Sports
Ohio Football 2019 Schedule: A Rivalry Game Resumes and Bobcats Featured on 150th Anniversary Celebration
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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The road to Detroit has been revealed for Bobcats Football.
The Ohio Bobcats 2019 schedule was released Wednesday morning, revealing the dates of a plethora of big games that stand between the ‘Cats and a trip to the MAC Championship Game in December.
Most notably, the Battle of the Bricks game returns to Athens this season on the official date of the 150th anniversary of the first college football game. The game between the Bobcats and RedHawks will be the only televised game on the night of the official anniversary and will be televised on ESPN2 at a time to be announced later.
Northern Illinois comes to Athens for the first time since 2014 to face the ‘Cats on October 12 for the Homecoming game. Kent State on October 19 and Western Michigan on November 12, the Bobcats’ Senior Night, round out the MAC schedule in Peden Stadium
Other home games include the season opener on August 31 when Ohio takes on FCS Rhode Island and Louisiana on September 21. The Rhode Island Rams are coming off of a 6-5 season. This is their first game against Ohio. Louisiana is making its first trip to Athens since 2010 when the Bobcats defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns 38-31.
As for the road games, 2019 marks the revival of a rivalry game that hasn’t been played in the previous three seasons: the Battle of the Bell. That’s right, the Bobcats are squaring off against the Thundering Herd for the first time since 2015. The game will be played in Huntington on September 14.
Rounding out the non-conference slate is a trip to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers. It will be the first time the Bobcats and Panthers will meet on the gridiron since Ohio’s marquee overtime win over Pitt in Peden Stadium in 2005.
The remainder of the schedule is made up of four conference road games. The Bobcats begin conference play with a trip to Buffalo on October 5. The ‘Cats hit the road in MAC play again on October 26 when they travel to Muncie, IN to face off with Ball State.
And to close out the season, the Bobcats will make trips to Bowling Green and Akron on consecutive weeks in late November.
Unlike last season, there are no scheduling quirks that leave the Bobcats playing two road games in the span of six days. The schedule was more favorable this season, giving the Bobcats two home games during their short week.
With the spring practice schedule announced and now the season schedule laid out, it’s now up to the Bobcats themselves to find a way to get to Detroit.
Spring practice for the ‘Cats kicks off in 13 days.
2019 Ohio Bobcats Schedule (game times TBA)
Sat. August 31 – RHODE ISLAND
Sat. September 7 – @ Pitt
Sat. September 14 – @ Marshall
Sat. September 21 – LOUISIANA
Sat. October 5 – @ Buffalo
Sat. October 12 – NORTHERN ILLINOIS (Homecoming)
Sat. October 19 – KENT STATE
Sat. October 26 – @ Ball State
Wed. November 6 – MIAMI (Battle of the Bricks, CFB150)
Tue. November 12 – WESTERN MICHIGAN
Tue. November 19 – @ Bowling Green
Tue. November 26 – @ Akron
Sat. December 7 – MAC Championship Game (Detroit, MI)