Sports
Ohio looks for sixth-consecutive Bowl victory vs Jax State
By: Andrew Bowlby
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ORLANDO, Fla. (WOUB) – Since the Ohio Bobcats began playing in 1894, there has never been an 11-win season. Over the last 130 years, Ohio has recorded six 10-win season, including each of the last three.
The chance to get win number 11 for Ohio (10-3, 7-1 MAC) comes against the Conference USA Champion Jacksonville State (9-4, 7-1 CUSA) in the Cure Bowl.
Getting to a bowl game has been almost automatic for the Bobcats in recent years. Since the 2006 season, Ohio has appeared in a bowl game 14 times, including this season. Tied with Northern Illinois for the most in the MAC.
Of those 14 trips, the Bobcats came away victorious eight times. Coming into 2024 Ohio have won five-straight bowls with back-to-back wins by former head coach Tim Albin.
Now, Brian Smith leads the Bobcats as they look to extend a program record with six-consecutive wins.
Ohio comes to Orlando following one of the best seasons in its history. Once again winning 10 games, but more importantly ending a 56-year conference title drought with a commanding performance over Miami 38-3 on Dec. 7.
Remarkably, even after losing its head coach, nobody in the Ohio program transferred out.
“We’ve been really lucky with this group that they enjoy playing with each other,” Smith said. “There’s a lot that they’re playing for, there’s a lot that they’re motivated about. They’ve had a lot of fun playing together and winning games.”
Jax State also comes into the Cure Bowl off a conference title after defeating Western Kentucky 52-12. The emphatic win came one week following the Gamecocks losing to the Hilltoppers 19-17.
The Cure Bowl is the only in bowl season that will feature two conference champions going head-to-head (pending the results of the College Football Playoffs).
Both teams feature similar offensive units, as the Bobcats and Gamecocks rely on running the ball. Ohio back Anthony Tyus became the 11th player in Bobcats history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Jax State back Tre Stewart ran for 1,604 yards during the year. The second most in a single season for the Gamecocks only behind Troymaine Pope’s 2015 season.
Bobcats QB Parker Navarro plays a large part in the run game as well finishing the year with 943 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
“There is nothing Parker Navarro can’t do in the backfield,” Tyus said. “I’ve told him multiple times; he is the most athletics quarterback I’ve ever played with.”
Tyler Huff did much of the same for the Gamecocks with 1,343 yards and 14 TDs.
“Thankfully we have Parker [Navarro] scrambling, doing stuff in practice, getting ready for that too,” Ohio cornerback Roman Parodie said when speaking on how the Bobcats’ defense is preparing for Jacksonville State.
Another one of the major matchups within the game will be Ohio Head Coach Brian Smith facing off with Jacksonville State Interim Head Coach Rod Smith. Both took over their respective programs after Tim Albin and Rich Rodriguez left for new jobs post conference championships.
“He is a great coach, and we are excited to go out and play this game under Coach Smitty.” Navarro said when asked about playing under Brian Smith. “We look forward to it, and we’re all rallying behind him.”
While Brian Smith will lead Ohio in search of history already discussed, Rod Smith will do the same for Jax State. The Gamecocks just finished their second season as a part of the FBS. Last year, they made and won the New Orleans Bowl over Louisiana 31-31 in overtime.
The 2024 Cure Bowl kicks off on Dec. 20 at Noon on ESPN from Camping World Stadium.