Ohio has been in this spot before.
For the last two seasons, the Bobcats have suffered a loss to a Mid-American Conference East Division opponent that have cannoned them out of a trip to the MAC Championship. It happened again last week against Miami.
The Bobcats still have a chance to go to Detroit, but only if they defeat Western Michigan on Tuesday night at Peden Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
Will this be the year where Ohio still manages to make the MAC Championship? It’s unlikely, and the Bobcats will need help — the RedHawks need to lose at least two of their remaining three games to give them a shot.
All Ohio can do now is win, and then pray.
Following along
How to watch: The game can be watched on ESPN2. Mark Neely and Rocky Boiman will have the call.
How to listen: The game can be heard on the Ohio IMG Sports Network — Russ Eisenstein and Rob Cornelius will be behind the mic. The broadcasts are available online through OhioBobcats.com and TuneIn.com/OhioBobcats.
Depth chart
Scouting the Broncos
Offense
The Broncos boast the No. 1 overall offense in the MAC, the No. 1 scoring offense and the No. 1 running back in LeVante Bellamy. His 1,212 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns are both conference highs for the senior, who has averaged 121.2 yards per game. Though the Broncos rely on their run game, they also have a stout quarterback under center with Jon Wassink. The 6-foot, 2-inch senior has thrown for over 2,000 yards and has 16 touchdowns.
Defense
While it has a juggernaut on offense, Western Michigan’s defense doesn’t hold the same level of play statistically speaking. The Broncos’ pass defense ranks 11th in conference-only games where they have on average allowed 246.8 yards per game. The run defense, however, ranks third in conference-only games behind a 169.7 average yards per game.
Special Teams
In all special teams categories, Western Michigan ranks in the middle of the pack, ranging from No. 6 in field goal and PAT attempts, to No. 8 in kickoffs and punting.
Three things to watch for
Solich’s 111th win
Coach Frank Solich had a chance at earning career win No. 111, which would’ve made him the winningest MAC coach of all time, against Ohio’s top rival in the biggest regular season came in recent program history.
Instead, it will have to come in a game that could be meaningless when the season is finished.
The win will still be significant, however, and showcase how far Solich has taken Ohio since he became head coach in 2005. The Bobcats have become one of the most consistent teams in the nation under his tenure, and while a win over the Broncos won’t send Ohio to a MAC Championship — which Solich has yet to win in his 15 years in Athens — it will push the Bobcats a step closer to their fourth consecutive season with a winning record.
Levante Bellamy
The Broncos own the top running back in the conference in Bellamy, who leads with 20 touchdowns and 1,212 rushing yards and has propelled the Broncos to the top scoring offense in the MAC.
Ohio won’t have much of a shot against Western Michigan if the defense can’t stop him. The Bobcats’ rushing defense has improved in recent weeks and held the RedHawks to 129 rushing yards last week, but they haven’t faced a back with the success of Bellamy, an NFL draft prospect who was clocked at 4.28 seconds in a 40-yard dash during summer workouts.
Ohio’s offensive line
Quarterback Nathan Rourke passed for only 133 yards last week. That was his second lowest total of the season, but only to his 131 passing yards against Ball State when Ohio relied heavily on its run game to win in monsoon-like conditions.
The Bobcats struggled to generate anything out of their passing game in part because of a regression in the offensive line, which recorded three sacks on Rourke and quickly forced him out of the pocket on several plays.
Ohio can’t afford to collapse against Western Michigan’s defense. The Broncos lead the MAC with 32 sacks, and Solich knows his offensive line will face one of its toughest tests of the season.
“Their sacks are coming off just beating people 1-on-1 to some degree. They do a lot of movement, and if you’re not ready for that, obviously you’re going to get caught. Even if you’re ready for it, they’re going to apply pressure.”
The edge
When Ohio has the ball: Statistically speaking, the Bobcats should have won their game against Miami last week. They rank No. 1 in the conference in time of possession, largely in part of their ability to string together long drives with a mix of run and pass plays. Ohio plays one of the best run defenses, and we’ve seen Rourke win games with his arm. Though the Bobcats would much rather rely on the ground game, this might be one where they have to throw 25-30 times to win.
Edge: Draw
When Western has the ball: Bellamy and Wassink both have been in a dominant roles for the Broncos offense this season. They’ve combined for 36 total touchdowns and over 3,500 total yards, which account for 75-and-77% of Western’s offense. The Bobcats defense statistically played their best game of the season and will need to do so again.
Edge: Western
Special teams: Redshirt seniors Louie Zervos and Michael Farkas both will be playing in their final game in Peden Stadium and will look to contribute more than they have this season. Zervos missed a 50-yard field goal attempt against Miami that would have eventually tied things up. Neither team boasts the flashiest return unit, though Western ranks No. 1 in the conference in returns, Ohio is No. 3.
Edge: Draw
Predictions
Sports Editor Anthony Poisal: Ohio needs to forget about making a MAC Championship. Yes, it’s still a possibility, but the Bobcats’ shot at making a bowl game is in jeopardy if they don’t beat the Broncos, and I don’t see that happening. Not after the way Ohio lost last week. Western Michigan wins 27-20.
Sports Editor Matt Parker: For several of Ohio’s players on its roster, this will be the last time they run out of the locker room and onto the field at Peden Stadium. The Bobcats have a tall test ahead of them with, statistically speaking, the best team in the MAC. Though the Bobcats have to win out in order to even have a chance to reach the MAC Championship, the Broncos No. 1 overall offense will prove to be too much for them to handle. Western Michigan wins 38-27.
