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Ohio DB Jalen Thomeson after making a TFL against Eastern Michigan.
Ohio DB Jalen Thomeson after making a TFL against Eastern Michigan. [Andy McLean | WOUB Public Media]

Ohio University Football hosts the Battle of the Bricks under the spotlight of MACtion

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – There is truly no better time for Ohio University Football (5-3, 3-1 MAC) then when it gets to face off against its forever rival Miami (5-3, 4-0 MAC). The Battle of the Bricks is one of the most iconic rivalries, and the 2025 regular season rendition has so much to play for.

Parker Navarro (#13) being lifted up after scoring a rushing TD.
Parker Navarro (#13) being lifted up after scoring a rushing TD in the MAC Championship Game. [Conor Mallonn | WOUB Public Media]
Last season saw the Bobcats and RedHawks face off twice in the same season. Miami won the 100th all-time meeting in a 30-20 victory in a mid-October battle. However, Ohio won the far more important one capturing their first MAC Title in 56 years with a 38-3 win over Miami in the 2024 MAC Championship Game.

“It was one of those days where it felt like everything was going right,” head coach Brian Smith said. “There was a lot of really great things about that day.”

This season’s meeting will have high stakes with both teams sitting at the top of the MAC standings. Miami is the final remaining unbeaten in conference play holding a perfect 4-0 record. Ohio is 3-1 with the lone loss coming to Ball State in early October.

The RedHawks are one of the MAC’s most balanced teams and have been consistent all season. Miami has a positive 47 point deferential in conference games so far and they hold the third ranked scoring offense and defense.

Miami has one of college most experienced quarterbacks leading their offense in Dequan Finn. He is in his seventh year of college football and his sixth in the MAC. Finn spent his first five seasons with Toledo and defeated Ohio in the 2022 MAC Championship game.

Finn spent last season with Baylor but transferred back into the conference this year. He’s been up-and-down this season but is coming off a game against Western Michigan where he threw for 260 yards and a touchdown.

His legs are also a factor as he’s carried the ball for 384 yards and four TDs this year.

“Aside from his ability to extend plays with his feet, he was also the conference player of the year four years ago. He’s a kid that has a lot of experience playing football. That does present a good challenge for us defensively.”

Miami’s defense is led by redshirt junior Adam Trick. He’s one of the MAC’s best pass rushers and has recorded 6.5 sacks and 10.0 TFLs this season (3rd and 4th respectively in the MAC).

Tank Pearson (#7) holding Ohio's turnover belt after recording an interception vs Eastern Michigan.
Tank Pearson (#7) holding Ohio’s turnover belt after recording an interception vs Eastern Michigan. [Conor Mallonn | WOUB Public Media]
When Ohio faced Ball State at the beginning of October, they allowed another one of the conference’s top pass rushers to wreck the game. Nathan Voorhis recorded 3.5 sacks and took over the game and gave Ohio’s offense problems.

“Definitely things that we are working on, trying to figure out ways that we can either get guys help or make sure we’re getting the ball out on time,” Smith said.

Tuesday’s game will put arguably the best two teams in the MAC against each other and will mark the beginning of mid-week MACtion.

Ohio is 35-20 all time in MACtion games including a 28-0 mark at Peden Stadium and a 5-3 record against Miami.

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. and will be aired on ESPN2.