Ohio Bobcats Football

Ohio was able to enjoy its No. 24 BCS ranking for one week before Miami (OH) upset the Bobcats 23-20 on Saturday.

Entering the game undefeated, Ohio should have waltzed by a RedHawks team that came in with four losses. Instead, Miami (OH) was able to jump out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter before Beau Blankenship ran one in from five yards out to cut the Bobcats' deficit to 13-7.

Jamire Westbrook answered that score with a one-yard run of his own though, putting the RedHawks ahead 20-7. Ohio couldn't get any consistent momentum going, and it paid for it in the first half.

Quarterback Tyler Tettleton scampered in for a three-yard touchdown to put the Bobcats down 20-14 with under 10 minutes remaining in the half, setting up a tight final two quarters. Tettleton didn't have his normal day behind center, but he still caused problems running out of Ohio's pistol formation.

The second half wasn't nearly as eventful, with the teams trading field goals for 30 minutes. Matt Weller put Ohio behind three with the lone points of the third quarter and tied the game with 4:41 left on a 38-yard try. All appeared to be fine for the favored squad, until Kaleb Patterson gave the RedHawks their decisive 23-20 winning margin.

Neither team played excellent football, but Ohio couldn't make enough plays to separate itself. Playing down to competition, and avoiding a letdown coming off a BCS ranking, is always a concern, and the Bobcats fell victim to that on Saturday.

Tettleton finished the day 23-of-38 for 302 yards and zero touchdowns. He didn't throw any interceptions, but missed a few key opportunities to help his team down the stretch. He received 74-yard rushing performances from both Blankenship and Ryan Boykin as well.

For Miami (OH), signal-caller Zac Dysert paced the attack. He threw for 300-plus yards, even though he didn't receive much support on the ground. He also found Nick Harwell for a touchdown, a major part of Harwell's eight-catch, 138-yard day through the air.

The Bobcats will have a chance to bounce back against Eastern Michigan on Thursday night. Eastern Michigan only has one win, but it will be interesting to see how the short turnaround impacts the reeling Ohio squad. Miami (OH) will travel to Buffalo next Saturday.

With homecoming billed as “Better than the Best Ever,” Ohio football is off to its best start since 1968, moving to 7-0 on the season with a 34-28 win over the Akron Zips.

Fast Start

Ohio head coach Frank Solich dipped into his bag of tricks on the game’s opening drive.

Wide receiver Landon Smith found quarterback Tyler Tettleton for a 39-yard touchdown on a reverse pass—Tettleton’s first career touchdown reception. Solich first used the play known as "Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass" when Eric Crouch was his quarterback at Nebraska.

Ohio marched down the field on their next drive, going to their bread-and-butter slot-corner route for their second touchdown. Tettleton found Donte Foster open in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard score. With the play, Tettleton passed Boo Jackson for career passing touchdowns with 39.

Defensive Spotlight

Akron came out in their patented no-huddle spread offense, however, Ohio’s defense held the Zips third-ranked passing offense in check until the final minute of the half. Akron’s first five possessions looked like this: punt, turnover on downs, interception, punt and punt.

Two Minute Drill

Despite the slow start, the Zips were able to break through at the end of the first half. Akron sprinted 75 yards in just 28 seconds to cut the deficit to 20-7 with 16 seconds left on L.T. Smith’s 19-yard touchdown reception.

Akron kept the momentum going to open the second half. Tyler Williams' 10-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dalton Williams capped an impressive nine-play, 75-yard drive to bring the Zips to within six.

Turning Point

As the Bobcats have done all season, they responded to adversity with a 96-yard scoring drive in the third quarter, ending on Tettleton’s two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Troy Hill. Running back Beau Blankenship accounted for 78 yards on the drive.

Ryan Boykin added a five-yard rushing score on Ohio’s next drive to give the Bobcats a commanding 34-14 heading into the fourth quarter.

Too Close For Comfort

For the third straight game, the Bobcats allowed their opponent to rally late. Akron cut the lead to 34-28 with two fourth-quarter touchdowns but were unable to recover the onside kick with 1:55 remaining. Boykin then secured the win with a 13-yard run.

Running Backs Shine

Blankenship (108 yards on the ground) rushed for over 100 yards for the sixth time in seven games, while Boykin ran for a season-high 96 yards. Blankenship entered the day as the nation’s third-leading rusher.  

