The 50-year drought since Ohio last won a MAC football title is coming to an end in 2019. Here’s why:
Ohio has the best coaching staff in the MAC:
Coach Solich and his Staff helped raise the program from the MAC basement and positioned it as yearly competitors for a MAC championship. Ohio won a championship in 1968 then proceeded to win only 95 of their next 305 games from 1969-2004. Since Coach Solich and Staff arrived for the 2005 season, Ohio has won 106 games and lost 75 while winning 4 MAC East titles and were one drive away from winning at least 2 MAC championships. And it hasn't been easy: it had been so long since Ohio had a big home win like overtime win vs Pitt in 2005 that even the fans had to learn how to celebrate:
The loss of Jimmy Burrow raises a legitimate question mark but the majority of the defensive staff have significant experience and should be able to carry the torch. This group of coaches is just too good not to compete for a title with the talent they recruited.
Ohio has the best QB in the MAC:
It goes without much argument that if you have the best quarterback in your league, you have a shot.
Nathan Rourkeenters the 2019 season as the best QB in the MAC and, if the season goes as planned, arguably one of the best QBs at Ohio University since the 1968 championship. A seasoned starter with 77 touchdowns in two years, Rourke is poised for a big senior season.
The offense is tailored to take advantage of his dual-threat skill-set and encourages improvisation. Rourke is an elite runner who combines vision, patience, and toughness to create regular big plays. And when things break down, Rourke imitates Houdini:
Rourke is an improving passer who completed almost 5 percent more of his passes in 2018 which is all the more impressive since the offense regularly throws downfield off the running game aiming for big plays.
Ohio has the best special teams unit in the MAC:
The Dynamic duo of PKLouie Zervosand P/Kickoff SpecialistMichael Farkaslead the way for one of the most talented, experienced groups to come through Athens in a long time. Ohio has always had its share of talented specialists including the NFL’s Dave Zastudil and PKMatt Weller, but arguably never in the same season and rarely with a more experienced supporting cast. Zervos’ and Farkas’ skill-sets complement each other to provide All MAC-caliber play in every facet of special teams.
Zervos’ made a big splash for Ohio his Freshman year, connecting on 29 of 35 field goals. Zervos’ opportunities for points diminished over the past two years with only 35 total field goal attempts combined as Ohio converted more touchdowns. But with the loss of multiple All-Conference starters, I expect this trend may reversed, especially in early in the season, where Zervos could be need more while the offense finds its rhythm. I expect Zervos to combine his noticeable increase in field goal range with a rebound in accuracy to have an All-MAC season.
Michael Farkas, like Zervos, is in his fourth year as a starter and has championship game experience (2016 MAC Championship). Farkas has played a big roll on Ohio special teams as evidenced by his All-MAC selection in 2018. Farkas handles the punting and kickoff duties with sniper-like accuracy as evidenced by this kickoff vs Virginia in 2018:
In support are a number of experienced players who made impact plays last season including standoutDL敲门, who added a desperately-needed kickoff return for TD against Howard and blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown byAlvin Floydagainst Western Michigan.
Ohio has the best defensive end rotation in the MAC:
俄亥俄州2016年学到的东西或者最喜欢ly confirmed what it already knew: a quality rotation at DL is vital to its MAC championship aspirations. While an impact player the caliber ofTarell Bashamhas not yet emerged, the quality of depth at defensive end in 2019 is reminiscent of the 2016 MAC East championship squad. Starters Will Evans andAmos Ogun-Semoreare poised to win All-Conference awards. Behind the starters are experienced rotational players inAustin Conrad,Chukwudi Chukwu, andSam McKnight. If one more defensive end can emerge from the talent on the roster, Ohio will have a quality three-deep rotation which will allow Ohio to attack on every play.
Ohio has the best secondary in the MAC:
If I’m gonna be dining on crow about anything in this post by season’s end it could be here. There are other high-quality secondaries in the MAC in 2019, like Eastern Michigan, so being the best will not be easy.
