offense centers around junior quarterback Anthony Colandrea, a transfer from UNLV. Colandrea earned Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2025 after throwing for 3,459 yards and 23 touchdowns. Ohio previously faced Colandrea in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl, holding him to 184 passing yards and an interception during a 17-10 Ohio victory.
Protecting the backfield for Nebraska is senior center Justin Evans, who enters the game with 31 career starts. Junior wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. also returns as a primary target after catching 45 passes for 484 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Defensive Personnel and Special Teams
Defensively, Nebraska added linebacker Owen Chambliss via transfer from San Diego State, where he posted 110 tackles and earned First Team All-Mountain West recognition. Rex Guthrie and Donovan Jones return to stabilize a secondary that ranked third nationally in pass defense during the 2025 season.
Special teams feature senior kicker Kyle Cunanan. Cunanan converted 16 of 19 field goal attempts and all 45 extra-point tries last year, leading the team with 93 total points.
The opening whistle at Memorial Stadium marks the start of a challenging autumn campaign for Ohio, testing its roster against formidable competition on the road.