A Packed House

Today’s attendance of 25,542 was the second largest crowd in Peden Stadium history, behind this year's opener vs. New Mexico State.

Next Up

The Bobcats have a much-needed bye week before they travel to Oxford for a rivalry game at Miami. Ohio has won the previous six meetings between the two schools.

The Ohio Bobcats became the first bowl-eligible team in the country on Saturday afternoon with a 38-31 victory over the Buffalo Bulls.

The Bulls jumped out to a 14-0 lead behind a powerful rushing attack before the Bobcats found their footing. Ohio rallied with three touchdowns, thanks in part to three Buffalo fumbles, to take a 21-14 halftime lead.

The Bulls tied the game at 24 late in third quarter, however Ohio closed with two Ryan Boykin touchdowns to seal the deal.

Buffalo did creep to within a touchdown with 10 seconds remaining, but the Bobcats secured the onside kick to move to 6-0 on the season.

Opening Drive

Buffalo ran its no-huddle offense to perfection, driving 75 yards in 10 plays to take the lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by Devin Campbell.

Turning Point

When his team was down 14-0 and needed a spark, Bobcat freshman running back Daz’mond Patterson returned the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, tying the longest kick return in school history.

Trickeration

Both coaches dug deep into their bag of tricks in this one. In the second quarter, Ohio tried and failed a fake field goal from the Bulls' 12-yard-line.

Buffalo cut the deficit to 24-21 in the third quarter on a 55-yard reverse pass from wildcat quarterback Alex Dennison to receiver Alex Neutz. The Bulls kept another drive alive with a fake punt and run by punter Tyler Grassman.

Key Stat

Ohio’s run defense was shredded early and often. The Bulls rushed for 131 yards in the first quarter alone and finished with 313 yards on the ground.

Injury Report

Ohio was without a number of key contributors. DE Tremayne Scott (foot), OT Mike McQueen (foot), DT Brandon Purdum (finger), FS Xavier Hughes (shoulder) RB Kyle Hammonds, WR Donte Foster (back) and S Gerald Moore (ankle) all missed the game due to injury. Buffalo played without star RB Branden Oliver.

Up Next

The Bobcats will welcome the Akron Zips (1-4) to Peden Stadium next Saturday for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 2:00 pm EST. 

Ohio kicker Matt Weller never thought any of this was possible. How could kicking an egg-shaped ball through a goal post bring heaps of success?

The red-shirt senior became Ohio’s all-time leading scorer after connecting on a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter of the Bobcats victory against New Mexico State three weeks ago.  

Weller surpassed former Ohio quarterback Kareem Wilson, who set the record in 1998, for the honor and now has 312 career points with nearly his entire senior season still in front of him. 

“I never would have thought that (I would be the Bobcats career scoring leader),” said Weller grinning. “It’s pretty unreal.”  

Unlike many other collegiate kickers, Weller did not start kicking until his freshman year of high school at age 14. “It’s stuck with me ever since,” he said simply.  

The kid from Twinsburg, Ohio wanted to continue kicking after high school, but the Bobcats were the only Division I offer he received. It seems to have worked out for the best. 

“I loved the campus and the coaching staff was great,” Weller said as he recalled his initial thoughts upon visiting Ohio. After redshirting during the 2008 campaign, Weller has made 69 of his 96 field goal attempts (71.8 percent) and 141 of 150 extra points (94 percent). 

However, the 6-foot, 200-pounder is quick to tell you about another record he owns.  

“We’ve been the winningest class that’s come in here so it’s a great felling to be a part of that,” said Weller. 

Weller’s special teams coach, Brian Haines, is entering his fifth season with the Bobcats, but first as the special teams’ coordinator.  Haines has had the chance to watch the Academic All-MAC Team member and reigning MAC Special Teams Player of the Year grow over the years and is most impressed by Weller’s attitude and approach to his job.  

“If you talk to Matt and watch him work, he is so humble and is still hungry to get better every day,” said Haines. 

Many casual football fans may overlook a kicker’s importance to a team. But in recent years, NFL kickers such as the Colts’ Adam Vinatieri and the Raiders’ Sebastian Janikowski have brought to light how significant it is to have a kicker you can consistently trust.  

Most guys have the physical talent, but what separates the best from the rest is a kicker’s ability to block out his surroundings and focus on the task at hand. Haines believes Weller excels in this area, which is why he thinks his kicker has a good shot at continuing his career.  

