by Ohio Bobcats
MAC East
Coach: Tim Albin
Last year’s record: 10-4, MAC East Champions
The overcast
The Ohio Bobcats had a near fairy tale season in 2022 led by 3rd year head coach Tim Albin. Ohio improved last year with a MAC championship appearance and a 10-4 record. This was thanks to the emergence of Kurtis Rourke. Rourke led his Bobcats in what was considered a surprise season with MAC first team honors and a trip to the MAC championship game. The Bobcats come into the 2023 season with nine returning starters on offenses and six on defense. The offense is fully loaded from last season and is ready to run it back to the MAC championship. Sieh Bangura, Tyler Walton, and Miles Cross are the top returning offensive weapons that will help this Rourke led offense look just as explosive as last season. The defense looks strong, they return key members and have transfers stepping into empty spots.
Dom’s Overlook
Ohio was a surprise team in 2022 as they dominated their MAC east opponents to earned a bid for the MAC championship. A Kurtis Rourke injury put a halt on the MAC champion dreams, this step back didn’t stop them from getting their tenth win against Wyoming in a thriller of a bowl game. The Bobcats have momentum going into this year after the bowl win and Rourke coming back for his final season. Ohio will compete with Toledo this year for the most exciting offense. an experienced offensive line returns with Bangura in the backfield posed to be a deadly running attack. The running attack paired with Rourke and Jacoby Foster, Sam Wiglusz, and Miles Cross will keep defenses on their heels for the 2023 season. The Ohio Bobcats are going to be an exciting team once again this season, if they can hold off against Miami and Buffalo, the Bobcats can take the MAC east thrown for the second year in a row.
2023 prediction
Ohio has a non-conference schedule that can see them winning three out of the four games against San Diego St, Long Island, and Florida Atlantic. Even their power five opponent Iowa State is a game that the Bobcats could steal from the Cyclones. The conference schedule looks promising for Ohio, games against BG, Kent State, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, and Akron are games that I have marked down as wins. Games against Miami, NIU, and Buffalo will be the biggest challenges for the Bobcats and will test their east crown hopes. I have the Bobcats losing to Buffalo and NIU that could throw their MAC championship hopes in the air. This will be another good season for Ohio, this season will show Kurtis Rourke on full display as he will put up one of if not the best seasons in Bobcats history.
