2026 MAC Football Week 2 Game Preview: Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Ohio Bobcats

The Ohio Bobcats (0-1) and Jax State Gamecocks (1-1) enter this one with a recent track record of success.

Since moving up to the FBS in 2023, Jax State has taken CUSA by storm, winning 27 games while competing in two conference championships, winning one, while also triumphing last year in the Salute to Veterans Bowl.

During the same span, Ohio has been highly successful in the MAC, winning 30 games, a conference title, and three bowl games, including a 30-27 win over Jax State in the 2024 Cure Bowl and a high quality win as an underdog against UNLV in the Frisco Bowl in head coach John Hauser's debut.

With good competition, this game is a special opportunity for the teams and fans alike. Primarily, this is a key test for both squads from the standpoint of the "iron sharpens iron" concept, a chance to improve against good competition as the teams work towards making noise again in conference play and the post season. For fans, its an opportunity to get a good sense of the teams progress to this point because the teams from a talent standpoint are fairly equal as the 2.5-point spread suggests.

Game Notes

• Date and Time: Saturday, Sept. 12th, 2026 at 6 p.m. Eastern time
• Location: Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium in Athens Ohio
• Weather: Per AccuWeather, gametime temperatures will be approximately 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
• TV option: The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+. A valid subscription is required.
• Radio/online options: Ohio call features Marty Banister (play-by-play) and Rob Cornelius (color) for flagship station WXTQ-105.5 FM (Athens) and the Varsity Network. Jax State features Mike Parris (play-by-play), Ray Hammett (color), Tommy Wood (sidelines) for Gamecock Radio.
• Gambling considerations: Ohio 2.5 point favorites, over/under is 50.5, per Covers.
• All-time series: Ohio won the only other meeting between these two teams 30-27 back in 2024.
• Special event: Wear Green/Band Day

Ohio outlook

After a 49-21 loss to Nebraska last week, we learned a lot about all three phases, with a good bit of it promising.

Overall, Ohio played a very good first half in all phases, with the home team taking a slim 14-13 lead into the locker room. And while the Cornhuskers pulled away in the second half, what we saw in the first half and early in the second half (the opening defensive possession) is what we are more likely to see of the 'Cats going forward due to circumstances they likely won't see again this year including field temperatures well in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a roster with level of talent of Nebraska, with multiple NFL players like center Justin Evans.

Offensively, new starting QB Nick Poulos played well, finishing with 164 yards passing and 70 yards rushing while leading the 'Cats to three scores to start the game.

The offense spread the ball around early, so we got a look at some of the potential playmakers at wideout for the 'Cats. Redshirt sophomores wideouts like Riley Neer led the club in his first career start with six catches for 100 yards while Dom Dorwart flashed some ability to make the tough catch on a two-pointer in the endzone as well as getting a step in single coverage against pro prospects like Andrew Marshall. Kentucky transfer receiver Preston Bowman made his Ohio debut with a few carries.

Overall, Ohio had some success in the running game against a stingy Nebraska defense, with 139 yards for 4.2 per carry– led by Poulos. As the ground game is Ohio's bread and butter, the Green and White will likely focus on bigger production from the running backs this week, led by Duncan Brune and Victor Rosa.

In fact, for this game, the run game will be a major factor for both sides as Jax State has allowed 400 yards and, perhaps most importantly, four rushes of 25 yards or more this young season. The more Ohio approaches 200 yards on the ground or more, the better their chances– especially as the relatively young offensive line starts to gel together.

Defensively, the Bobcats showed last week in the first half why they have been one of the Mid-American Conference's stingiest defenses in the last few years, executing a sound scheme with toughness.

For the majority of the second half there were some lapses including missed tackles. At the press conference for this week, Coach Hauser talked about the lessons they learned in the second half versus Nebraska, paraphrased as missing tackles to your help side and improving tackling angles. Something to keep an eye on but tackling won't likely be an issue going forward based upon the unique circumstances last week as discussed above.

The defensive line had a good rotation last week, playing at least nine guys. The 'Cats feature some young rising players too like redshirt freshmen end Ike Akerman, who had two sacks, and D-lineman Ty Neubert, who made his starting debut. The arrow is point up on the defensive line.

Things will be just fine at linebacker as the top returning three looked healthy and productive with Michael Molnar, Charlie Christopher, and captain Jack Fries combining for 19 tackles.

Jax State's receivers and run game will provide a good test for Ohio's mostly new-look secondary, led by returning safety DJ Walker. As we will discuss, Jax State has some explosive skill position players on offense and a mobile quarterback which it will take a whole defensive effort to contain.