“If he misses, he’s not a guy that has his head down and has bad body language,” Haines said. “He knows what he did and what we need to do to fix it and then we’ll walk through it and he moves on.”  

Composure is an invaluable trait when all eyes are glued to you as you set up for a field goal, many times with the game on the line.  

No kicker is perfect and understanding this is essential. Although he broke the all-time points record, the right-footed specialist has converted just 12 of his 19 field goal attempts this season.  

“It seems every year I go through a little slump…I’ve just got to remember to breath and slow everything down,” said Weller.  

Weller did not want to look too far down the road but he did say his “accuracy and speed” would have to improve if he wanted to latch onto an NFL roster next summer.  

When asked if Weller had the ability to kick in the NFL, Haines responded, “Without a doubt.” 

Through all the kicks he’s made, and all the battles he and his teammates have endured since 2009, one moment stands out to Weller. 

“Winning the bowl game and sharing in that experience, I don’t think I’ll ever forget that,” he said, reflecting on last year’s improbable 24-23 comeback win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. 

For now, Weller wants to enjoy the rest of his senior season as he hopes to create a new favorite memory in the green and white.  

Weller’s composure will be important this season as Ohio gains more and more national attention. As a kicker, a mistake can lead to doubts and missed opportunities. 

However, Bobcat nation won’t have to worry about that with Weller. 

“Make or miss he’s always looking forward to the next kick,” Haines said. And that’s the best mindset a kicker can have.

The biggest question coming into the 2012 season for the Ohio Bobcats offense was the perceived crater-sized hole at wide receiver.

Head coach Frank Solich admittedly was uncertain about the receiver position coming into the year, and with good reason. The Bobcats had lost their top two wideouts in LaVon Brazil and Riley Dunlop to graduation, and junior Donte Foster was the only returnee who saw significant playing time.

Brazil set school records in 2011 with 1,150 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns while Dunlop was second on the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

“We lost some really good receivers last year and obviously we needed some of our younger guys and guys who have been in the system for a couple years to step up,” said Solich, now in his eighth season at the helm of the football program.  

It’s safe to say the group has risen to the occasion.

Through the season’s first four games, the quintuplet of Foster, Ryan Clark, Tyler Futrell, Bakari Bussey and Landon Smith have combined to catch eight of the team’s 11 receiving touchdowns and provided an array of options in the passing game, something the team did not have last season.

“Last year we knew that those two (Brazil and Dunlop) would be the primary guys,” said Bussey.

But with the departure of their top two pass-catchers, the receivers knew they had an opportunity to fill the void as a group.

“We made it imperative this offseason to get out here with the quarterback and work on our timing,” Bussey said.

The growing process began in the spring. As the leaves bloomed, the connection between starting quarterback Tyler Tettleton and his playmakers strengthened.  Even when the suffocating summer heat wave weaved its way through Athens, it couldn’t stop the chemistry between quarterback and receivers from developing.

“We were out here all summer catching passes from Tyler…we put in a lot of work,” said Foster, recalling the drills in scorching 90-degree heat.

Timing between quarterback and receiver is built through repetition, which takes time. And when the game is on the line, Tettelton must rely on the trust gained during those workouts and throw the football with confidence, knowing his receiver is on the same page.

“Tyler knows where we’re gonna be, so the offseason was a big part of our success right now,” Foster said.

The hard work is paying dividends. Ohio has the highest-rated offense in the MAC with the passing attack led by Foster’s 18 catches for 188 yards and four scores. The junior from Guthrie, Okla. has been battling a painful thumb injury suffered in practice two weeks ago, but has fought through the discomfort and continued to make plays. Coming into the season, Foster knew it was his time to step up.

“I feel like I had to play a bigger role and lead the younger and inexperienced guys and show them how to do it.”

“Donte has the most experience so they key on him and forget about us and that’s a big mistake on their part,” said Clark, a senior who switched from cornerback to receiver before the season and has 10 receptions for 123 yards, including the game-tying touchdown on fourth down against Marshall.

With Foster beginning to require more attention from defenses, Futrell (eight receptions for 112 yards), Smith (four catches for 122 yards), Clark and Bussey (10 catches for 76 yards) will have even more chances to burn the opposition.

“That’s the beauty of it. The defense doesn’t know who to double,” wide receiver coach Dwayne Dixon said thoughtfully. “They’ve got to play honest defense.”

