2026 MAC Football Preseason Preview: Ohio Bobcats

Ohio has done about as well as any squad in the Mid-American Conference in finding success in an era where the new realities of the transfer portal are now in full swing.

So far, the Bobcats keep winning by maintaining a healthy foundation of developmental players who, along with the coaches, carry forward the program's culture, and then identifying and assimilating portal players into the fold during each offseason to fill immediate needs.

The recent results suggest Ohio may be in a golden age; over the last four seasons, Ohio has clinched 40 wins overall (including double-digit wins in three-straight campaigns), a 4-0 record in bowl games and of course, a MAC title in 2024 to snap their decades-long streak.

At the time of this post, we find Ohio marching headlong through summer camp towards the 2026 season, attempting to forge another memorable season. Looking at the state of affairs, the potential is there to have another great year.

What’s New

Change starts with the coaching staff this year, with their third head coach in three years. After the 2020 season, long-time head coach Frank Solich stepped down and offensive coordinator Tim Albin was promoted and took over for three seasons, departing for the Charlotte 49ers after the 2024 MAC championship game. Brian Smith was promoted from within to succeed Albin– but after a well-chronicled departure, defensive coordinator John Hauser was called to the plate to replace Smith on December 26, 2025.

Hauser's impact on the fortunes of the 'Cats since his arrival in 2022 as safeties coach is clear to see. For example, as defensive coordinator in 2024 and 2025, Ohio ranked first and fourth respectively in points allowed in conference games allowing under 14 points per contest in 2024.

Hauser's defense also has produced many memorable performances, such as holding their rival Miami RedHawks without a touchdown in a 38-3 drubbing to win the 2024 MAC title.

With Hauser's promotion, Kurt Mattix came home to Athens as the new defensive coordinator in January 2026. Mattix brings with him a wealth of experience and familiarity, as he helped coach Ohio's defensive line during the 2024 MAC championship season before leaving last season for Charlotte and a co-defensive coordinator job on Tim Albin's staff. Before joining Ohio in 2024, Mattix enjoyed success as a defensive coordinator with notable stops at San Diego State and Eastern Kentucky.

On the final defensive coaching note, Ohio added former standout linebacker Keye Thompson as an assistant linebacker coach, who looks to pass on his knowledge to the next group of Bobcat players. As a linebacker at Ohio, Thompson produced at a high level with career numbers including 251 tackles, six fumble recoveries, and three each of forced fumbles and interceptions.

Rounding out some major coaching changes on the offense, Ohio added multiple new offensive coaches in the first quarter of 2026, including wide receiver coach Danny Langsdorf, offensive line coach Ron Crook, and a dedicated running backs coach in Lamar Conard. Hauser is familiar with Conard as both worked together in Miami, Ohio. As many coaches do, new head coach Hauser has emphasized this offseason running the ball and stopping the run and Conard and Crook bring a track record of success on the ground at Purdue and Virginia Tech respectively.

Offense

• Key departures: QB Parker Navarro, RB Sieh Bangura, WRs Chase Hendricks and Rodney Harris II, TE Mason Williams, LT Shedrick Rhodes Jr., LG Davion Weatherspoon
• Key arrivals: QB Matt Vezza (New Hampshire), RB Victor Rosa (Connecticut), WRs Preston Bowman (Kentucky), Ian Ver Steeg (Wake Forest), CJ Dawson II (Garner-Webb)
• Key returnees: QB Nick Poulos, RB Duncan Brune, WRs Dom Dorwart, Riley Neer; OLs Seth Anstead, Tigana Cisse, Bryce Parson, Jarian Shelby and Josh Waite

Ohio heads into 2026 forging an all-new starting lineup while building depth.

A great place to start discussing the 2026 offense is the rushing attack, given the Bobcats have led the MAC two years straight in rushing yards per game with over 200 a contest and would love nothing more than to do the same this year.

The 'Cats running game this year features a dynamic duo in Duncan Brune and transfer Victor Rosa. Splitting duty with starter Sieh Bangura, Brune– the pride of Cologne, Germany– finished 13th in the MAC in yards per carry at 4.9, adding 585 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. The big back thrives on a combination of size and speed and his best college football season is probably still ahead of him with another year of training under his belt and a chance for RB1 status.

Complementing Brune is Rosa, who enters Ohio as a seasoned, well-rounded playmaker. In four years with UConn, Rosa's rushing feats including 1,413 yards, 4.7 yards per carry with 17 touchdowns while catching 14 passes for 247 yards and a score.

