With the Ohio Bobcats set to defend their MAC crown in 2025, the schedule is filled with close matchups. Well, it is surely guaranteed to provide a thrilling season. Supporters are keen to see how Ohio will react to its target role as the reigning champions. As the season goes on, the Bobcats look to show that last year was no accident. And with the schedule they have coming up, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to make their mark.
2025 Ohio Football Schedule
Here is a breakdown of the Ohio Bobcats’ 2025 football schedule. Every game is set to be a stepping stone as they head toward yet another possible MAC championship. The Bobcats have a series of challenging out-of-conference teams and hot MAC rivals lined up.
- Thu., Aug. 28: at Rutgers (Away)
- Sat., Sep. 6: vs. West Virginia (Home)
- Sat., Sep. 13: at Ohio State (Away)
- Sat., Sep. 20: vs. Gardner-Webb (Home)
- Sat., Sep. 27: vs. Bowling Green (Home)
- Sat., Oct. 4: at Ball State (Away)
- Sat., Oct. 18: vs. Northern Illinois (Home)
- Sat., Oct. 25: at Eastern Michigan (Away)
- Tue., Nov. 4: vs. Miami (OH) (Home)
- Tue., Nov. 11: at Western Michigan (Away)
- Tue., Nov. 18: vs. UMass (Home)
- Fri., Nov. 28: at Buffalo (Away)
Breaking Down the Slate: What to Expect in 2025
The Bobcats’ season gets underway on Aug. 28 with a road game against Rutgers. A solid showing here will establish the tone for the rest of the season as Ohio starts defending its title. The Bobcats are going to have to open with a bang against a talented Scarlet Knights squad that will want to make an early statement. Road crowd noise may be just what the Bobcats need to gain some momentum.
The first big home test comes on Sept. 6 as Ohio hosts West Virginia. A non-conference matchup against a Power Four team will be a tough early-season challenge. This is followed by another road game at Ohio State on Sept. 13. With two challenging games in the first few weeks, these non-conference matchups will provide valuable information on how ready Ohio is for the upcoming season.
The Bobcats return home next for two key contests. On Sept. 20, they play Gardner-Webb, followed by Bowling Green on Sept. 27. These games will be important for building momentum before conference play intensifies.
The first of Ohio’s conference games arrives on Oct. 4, when Ohio travels to Miami (OH) for the “Battle of the Bricks,” perhaps the biggest matchup on the MAC slate. Expect this to be a battle that is fiercely contested, as Miami (OH) is one of the top programs in the MAC year in and year out.
Following Miami (OH), Ohio hosts Northern Illinois on Oct. 18, a crucial conference foe. The Bobcats must make a statement here as they work towards the second half of the season. A road matchup against Eastern Michigan on Oct. 25 will be another key contest.
November brings midweek MACtion. The Bobcats will host Miami (OH) on Nov. 4, followed by a road game at Western Michigan on Nov. 11, and a home game against UMass on Nov. 18. These games will be pivotal for positioning in the MAC standings.
The regular season wraps up on Nov. 28 with a road game against Buffalo. This game will likely have huge implications for the MAC East title and could determine whether Ohio advances to the MAC Championship Game once again.
Where Does the Bobcats’ Title Defense Begin?
For Ohio, the path to repeating as MAC champion starts with the road opener against Rutgers on Aug. 28. The Bobcats will hope to have their defense, which was one of the conference’s best a year ago, firing on all cylinders right from the start.
The non-conference early-season games will prove crucial in determining the tone of the remainder of the season. If Ohio can take care of its business in these games, it’ll go into the middle of the MAC schedule with confidence.
The question is how Ohio will be able to recover from any early-season struggles, especially with such grueling road games against Rutgers and Ohio State. But if they can navigate these obstacles, the Bobcats will have an open road to again vie for the MAC championship.
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The Nov. 4 matchup against Miami (OH) will probably be a key game for MAC East positioning, and Ohio will have to play its A-game to avoid any missteps. If they are able to dominate the most important matchups within the MAC, their opportunity to repeat as champions will be in sight.
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