“There’s not one guy that we just go to,” said Solich, as opposed to last year’s team, which saw Brazil dominate touches and haul in over a third of the team’s touchdown receptions.

Besides being a deep, talented bunch, they are also a tight knit group that hangs out frequently and celebrates the accomplishments of the unit as a whole.

“We all hang out on the weekends whenever we have down time, go to lunch and dinner. We just try to keep that camaraderie going,” said a smiling Bussey.

The receivers are also trying to continue a legacy of acrobatic, leaping grabs that fans have become accustomed to seeing over the past few seasons.

“We’ve got this saying ‘Flight School’ when we break (from the huddle),” Bussey said.

“(Former receiver) Terrance McCrae told me about it…he basically told us whenever the ball is in the air we got to get it just like a flight school,” said Foster, who has made his fair share of highlight-reel catches in his Ohio career.

If the receivers continue to make plays and the wins keep piling up, the entire team will be flying high by season’s end.

All quotes were obtained first-hand.

It is hard to believe that a player that was lightly recruited would end up leading his team to historical achievements and setting several school records in the process. It is equally unimaginable that he would do so while going virtually unnoticed by college football fans.

Such is the story of Tyler Tettleton, the star quarterback of the Ohio Bobcats.

Tettleton set 12 single-season records in 2011, including most completions in a season with 267 and most touchdowns passes in a season with 28. In becoming the first quarterback ever at Ohio to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season with 3,302, he shattered the school's sophomore record for most yards in a year by almost 2,000 yards. 

Tettleton set a school record last year with a 148.6 passing efficiency rating and is now rated first all-time in Bobcat history with a 144.4 rating. Along with all of his passing accolades, he rushed for 658 yards and 10 touchdowns on 166 carries last year.

Not only did Tettleton succeed as an individual, he also spearheaded the Bobcats to achieve feats rarely seen at the university. Ohio won 10 games in 2010 for the first time since 1968.

Down 23-17 with two minutes, two seconds left on the clock in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against the Utah State Aggies, Tettleton pioneered Ohio on a 61-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown run to enable the Bobcats to win their first bowl game ever 24-23. He completed a key fourth-and-six pass to set up the game-winning score.

Although many websites list Tettleton's height at 5'11", he shows a superhuman ability to grow an inch just by putting on his uniform. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyAXcvmN76w

Ohio was just one of three schools that thought Tettleton could play quarterback at the collegiate level. Some coaches questioned his lack of height while others ignored him because of an ACL injury during his junior year of his school. 

The Bobcats didn't actually focus on recruiting the son of former major league baseball player Mickey Tettleton until noticing Tyler at Norman North High School in Oklahoma while scouting a kicker. Tettleton had already committed to Northern Iowa, but changed his mind after Ohio became interested in his services.

Having already achieved much individual success, Tettleton is focused on directing the Bobcats to several lofty goals in 2012. Despite winning the MAC East two of the last three years, Ohio has not won a Mid-American Conference title since 1968. 

An undefeated season by the Bobcats is not out of the realm of possibilities. Ohio lost its four games last season by a total of 19 points.

Tettleton rallied the Bobcats from a 14-3 halftime deficit to defeat Penn State 24-14 in Beaver Stadium on Sept. 1. He threw for 257 yards and one touchdown and ran for another last weekend as the Bobcats defeated the New Mexico State Aggies 51-24.

The Bobcats should be favored in all their conference games this season. With the Nittany Lions out of the way, the toughest non-conference contest remaining will be on the road at Marshall University this Saturday.

Behind the stern and steady leadership of Tettleton, nothing is out of the reach of the Ohio Bobcats this season.

This is it: The moment Penn State finally gets an opportunity to start a new dialogue.

After a nightmarish offseason that saw one of the most storied programs in the history rocked by a devastating sex abuse scandal, the Nittany Lions finally get to get back to football—though at this point, football almost seems like an afterthought.

This is not the same Penn State team we saw last season. This is a team that is without one of its biggest stars, its legendary head coach, a whole bunch of its scholarships, any hope of competing in a bowl game and—most of all—without the storied reputation this program has spent the last few decades creating.

And now, it must think about football again. It must think about starting over. 

Penn State's first attempt at rehabilitation begins on Saturday, against Ohio. Here's where and when you can catch the action. 

Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pa.