At work in practice, redshirt freshman Mike Taylor Jr. and Irving Brown continue to push for gameday reps.

Where the Bobcats will look different in the running game this year is obviously at QB, as a competition is playing out to replace the loss of two-time second-team All-MAC performer Parker Navarro and his career 2,160 rushing yards and 5,030 passing yards.

Presiding over the competition is long-time QB coach and current offensive coordinator Scott Isphording, who has a track record of success with with players such as Nathan and Kurtis Rourke (respectively with the CFL's BC Lions and NFL's San Francisco 49ers) and Navarro.

Coming out of spring ball, the tea leaves suggest that QB Nick Poulos had the early edge going into fall camp. Like Navarro, Poulos has developed behind a starter for a few years, and gets a shot as QB1. Poulos is a big player at six-foot-six and 240 LBS. He won't likely be mistaken for Navarro running, but he can move for a guy his size, posting 183 yards rushing for 5.1 yards per carry in 12 games for the Bobcats, consisting of some end-game duty with a start at Kentucky. In the games against the Wildcats and Ohio State, he showed composure in tough circumstances.

With Poulos, a key addition is QB Matt Vezza, transfer from FCS New Hampshire Wildcats. Ohio's staff probably got a good look at Vezza last year in preparation for Ball State when Vezza's Wildcat squad played the Cardinals tough during non-conference play in what was ultimately a one-score game. Vezza should fit nicely in the Green and White's scheme as a dual threat QB, throwing last year for 2,673 yards and 19 touchdowns while adding 601 yards on the ground with 8 rushing touchdowns.

Freshman QBs Levi Davis and Hype Grand continue to development in a scheme that could take advantage of their athleticism.

The offensive line replaces all starters this year, though they have several players ready to bear the load. At the core, Ohio returns multiple players who have matured in the program for years and have seen some gameday action including Seth Anstead, Tigana Cisse, Bryce Parson, Jarian Shelby and Josh Waite. The O-line also added some experienced players like CJ Dawson II, who started 11 games for Garner-Webb last season, who started against Ohio in 2025 in what was a 52-35 Bobcats victory.

Passcatching starting spots have been a rich source of competition this offseason, as opportunities abound with the departures of starting wideouts Chase Hendricks and Rodney Harris II and tight end Mason Williams. Wideout Dom Dorwart figures to get a shot this year after some spot starts last year where he displayed good size (six-foot-two) and speed, soft hands, and a willingness to block, finishing with 11 catches for over 100 yards.

There are multiple other folks in play at wideout including Riley Neer, who reportedly had some moments in spring along with transfers Preston Bowman and Ian Ver Steeg. Also, folks in the gameday mix last year such as Eian Pugh and Max Rodarte (recovering from 2025 season-ending surgery) return for 2026.

At tight end, Ohio brought in redshirt sophomore transfers Andrew Metzger (Kansas State) and Jake Furtney (Illinois) to compete with incumbents such as AJ Miller and Aiden Lowery for playing time.

Defense

• Key departures: DLs Jay Crable, Anas Luqman, Pius Odjugo; LB Cam Hollobaugh, DBs Jalen Thomeson, Adonis Williams Jr., Tank Pearson and Mike Mack II
• Key arrivals: DLs Tyler Gillison (Michigan State/Cincinnati), Isaiah Street (Marian University, Western Michigan) Austin Atkins (high school); DBs Eli Thompson (Holy Cross) and Ronald Jackson Jr. (Montana/Akron), Jay Brewer III (high school)
• Key returnees: DLs Nehemiah Dukes, Austin Mitchell, Evan Herrmann, Ike Ackerman, Joseph Marsh; LBs Michael Molnar, Jack Fries and Charlie Christopher; DBs DJ Walker, Kendall Bannister, Tony Mathis and JT Haskins

The defense has the potential to be one of the MAC's top defenses in 2026 given the state of the coaching staff and player roster. With the return of Mattix at DC, and long-time proven position coaches such as defensive line coach Tremayne Scott and cornerbacks/defensive passing game coordinator De'Angelo Smith back in the fold, everyone should be coached up and ready to roll by the season opener.

The defense returns key starters at every position group and significant depth throughout. The interior of the defensive line begins with starting experience in players like Nehemiah Dukes and Austin Mitchell. DL transfer Gillison could make waves with his hybrid LB/DE skill set at the JACK end or another position having played some linebacker at Cincinnati before moving to Michigan State.