Ohio took its lumps in non-conference last year due partly to inexperience, including a near-debacle against Hampton at home and a frightening group of plays versus Virginia where the opponent scored almost at-will. Turn the page and a year later inexperience is replaced with experience. Ohio starts the season led by NFL prospectJavon Hagan. It’s hard to imagine Hagan playing any better than last year but it is likely he can and will. Hagan has always been a physical defender but began to blossom last year as an all-purpose safety with pass defense skills, showing here the range from an "angel position" to seal the deal against Kent State in 2018:
But the secondary is much more than Hagan. Last year, two starters emerged at corner with cover specialistJamal Hudson, who finished the year with 13 PBU’s, andMarlin Brooks. Players like Brooks and DE Amos Ogun-Semore bring a competitive spirit and toughness which is hard to consistently beat.
And the depth at corner and safety is in place. The Motley brothers andTariq Drakeat corner showed they can compete in the MAC and can spell the starters. Depth as safety, though inexperienced, is not an issue with players such as Alvin Floyd, Issac Gill, and DeVante Mitchell perhaps ready to contribute.
Ohio has the best schedule in the MAC EAST:
Ohio’s schedule is the best because the non-conference schedule will prepare them for MAC play and several of Ohio’s projected toughest MAC opponents are at home.
Although Ohio could start the year with a 2-2 record, the non-conference schedule should prepare them well for a MAC championship run. The road games at Pitt and Marshall are the type of tough, competitive games that will force Ohio to play better in order to win. Win or lose, Ohio will be prepared for any tough, competitive game they find in MAC play.
Ohio went undefeated last year at home and is playing some of its toughest opponents MAC opponents at home this year while its MAC East opponents have tougher road contests. Ohio gets perennial MAC West competitors Northern Illinois and Western Michigan at home as well as rival Miami.
The remainder of the MAC East faces a tougher MAC road slate. Bowling Green travels to Miami, Ohio, Western Michigan, and Buffalo. Akron travels to Northern Illinois and Miami, Ohio. Buffalo travels to Eastern Michigan and Miami, Ohio. Miami, Ohio travels to Western Michigan and Ohio.
Ohio has the best continuity in the MAC:
Nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to MAC football; two years ago, Ohio dominated Kent St. 48-3 at home then squeaked by Kent State last year 27-26 on a touchdown in the last two minutes.
While nothing can be taken for granted, Ohio’s continuity in a year of relative upheaval gives them an edge to win the MAC title this year. Head coach Frank Solich and OC Tim Albin have been here since the 2005 season. QB Nathan Rourke is an All-Conference player in his third year as a starter. Key players Hagan, Zervos, and Farkas are in their fourth season and have championship game experience. The offensive line returns four players that played in a combined 69 career games. The defense returns starters at defensive end, middle linebacker, cornerback and one safety. Many key special teams contributors return.
在MAC的东部,阿克伦,博林格林two new coaching staffs and Kent State is in the second year of a rebuild, though clearly improving on offense. Miami, Ohio and Buffalo have continuity in their coaching staffs in coaches Chuck Martin and Lance Leipold but have a question mark at perhaps the most important position on the field: quarterback. And while Ohio lost significant talent on the offensive side of the ball, they are in a better position than Miami, Ohio and Buffalo to overcome their losses an most positions. For instance, Ohio returns 2 of their top 4 WRs from last year while Buffalo returns 1 out of their top 5 WRs and Buffalo will be working with a new or inexperienced QB.
The MAC West race figures to start with three top contenders: Toledo, Western Michigan, and Eastern Michigan. The MAC West has question marks for three teams including Northern Illinois and Central Michigan with new coaching staffs and Ball State with a new quarterback. While Northern Illinois has reloaded in the past with coaching changes, Bowling Green has shown us recently that a reload is not guaranteed when a new staff arrives.
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