When: Saturday, September 1 at 12 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Listen: CBSSports.com 

Live Stream: ESPN3 

Betting Line (via Bovada): Penn State -6 

Penn State Injury Report (via USA Today) 

- Safety Malcolm Willis is probable for Saturday's opener after being limited in practice due to a leg injury.

- Safety Jacob Fagnano is questionable for Saturday's game with a hamstring injury.

- Tight end Garry Gilliam is questionable for Saturday's game due to a lower-leg injury.

- Wide receiver Shawney Kersey is questionable for Saturday's game because of a left ankle injury.

Ohio Injury Report (via USA Today)

- Cornerback Travis Carrie is doubtful for Saturday's opener because of a sore shoulder.

- Kicker Josiah Yazdani is out indefinitely due to a knee injury.

AP/USA Today Top-25 Poll Implications

Polls aren't going to mean anything to Penn State for a long time. For the next four years, the Nittany Lions will be out of contention for the postseason—in addition to receiving a $60 million sanction and a vacation of all its wins since 1998, according to ESPN.com.

It also was slapped with a four-year scholarship reduction, and players have been allowed to transfer out of Penn State without sacrificing any eligibility.

In light of everything that has happened to Penn State this offseason, getting a win on Saturday may even seem like an afterthought. 

Ohio, on the other hand, could really pump itself up with an opening-weekend win, despite the fact that beating Penn State now doesn't mean the same thing it meant a year ago. Last year, the Bobcats went 10-4 and finished first in the MAC East, and though they're not exactly in contention to be ranked (yet), their defense of the division title begins now.

What They're Saying

Obviously, this isn't the average season opener for Penn State. There's no joy, or lightheartedness or hope for the way the season will unfold; instead, there is a team with a first-year head coach, a few players with limited experience and a desperate hope to get the world talking about something else. 

But that, according to the Associated Press' Genaro C. Armas, doesn't mean that those who opted to stay at Penn State won't be playing for something. Nittany Lions senior linebacker Gerald Hodges told Armas:

"There are a lot of guys in that locker room that feel they have something to play for. All that anger filled up. All that tension filled up ... I can just tell we can’t wait to unleash something."

That, of course, leaves the Bobcats in a strange situation. They're the underdogs, but they would seem to have a lot more to play for than the Nittany Lions do—especially head coach Frank Solich, a Pennsylvania native, who led Ohio to its first win in a bowl game less than a year ago.

Now, coming off that, Solich is gunning to lead the Bobcats to their biggest win in program history, according to The Patriot News' David Jones. And all it will take is a victory over his hometown team.

Penn State Player to Watch

Silas Redd was the most high-profile former Nittany Lion to take advantage of the fact that he could transfer without penalty, and as a result, Penn State lost its leading rusher, who accumulated 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in 2011.

Second-leading rusher Stephfon Green graduated. So now, it's up to Curtis Dukes to pick up where they left off and keep this Penn State rushing attack competitive.

In his career, Dukes only has 43 carries. Last season, he rushed for 237 yards and a single touchdown. Last spring, according to StateCollege.com's Mike Poorman, Dukes decided he couldn't compete in school and on the field simultaneously, so he took some time away from football and resorted to weekly meetings with Bill O'Brien, who helped him get to a place where he could boost his grades.

Now, Dukes will attempt to return the favor to his coach by making him look good on the field.

Ohio Player to Watch

In 2011, quarterback Tyler Tettleton had a prolific season, throwing for 3,306 yards, 28 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions and posting an overall QB rating of 148.9. This season, it's about improving upon those numbers.

Those numbers, in fact, were the most productive of any passer in Bobcats history, according to the AP's Jim Litke. And Tettleton has the confidence in himself—as does Solich—that he can be even better in 2012.

An opening-weekend win over Penn State would definitely be an excellent way to prove it.

Tettleton told Litke:

"Being honest, I'll admit we're excited to play in front of that big a crowd, with that many more people watching, because we'll know pretty quick whether the goals we set—a top-25 ranking, getting back to the MAC Championship and another bowl game—are realistic."

Key Storyline

Where to start?

At the forefront of everyone's mind, as the season-opener approaches, is an eagerness to see how this batch of Penn State players, along with first-year head coach O'Brien, will fare in the aftermath of the Sandusky scandal.

There is an immense amount of pressure, and there are sky-high emotions, and many believe that this group of players—as well as O'Brien—are paying for something that had nothing to do with them.

But Penn State has no other choice, at this point, other than to move on. The only question is whether the Nittany Lions will triumph or falter in the wake of such a devastating scandal.

