Ohio Bobcats Face Rutgers Scarlet Knights in 2025 MAC Opener: Who Will Shock the Fans First?

At linebacker, the two deep included two new starters as Jack Fries (will) and Michael Molnar (mike) take center stage. Division II standout graduate transfer LBs Cameron Hollobaugh and Makel Williams figure to see action too.

Game notes

The Rutgers QB is surrounded by talented counterparts, where the offensive line, wide receiver, and running back groups may turn out to be ranked in the middle of the Big Ten or higher by season’s end.
Even with the loss of the mammoth left tackle Hollin Pierce (UDFA, Philadelphia Eagles), the Knights look strong and experienced, especially on the interior with guys like 2025 Rimington watch list Gus Zilinskas (29 starts) and 2024 Big Ten Honorable Mention Kwabena Asamoah.(21 starts).

Changes though start at the top where 2024 defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak left the program to become the new head coach at UMass. Replacing Harasymiak is Robb Smith, who has coached with Schiano multiple times and should be on the same page with the head coach-making for an easier transition. Joining Smith is co-defensive coordinator Zach Sparber who had success at James Madison and Duke working primarily with the linebackers.

In addition to Bangura, Ohio’s 2024 true freshman Duncan Brune opened eyes last year and there are other backs in the mix.

Kaliakmanis has not piled up the yards on the ground like Ohio’s QB Parker Navarro, but the Rutgers QB has shown he has the athleticism to operate designed runs or scrambles when called upon or needed.

Rutgers quality offensive line and skill players will truly test the Bobcats 2025 reload as Ohio fields six new starters in the base 4-2-5 defense.

For Rutgers, even if they win, how does the defense look? Did they take a step? When Ohio is right, they can run the football, like dropping 6.7 yards per carry on Syracuse in the season opener last year. How does the Knights’ run defense fare?

The Bobcats face a Big Ten conference riser in Rutgers, a squad who should give Ohio all it can handle.

I can’t wait to see how it unfolds and hope each squad gets something out of it that will help them in 2025.

Finally, Bobcat fans and indeed many Bobcat players will remember DE Eric O’Neill when he played for Long Island. In early September 2023, the Sharks left Athens, Ohio as losers on the scoreboard but O’Neill was memorable. Here is what we wrote in the game recap about O’Neill’s performance against the Bobcats that day:

With the table set, let’s take a look at the particulars followed by a look at each squad.

“The Sharks battled hard throughout the contest and their best players stood out. Defensive end Eric O’Neill, a preseason nominee for FCS Player of The Year, was every bit as good as advertised, leading LIU with 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack and an interception.”

The Knights also added a big-time play maker at receiver for 2025 in transfer D.T. Sheffield, who lit it up at North Texas for over 800 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024.

About the Rutgers Scarlet Knights

About the Ohio Bobcats

2025 Captain and two-time All-Academic Big Ten DL Jordan Walker joins Djabome as a foundational player, looking to build on his 2024 season where he had four sacks and seven tackles-for-loss.

Moving on from running backs, Ohio tight ends are involved in all aspects of the offense and Ohio returns a good one in 2024 FWAA Freshman All-American Mason Williams.

The Knights also fortified their returning defense with good players who should also be familiar to Ohio fans. 2024 first-team all-MAC defensive end Bradley Weaver transferred from Ohio to Rutgers for this year. Interestingly, Weaver may go up against Ohio starting left tackle Shedrick Rhodes Jr., who transferred back to Ohio after spending last season with Rutgers.

Greg Schiano continues as head coach in his second go-round with the club. Schiano’s first stint from 2001 to 2011 was mostly highly successful, peaking in 2006 when the Scarlet Knights had an 11-2 season and were ranked as high as 12th in the coaches poll. Rutgers also had five-straight bowl wins in the first tenure.

Expect 2024 roleplayer WR Max Rodarte to get some looks as coach Smith mentioned at his Rutgers press conference that Rodarte “is playing as well as anyone in that group right now.”

To summarize a recent press conference, head coach Brian Smith liked Navarro’s decision-making growth in 2024 and thinks he understood as offensive coordinator how to better call things to put Navarro’s best foot forward as the season wore on last year.

Defensively, Rutgers is focused on improvement over the 2024 unit and there is optimism they will based upon a healthier returning crew and transfer portal additions.

Former Ohio defensive back Jett Elad reportedly had a good camp and looks like a starter at safety.

Sparber inherited a great linebacker to build the defense around in 2024 third-team all-Big Ten standout LB Dariel Djabome, who led the club with 105 tackles last year.

The running back position may initially be a by-committee situation as the staff is tasked with replacing 2024 star back Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears, 7th round). Returning backs Antwan Raymond, Ja’shon Benjamin and others figure to be in the mix along with FAU transfer CJ Campbell Jr., who has over 1,000 career yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.

The unit begins with 2024 MAC Championship Offensive MVP QB Parker Navarro. Like Rutgers QB Kaliakmanis, Navarro took big strides down the stretch in 2024 until he looked like he was in the Matrix during the title game, avoiding danger at every turn.

