Jan. 16, 2007

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio football team will make its 2007 season debut on Saturday, Sept. 1 versus Gardner-Webb at Peden Stadium. The match up with the Bulldogs was one of four non-conference games announced on Tuesday.

After opening the season at home, the Bobcats will travel to Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 8 and Virginia Tech on Sept. 15. Ohio will host Wyoming on Sept. 22 in the final non-league game of the season.

"We believe we have put together a very competitive schedule that will prepare our football team for another run at a MAC championship," Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. "Not only are we excited about the match ups, but also the fact we have the opportunity to play six home games."

Each of the Bobcats' four non-conference opponents posted at least six wins in 2006. The September meeting will mark the first time Ohio and Gardner-Webb, a member of the Big South Conference for football, have met on the gridiron. Louisiana-Lafayette, which competes in the Sun Belt Conference, and Wyoming, a member of the Mountain West Conference, will also be first-time opponents for the Bobcats. Ohio and Virginia Tech, a member of the ACC, last met in 2005. That game, the third all-time meeting between the two schools, was also played in Blacksburg.

Kickoff times will be announced as soon as they become available.

The Bobcats finished the 2006 campaign with a 9-5 overall record, including a school-record seven MAC wins, and an appearance in the GMAC Bowl.