Prediction: Ohio Wins

The spread isn't that huge, and Ohio is coming off a season in which its quarterback had the best season in school history. The Bobcats have experience and talent, whereas Penn State has a head coach embarking on his first gig at the helm of a college program and a whole bunch of uncertainty. 

It's possible you still enjoyed yourself for a little while if you decided that you were too cool to watch the MAC, the WAC, the Sun Belt and the Mountain West in order to save TV time for the better bowls.

Then, when you heard about how those games ended, you threw a tantrum and decided to never be too cool for anything again.

Because the little bowls gave us excitement to kick off bowl season.

The number of combined points exceeded 46 in each game.

And while Temple blew out Wyoming in the opener, the final two games of the day had fans biting their nails.

Louisiana-Lafayette and San Diego State didn't sound like the most intriguing match-up. But Ragin' Cajun fans packed the Superdome, which made the New Orleans Bowl feel like a home game.

The Cajuns controlled most of the game. Darryl Surgent returned a punt 87 yards to the end zone and at one point Lafayette led 19-3.

But the Aztecs stormed back and Ryan Lindley hit Colin Lockett for a touchdown with 40 seconds left to give SDSU a 30-29 lead.

San Diego State's two-point conversion was nullified by a penalty (on the receiver who caught the ball) so Lafayette took over at their own 18 with 30 seconds to play.

After finding Javone Lawson for 13 yards, quarterback Blaine Gautier escaped the pocket and fired a 26-yard completion to Lawson.

A pass to Harry Peoples and a penalty on the Aztecs for trying to draw a false start set up Brett Baer for a 50-yard field goal.

Lafayette's kicking struggled all game but the snap and hold were good and Baer's kick squeaked through the uprights to light up the crowd and give the Cajuns a win for the record books.

Much like the New Orleans Bowl, Utah State fans turned Bronco Stadium into a home game-like atmosphere. Ohio fans were largely absent, as a small school across the country from Boise won't travel well.

Utah State dominated early and they led 23-10 in the third after Michael Smith's second touchdown run.

Ohio struck back though. After a brilliant touchdown catch by LaVon Brazill (in double coverage), the Bobcats were within a touchdown.

In the fourth, Ohio had 4th and 6 and 45 seconds left when Tyler Tettleton found Brazill on a lob pass for what was originally ruled a touchdown.

After review, however, they spotted the ball inside the 1 and Tettleton scrambled into the end zone with 14 seconds left.

Bobcats stormed the turf, while fans (those that were there) rejoiced in the stands.

Both games, though featuring less prestigious squads, gave us the thing we really wanted for Christmas: Bowl dramatics.

Maybe Florida International and Marshall will be a game to watch. 

The Ohio Bobcats look to win an impressive 10 games this season in a mathchup against the Utah State Aggies in the Idaho Potato Bowl on Saturday.

These two programs have been terrible in bowl games in the past, with a combined 1-11 record in bowls between them.

The Aggies have not made a bowl game appearance since the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl, so this will be an exciting and rather new experience for many of the school's fans and coaches.

The Bobcats are making their third straight bowl game appearance, but they lost each of the past two, and as a program, they are 0-5 all time in postseason play.

Someone's bowl history is going to get a much-needed win on Saturday, and it will be exciting to watch this matchup unfold.

Let's look at everything you need to know about the Idaho Potato Bowl!

Where: Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho

When: Saturday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 EST

Watch: ESPN

Listen: Power 105.5 FM

Betting Line: Utah State -1.5 (according to Betonline.com)

Key Storyline

The story going into this bowl game is how both teams desperately want to end their recent bowl struggles with a big victory on Saturday.

The Bobcats have never won a bowl game in their program's history, and a loss to the Aggies on Saturday would be their fourth straight bowl loss.

With each team looking to win this bowl in order to end previous postseason failures, expect an intense game that is full of excitement.

Who Might not Play for Utah State

Safety Walter McClenton is questionable for the Idaho Potato Bowl with a foot injury. He has missed the last four games.

Who Might not Play for Ohio

Linebacker Eric Benjamin is suffering from a knee injury and is doubtful to play in the Idaho Potato Bowl.

What it means for Utah State

A win for the Aggies would be there first bowl victory since the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl and would give them eight wins on the season.

It would be the perfect way for Utah State to finish a solid season in which they finished second in the WAC.