Additionally, the line has plenty of depth for starters and rotational players with arrivals such as Street, and returning players such as Herrmann, Marsh, Nathan Hale, and Derek Reagans, among others.

The Bobcats feature proven playmakers also at linebacker as Michael Molnar and Jack Fries return, with freshman phenom Charlie Christopher (63 tackles, three TFLs, sack, forced fumble) in the mix in 2026 for plenty of snaps in his sophomore season after starting six games last year due to injuries.

The defensive backfield is led by safety and 2025 team captain DJ Walker. The Ohio playmaker is the only MAC player named on the 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List. (Notable for Bobcat fans: former Ohio Bobcat and current New Mexico Lobos safety Austin Brawley also joins Walker on the list).

With Walker on the back end are a number of players who have been in the Bobcats system or transferred in for 2026. Corners Kendall Bannister and Tony Mathis are two names to watch in 2026, with Bannister making four starts last year in 10 games and Mathis appearing in seven career games for the 'Cats. Transfers such as Ronald Jackson Jr. and Eli Thompson add experienced options who could contribute immediately.

Special Teams

• Key departures: K David Dellenbach
• Key arrivals: K Will Hryszko (Kent State), K/P Owen Schaadt
• Key returnees: P Magnus Haines, K Brack Peacock, P/K Kolten Bartels

The Bobcats will look to improve upon special teams in 2025 after being one of the worst units in the country.

Ohio made only 58 percent of their field goal attempts in 2025, which made acquiring a kicker a priority. Brack Peacock, who took over for David Dellenback midway through the season, returns having a handful of attempts last year and connecting on 15-18 field goal attempts (83 percent) for Incarnate Word in 2024. Hryszko and Schaadt are also in the group. Hryszko, a Kent State transfer, handled kickoffs while drilling 31 PATs and 8-of-11 field goal attempts.

Punting will also need to see an improvement; Ohio did not punt back to teams often, but when they did, they were a middling unit. Magnus Haines returns after averaging over 42 yards per boot on 40 tries. Punter Kolten Bartles also returns after a redshirt last year.

On a final note, Ohio should have some successful return teams this year with the depth on the defensive side of the ball and returning players from last season who could participate here such as DB JT Haskins and WRs Blake Guffy, Miles Cremascoli, and Khamani Debrow. Ohio's return units were some of the best in the country in 2025; having that continuity will be very important early on as the offense tries to find their legs.

Outlook

John Hauser appears ready to make the transition from defensive coordinator to head coach given he has had a successful college coaching career dating back to 2002, including learning under some of the MAC's best coaches like Miami's head coach Chuck Martin and Ohio's Tim Albin.

Defensively, Ohio has the potential to finish the year as one of the MAC's best units. New defensive coordinator Mattix inherits a deep roster with some potentially impactful portal additions and will fashion the 2026 Bobcat defense to fit his aggressive/attacking style. The defense will have a chance to generate big plays in the form of sacks and turnovers which would help in the complementary football department. With quality depth throughout the defense, especially critical in the front six, Ohio should stay fresher during games and in the long hall to keep the attack relentless.

Offensively, Ohio faced a similar challenge in 2023 of replacing most or all of its full-time offensive starters, doing so that year with runaway success. Replacing iconic players like QB Kurtis Rourke to start the 2024 season, Ohio went on to win a program-record 11 games and their first MAC Championship since 1968, finishing ranked 31st in the final Coaches Poll.

There is no way to know if the 'Cats will duplicate that success in 2026, but Ohio's offense should gel with some gameday reps as they march through non-conference based on the roster talent. Ohio returns several key backups and part-time players at running back, offensive line, and wide receiver. Also, the returning core is bolstered by transfers such as QB Matt Vezza and RB Victor Rosa, which should be enough to field at least a productive unit with some depth.

Overall, the non-conference schedule is just about perfect, a challenging but not impossible schedule which should result in at least a few wins while preparing the group to hit the ground running in conference play.

Given these factors, there's not really any reason to count them out of title contention as contenders. At the least, this is a team who looks poised for the postseason.

The 'Cats begin the 2026 season with a tough road test at Nebraska on Saturday September 5th at noon on TV on FS1.

Schedule

All dates and times are current as of publication. An asterisk (*) denotes a conference game.