Ohio starts the 2018 football season Saturday afternoon against Howard. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. at Peden Stadium. Coach Frank Solich is 8-5 in season openers with the Bobcats, and has won four of the last five seasons.
Here’s everything you need to know about Howard:
All-time series: This is the first matchup between the two schools.
The Howard report: The Bison are coached by former Virginia coach Mike London. In his first season with Howard he led the Bison to a 7-4 record and a second-place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The Bison are also one of the most recognizable FCS teams in the country after last year’s upset over UNLV. It was the biggest point-spread upset in college football history.
In 2017, Howard racked up over 2,600 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground. Rushers averaged 4.7 yards per carry and ranked 13th nationally in total offense with 446 yards per game.
During the week, Ohio players noted the offense that the Bison will run will be different than anything else it will see this season. Howard runs a hybrid of a wing offense, and at times two or three running backs can be seen on the same side of a shotgun formation.
Howard ranked in the bottom portion of FCS in total defense last season, finishing 108 out of 125. The Bison allowed 442.4 yards per game and 28.2 points per game. They play an odd 3-4 front, something different for the Bobcats who have gone against a 4-3 front throughout camp.
How Ohio beats Howard: Stop the run and score points. This won’t be a pushover by any chance of the imagination. The Bison can air out the ball, but it becomes much more predictable when the run isn’t expected and Ohio can key on top receivers. It would also be a quick way for the inexperienced Bobcats’ front seven to shut up some naysayers for a couple weeks.
If Ohio can score early and fast it will be a great opportunity to rest some players in the second half. Give backups a chance to play and let Solich and the coaching staff evaluate the younger players. This is especially important this season with the new redshirt rule, allowing players to play in four games and still redshirt the season.
Stat to know: 8-5. That’s the record in season openers for Ohio since Solich arrived in Athens 14 seasons ago.
Player to watch: Caylin Newton, quarterback, No. 3.
The younger brother of Carolina Panther quarterback Cam Newton, Caylin was the MEAC Freshman of the Year last season. He rushed for 12 touchdowns and passed for 13 in his rookie year. He’s the dual-threat that breathes life into the Bison offense. He has some skills that are similar to Rourke’s in the college game. If Newton breaks loose and has a big day in the air and on the ground, Bobcat fans could be on the edge of their seats.