What it means for Ohio

The Bobcats have never won a bowl game, so obviously, a win on Saturday would be a huge accomplishment for not only the football program but for the university as well.

Head coach Frank Solich has taken the Bobcats to three straight bowl games, and winning this one would really mean a lot to him.

What They're Saying

Solich talked about his team's excitement for this matchup with Utah State in a recent ESPN article:

The Ohio University football program is extremely excited for this wonderful opportunity in Boise. For the past two years, this has been one of the premier bowl games for the Mid-American Conference. I couldn't be happier for our team and our 17 seniors, who have given so much to this program.

Ohio player to watch: Tyler Tettleton

Ohio sophomore quarterback Tyler Tettleton has had a brilliant season for the Bobcats, throwing for 3,086 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

He will have to play well for Ohio to beat Utah State on Saturday and claim the school's first ever bowl game victory.

Utah State player to watch: Robert Turbin

Utah State junior running back Robert Turbin has rushed for 1,416 yards and 19 touchdowns this season and is the best offensive player on the Aggies' roster.

His ability to run the football and control the clock will be crucial to the Aggies' chances of beating Ohio. If Turbin struggles, it could be a long day for Utah State.

Key Matchup: Aggies rushing attack vs. Ohio defense

Utah State is ranked sixth in the country with 277.5 rushing yards per game, and if Ohio cannot stop the Aggies on the ground, they will lose this game.

Turbin has been fantastic this season for the Aggies, and he will be counted on to keep Tettleton and the impressive Bobcats passing offense off the field.

Prediction: Utah State wins 24-21

This game will be exciting and close, but I expect Utah State and their great ground game to lead them to their first bowl victory in almost a decade.

Turbin and the Aggies rushing attack will be too much for Solich's Bobcats to stop in this game, and Ohio will lose their third straight bowl game.

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl may not be the most prestigious bowl game that college football has to offer, but the game tomorrow afternoon should be an entertaining one.

The Ohio Bobcats and Utah State Aggies are set to square off on the blue turf in Boise State.

If you can bare to watch the play on the atrocious field, you will be in store for a close battle.

The two teams will enter with very different methods. It will be a speed rush attack for the Aggies and a downfield attack for the Bobcats.

Where: Bronco Stadium, Boise, ID

When: 5:30 pm ET, Saturday, December 17th

Watch: ESPN/ESPN3

Betting Line: Utah State (-1.5)

What They're Saying

Both of these teams will be playing in the national spotlight with pride on the line.

Utah State had a terrible start to the season. After starting off with a 2-5 record, they have now won five straight, putting them in position for a big bowl victory.

Ohio, on the other hand, has been fairly consistent all season. They are staring down a 10-4 final record if they can walk away with a win. Double digits are on the mind of Bobcat players.

Ohio Player to Watch

Tyler Tettleton is one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.

He obviously doesn't get the same recognition as other big-name quarterbacks in college football, but the sophomore has had a very successful season.

He has 3,086 passing yards and 26 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions this year. He also has 627 rushing yards and nine more touchdowns to his name.

Utah State Player to Watch

Robert Turbin may not be a name that you know if you don't check out the WAC very often.

The Aggies running back was named the WAC offensive player of the year and ranks 10th in the country with his 1,416 rushing yards.

His 6.2 rushing average and 23 total touchdowns shows just how talented Turbin is. Ohio will have their hands full.

Keys to an Ohio Win

The Ohio defense needs to key in on Robert Turbin. He has been the majority of the offense for the Aggies this season for a reason.

The Bobcat offense should be able to move the ball effectively with Tettleton. This game is going to rest on the shoulders of the defense.

Shut down Turbin, and Ohio should pull out a win.

Keys to a Utah State Win

Utah State is going to have to stick to what has worked for them over the course of their five game winning streak.

That's running the football, a lot.

The Aggies barely squeaked out a win in a bunch of those victories. They have managed to put up plenty of points with Turbin running the ball, but the defense hasn't looked fantastic.

If they can run the ball effectively and just get average play out of the defense, they should be in control.

Prediction: 31-27, Ohio Bobcats

This underdog pick is the way to go here.

Utah State has the best player on the football field with Turbin, but Ohio is the more complete football team.

All the Aggies can really do is run the ball.

Ohio can run, they can throw and they have a much better defense. They will be the more complete football team on the field.

The play of the team as a whole will be enough to get the Bobcats their first bowl win in team history.