March 26, 2009

ATHENS, Ohio-A nationally-televised game against the Mid-American Conference's defending champion highlights Ohio's 2009 football schedule that was released Thursday afternoon by the MAC office.

Ohio will play its first two MAC games on the road and four of its last six at home for the first time since 1998.

The Bobcats will head to defending MAC Champion Buffalo on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. for a game on ESPN2.

Ohio will kick off its season at home against Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 5. The 2009 season will also be the first time the Bobcats have opened a season at home against a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as I-A) opponent since 1997. That season, the Bobcats topped Kent State 31-7 to ignite what would eventually be an 8-3 season under third-year head coach Jim Grobe.

The Bobcats also have home dates with Cal Poly (Saturday, Sept. 19), Miami (Saturday, Oct. 17), Kent State (Saturday, Oct. 24), Northern Illinois (Saturday, Nov. 21) and Temple (Friday, Nov. 27). The Huskies will make their first trip to Athens since Nov. 14, 1998 when the Bobcats came out victorious 28-12. Ohio has won four of the past six meetings with NIU dating back to 1984.

Ohio's other road contests will be at North Texas (Saturday, Sept. 12), at Tennessee (Saturday, Sept. 26), at Bowling Green (Saturday, Oct. 3), at Akron (Saturday, Oct. 10) and at Ball State (Saturday, Oct. 31). The trip to Muncie, Ind. will be Ohio's first since Oct. 30, 1999 when the Bobcats pulled out a 37-25 win.

"As usual, this schedule presents a variety of formidable opponents for our program," said Ohio head coach Frank Solich. "In terms of the conference schedule, we'll be prepared to play whenever and wherever the schedule dictates. This is a credit to the MAC office which goes out of its way to make the schedule fair and equitable for all 13 institutions, something that is not an easy task."

Ohio's bye weekend will be Saturday, Nov. 7.

The MAC Championship will be played Friday, Dec. 4 at Ford Field at 8 p.m. and will be carried on ESPN2.

Kickoff times not listed here will be announced as soon as they become available. Per the recommendation of the MAC External Relations subcommittee and agreed upon by the full group, kick times will not be publicly released until June at the earliest.

The Bobcats secured school records in passing yards (2,795), passing yards per game (232.9) and passing touchdowns (21) during the 2008 season. Ohio begins its spring preparations Monday, March 30 with the annual Green & White Game taking place Saturday, April 25 at 2 p.m.

2009 Football Schedule

Date                              Opponent                                             

Saturday, Sept. 5           Connecticut (TBA)

Saturday, Sept. 12         at North Texas (TBA)

Saturday, Sept. 19         Cal Poly (TBA)

Saturday, Sept. 26         at Tennessee (TBA)

Saturday, Oct. 3             at Bowling Green (TBA)

Saturday, Oct. 10           at Akron (TBA)

Saturday, Oct. 17           Miami (TBA)

Saturday, Oct. 24           Kent State (TBA)

Saturday, Oct. 31           at Ball State (TBA)

Tuesday, Nov. 10           at Buffalo (7 p.m., ESPN2)

Saturday, Nov. 21          Northern Illinois (TBA)

Friday, Nov. 27              Temple (TBA)