After a strong finish in the second half of 2024, the Scarlet Knights coaching staff are high on the prospects of the offense, including QB Athan Kaliakmanis, an experienced player with his arrow pointing up. After playing for former Western Michigan Bronco head coach and MAC champion PJ Fleck in Minnesota his first two years, Kaliakmanis transferred to Rutgers for 2024. Heading into 2025, Rutgers’ signal caller has 800 career passing attempts, completing about 54 percent of his throws for almost 5,500 yards with a TD:INT ratio of 35:20.

Final Thoughts

Returning to Rutgers for 2025 is a big, dynamic duo at wideout in KJ Duff (six-foot-six, 225 lbs), and Ian Strong (six-foot-three, 210 lbs). The pair combined for 70 catches for over 1,000 yards and six scores last year.

With training camps in the rearview mirror, Rutgers and Ohio set their sights on each other in a game that should be entertaining for fans and help prepare squads for success in 2025.

The second tour in the loaded Big Ten has been no walk in the park, but Schiano and company are clearly making progress, as evidenced by their improved record. Rutgers finished 3-6 in COVID-shortened 2020, and have since earned back-to-back winning seasons the past two years for the first time in program history since 2011-12 (7-6 in both 2023 and 2024).

Ohio brings a standard of excellence to the contest. Coming off three double-digit winning seasons, a 2024 conference title, and six straight bowl wins, Ohio is capable of competing with many FBS opponents.

Ohio lost Anthony Tyus to graduation (and Seattle Seahawks training camp) and Ricky Hunt Jr. to the portal but welcomed back 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year Sieh Bangura after a season in Minnesota. Bangura is an established player who can manage any workload.

Outside of that, how many Bobcats play on the offensive and defensive line and how many players look like potential contributors?

Ohio played a good brand of complementary football last season, with teams regularly struggling to stop long offensive drives while Ohio defensibly took advantage of the series they had with a stifling brand of football. The defensive prowess was fueled in part by the deep defensive line, with quality rotational guys keeping folks fresh without significant drop off in productivity.

A key question for the ‘Cats heading into week one though is how the offensive line fares early with the team fielding four new starters. The question is not so much if they gel, but when, because the ‘Cats return several promising players. 2025 captain and left guard Davion Weatherspoon and LT Shedrick Rhodes Jr. can play at an all-conference level based on prior performance while 2024 spot starters guard Trent Allen and RT Jordan Jones, pair with accomplished Dartmouth graduate transfer center Nick Marinaro to get the first look in week one.

Notable on special teams is Ohio will break in two new players in graduate transfer Magnus Haines and kicker in UCLA transfer David Dellenbach.

Offensively, Ohio features a group of returning skill players who look to pick up where they left off at the end of 2024 and continue to improve.

In a season of coaching staff transition for Ohio, what I’m looking for here as a fan is do we see signs of the standard of excellence such as toughness and physicality? I bet we do.

Navarro is a dual-threat quarterback with improvisational skills which can make defenses wrong when they should be right. Last year Navarro passed for over 2,400 yards, completing 66% of his passes with a TD:INT ratio of 13:11. Navarro’s rushing prowess last year produced some of the best numbers in program history as his 1,054 yards rushing were the second most by a QB in a single season (Kareem Wilson 1,072 in 1996 on 275 carries), while his 18 rushing touchdowns rank third all-time in a single season.

Upper class transfer starters like DT Pius Odjugo (Central Michigan) and DE Anas Luqman (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) and 2024 rotational players like JACK Kaci Seegars will try their best to establish a good foundation while the rest of the defense settles in.

Rutgers is a 14-point favorite for a reason as they have a legit Big Ten roster and the offense looks experienced and deep. Winning this one would be a feather in the ‘Cats cap, but it is not do-or-die to achieve their long-term season goals.

What could be better than a season opener that tests both teams?

Ohio returns established players on both sides of the ball so one task against Rutgers will be integrating key portal players into the existing framework to form the 2025 team.

Defensively, the strength of the team heading into week one figures to be the secondary, due to multiple returning players with all-MAC potential. The Bobcats start with a dynamic duo at safety in 2024 second-team all-MAC performer DJ Walker and Adonis Williams Jr., whose versatility and experience (33 appearances) are a Bobcat boon.

Tasked with continuing the tradition is new head coach Brian Smith, who was promoted from offensive coordinator after the 2024 title game to replace Albin after the former head coach accepted the same job title with the Charlotte 49ers.

Nothing gets the pulse racing like kicking off a season with a showdown that pushes both squads to their limits. With preseason drills behind them, Rutgers and Ohio lock horns in a matchup that promises not just thrills for the stands, but a solid barometer for what to expect come 2025. Ohio strides in with a résumé that’s the envy of many—three straight double-digit win campaigns, a fresh conference crown from 2024, and a jaw-dropping streak of six bowl victories. They’re more than ready to mix it up with formidable foes. But don’t count Rutgers out—they’re on the rise in the Big Ten and bring a roster that’s sure to test every ounce of Ohio’s mettle. The stage is set, the stakes high. Let’s unpack the details and dive deep into what makes each team tick as they prepare to battle under the lights. LEARN MORE

Navarro will miss primetime WR Coleman Owen (graduation/Indianapolis Colts), but Ohio fields a versatile and experienced group led by Chase Hendricks and Rodney Harris II, who combined for 63 catches and 760 yards last year.