With some adventures last year in field goals for Kent State, transfer Will Hryszko got the call and performed. Hryszko had went 2-of-3 on 40+ yards attempts, and handled kickoff duties well.. While no big gains, new punt returner Darren James-Hamilton looked confident in fielding the ball which, for anyone who has ever attempted to catch a college punt cleanly, can tell you how difficult that can be. Keep an eye on receiver Khamani Debrow, who provided reliable special teams coverage last week with two tackles.

Jacksonville State outlook

The Gamecocks lost their opener against FBS newcomer and perennial FCS champion North Dakota State Bison 33-7. Head coach Charles Kelly said in post-game availability the Gamecocks just couldn't get rhythm due to some untimely self-inflicted wounds.

Last week though, Jax State got their first win of 2026, destroying an overmatched Eastern Kentucky 49-7 in a game where they scored on all five first-half drives. The Colonels showed an occasional spark in the running game with a few explosive plays, but otherwise were dominated in all phases.

Jax State QB Caden Creel led the charge against Eastern Kentucky with a career day, throwing for 327 yards and five touchdowns while adding 54 on the ground.

This week, there are really few secrets schematically, particularly offensively, as you could drop Creel into Ohio offensive coordinator Scott Isphording's offense and run a similar multiple offense, with plays like QB draws, options, wideout screens, and RPOs shared between the two books.

For certain, Creel brings dual-threat skills into this one, looking to continue to build on the 1,000 yards rushing and 1,500 yards passing in 2025.

The Gamecocks have also featured Creel's legs in the red zone, where is always a threat to run it in himself on QB draws, options, or as improvised. Also, like Ohio, Jax State will probably look to establish the run against Ohio, as they were ranked fifth nationally last year with an incredible 246 yards per game average. Along with Creel, Jax State features running back Jalen Likely, who has 121 yards on the ground and a score so far.

Creel has at his disposal some talented wideouts, including Jamill Williams, who led the squad last week with seven catches for 144 yards and four touchdowns. Jax State also returns six-foot-eight, 220 lbs WR Deondre Johnson, who lead the club with 724 yards and seven touchdowns while leading CUSA in yards per catch at 24.1.

The 'Cats figure to provide a much more credible test as the Jax State receivers were running wide open quite often.

The whole offensive operation is led by an offensive line which may be among the best in the conference this year, led by center Lucas Mrachkovskiy and CUSA Player of the Week last week in guard Lance Johnson.

Defensively, Jax State enters its second season under defensive coordinator Brian Williams with a few key returning starters.

On the defensive line, the Gamecocks replace most of its 2025 starting lineup from within and some portal guys like former Alabama tackle Khurtiss Perry. NG Jawaun Campbell (#93) is back from a late season injury last year and returns 20 games the past two seasons. Campbell is a very effective, powerful player with a unique build, at five-foot-eleven, 285 lbs. Overall, Jax State's d-line has a lot of quality competition for reps and should be fine here with depth.

The squad will miss true sophomore linebacker Mac Sanders (85 tackles in '25), who was announced this week to have suffered a season-ending injury in the opener against North Dakota State. However, Jax State has players who can help pick up the slack like linebacker Walker O'Steen, who was a very productive player in his own right, with 84 tackles last year.

Leading the defensive backs are safety/punt returner Caleb Nix and cornerback Tre'Quon Fegan. Nix was first-team all-conference selection last year and made life a nightmare for the visitors last week, including an interception returned 43 yards.

In games expected to come down to the wire, Jax State might just have a field position weapon in punter Conor Donaghy. The pride of Galbally, Ireland appeared in 13 games as a true freshman last year averaging just under 40 yards per punt. A unique player who can punt with either foot, Donaghy is off to a fast start this year with over 47 yards per kick average and three inside the 20 yard line and a Special Teams Player of the Week honor for his efforts against North Dakota State.

Game outlook

This is a great opportunity for maturity as both teams strive for the type of consistency that wins conference championships.

Ohio looks to take a step, building on a great first half last week by carrying that effectiveness to the second half on both sides of the ball. Achieving that consistency will be rooted in establishing the ground game, getting running backs Duncan Brune and Victor Rosa involved early and often and controlling the clock. Notably, it is often said the biggest jump in progress happens in the second game of the year so maybe Ohio does take a step this week.

Jax State has a chance to put it all together against a team with comparable talent. In the opener, the Gamecocks made plays on both side of the ball against a quality opponent in North Dakota State but had some miscues which led to inconsistency. Against Eastern Kentucky, the Gamecocks dominated– as the better team should– but still had some growth available on both sides of the ball in the area of explosive plays allowed on run defense and yards left on the field in the passing game.

Ultimately, barring a poor performance in the penalty and/or turnover department, this game should come down to the fourth quarter with two equally-matched teams battling for supremacy.