Athens, OH – The Ohio Bobcats face a critically important challenge this Saturday as they prepare to host the West Virginia Mountaineers in a Week 2 matchup that will test the program’s rising standards. Coming off a surprising road victory at rutgers, Ohio now turns its attention to a potentially tougher opponent in a game that could provide valuable insight into the team’s trajectory for the 2025 season.
Head coach Brian Smith and the Bobcats are focusing on preparation for West Virginia’s high-tempo offence. “You try the best you can to simulate it,” Smith told Ohio radio play-by-play man Marty Bannister. “We’ll do some good-on-good so we can give ’em (the defense) a chance of seeing some tempo at a good rate.” The team will also look to solidify the defensive line rotation, building on the contributions made by players like defensive end Jay Crable, who recorded his first career sack last week.Special teams will be another key area of focus after a challenging Week 1 performance that included a blocked punt touchdown and issues on a kick return. As Parker Navarro stated following the Rutgers game, the expectation level for Ohio football has increased, and the team aims to continue exceeding those expectations.
Despite potentially facing a stronger opponent than Rutgers, the Bobcats believe they have a distinct advantage playing at home, fueled by the energy of the Bobcat crowd. The game is expected to be closely contested,with execution and ball security likely determining the outcome. Both teams are anticipated to gain valuable experience and a clearer understanding of their capabilities as the 2025 season progresses.