Ohio Bobcats Secure First MAC Championship Since 1968 with Dominant Performance Against Miami RedHawks
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) decision to eliminate conference divisions this year set the stage for an exciting championship clash between two MAC East teams. During their regular season matchup in October, the Miami RedHawks defeated the Ohio Bobcats 30-20. However, the stakes were much higher in the MAC Championship Game.
This marked the RedHawks' second consecutive MAC Championship appearance and their third under the guidance of head coach Chuck Martin. Miami aimed to achieve back-to-back MAC titles, a feat not accomplished since Northern Illinois secured consecutive championships in 2011 and 2012. However, their hopes were dashed by an emphatic performance from Ohio. This was the Bobcats’ sixth MAC Championship appearance and their first since losing to the Toledo Rockets in 2022.
Ohio won the coin toss and elected to defer, allowing Miami to strike first with a field goal on the opening drive to take an early 3-0 lead. The Bobcats responded quickly, with quarterback CJ Navarro (13) scoring on a keeper. Following Nathan Spetic’s (44) successful extra point, Ohio led 7-3 with 3:00 left in the first quarter.
Ohio opened the second quarter with an impressive 82-yard, 18-play drive, aided by a personal foul penalty against Miami that placed the Bobcats on the RedHawks' 1-yard line. Navarro (13) capitalized with his second rushing touchdown of the game, and Spetic’s extra point extended the lead to 14-3 with 5:29 remaining in the half.
As the first half wound down, Navarro (13) delivered a 21-yard touchdown pass to Sam Williams (85), widening Ohio's lead to 21-3 heading into halftime.
Ohio carried its momentum into the second half. On their opening drive, Navarro (13) connected with Tyler Owen (6) for another touchdown, pushing the score to 28-3. Miami's struggles continued, as a promising drive ended in a punt. On the return, Owen (6) electrified with a 78-yard punt return, but a fumble recovered by Miami’s Justin Myers (46) nullified the play. An illegal block penalty on Miami forced a re-punt, and Ohio capitalized with an 11-play, 31-yard drive culminating in Spetic’s 52-yard field goal, increasing the lead to 31-3.
Miami mounted a 59-yard drive early in the fourth quarter but failed to score. On their next possession, Ohio's defense sealed their dominance with an interception of Brett Gabbert in the end zone. The Bobcats capped off their victory with a rushing touchdown from Anthony Tyus III.
In a commanding performance, Ohio held Miami to zero touchdowns and secured their first MAC Championship since 1968 with a resounding 38-3 victory.
