YSU paid tribute to the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 (Photo by Youngstown State Athletics)
Rocky week for Ohio and its football teams.
Ohio State 1-1 (0-0 in the Big Ten)
It’s not the fact that they lost, or that they sometimes lose in their current era of football. What? It’s really not! It’s the ways they lose. That it’s the same old story every time. They blow a big lead by trying to sit on it, hoping the clock runs out. They have a huge kicking mishap. Coach Day colossally mismanages the clock. This game they hit the trifecta. The real kicker is they exercise insanity by doing the same things over and over again, hoping for a different result.
#24 Cincinnati 2-0 (0-0 in the Big 12)
It’s only Week 2, and we’re down to Ohio’s last undefeated FBS team. There’s a decent chance that they still may be by the time the first month of play is over. They walloped Western Carolina, 62-10. Now, they play in the Queen City again. This time they’re at FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium battling local MAC rival Miami of Ohio. If they can win the Victory Bell again, that’ll put only a visit from Kansas State between them and being 4-0 headed into October.
Miami (Ohio) 1-1 (0-0 in the MAC)
Things went well in the home opener in Oxford. Miami needed a game like this to respond to getting crushed by Pitt last week. The RedHawks hosted Holy Cross and made quick work of them, as they should. Miami’s new quarterback David McComb had a perfect game. McComb was 13 of 13 for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 12 yards and a touchdown rushing the ball, and Miami would get their first win of 2026, 45-7. Next week, the RedHawks head to Cincinnati in the battle between Butler County and Hamilton County for the Victory Bell.
Ohio 1-1 (0-0 in the MAC)
The Bobcats also had some last-second theatrics and a victory of less than three points. It took them four overtimes in Athens, but Ohio beat Jacksonville State, getting them their first win of 2026. Jacksonville State outgained Ohio 447 yards to 262 yards. But the Bobcats had the most important stat advantage of them all: a 29-27 4OT victory! Ohio heads south to Mobile to battle South Alabama next!
Bowling Green 0-2 (0-0 in the MAC)
Year 2 of the Eddie George Era is off to a rough start for Bowling Green. After losing to FCS Tarleton State in their opener, they had to hit the road and go play at Nebraska. No one expected them to upset the Cornhuskers, but to be outgained 564 yards to 169 yards in a 56-7 loss is just rubbing alcohol in an open wound. It doesn’t get any easier, as Bowling Green will again drive west on I-80, this time to play Iowa State.
Toledo 1-1 (0-0 in the MAC)
The Rockets got their first win of the season with a drubbing of Central Connecticut. Toledo won, 63-10. They torched the Blue Devils even worse than Nebraska did their cross-town rivals, beating them by 53 and outgaining them 569 to 139. The Rockets’ schedule is very manageable after their season opener that they lost to Michigan State. They host Temple this week and San Diego State next week before beginning MAC play.
Akron 1-1 (0-0 in the MAC)
Akron also got their first win of the season this week. They clobbered Robert Morris, beating them 45-10 and outgaining them 523 yards to 194 yards. The running game was where it was at for the Zips, both on offense and defense. Offensively, they had a solid 241 yards rushing, but limited Robert Morris to only 14 yards rushing on defense! Akron is back on the road again against a Power 4 team this week when they head up to Minnesota.
Kent State 1-1 (0-0 in the MAC)
With games against South Carolina and Ohio State sandwiching this one, the Golden Flashes needed the win and needed it badly. It wasn’t pretty; in fact, after three quarters, Wofford led Kent State, 15-14. Kent State would get it together in the fourth quarter, scoring 22 points to win 36-15. Dru DeShields had 248 passing yards and a touchdown and 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Kent State goes to Ohio State next week to play a very angry Buckeyes team.
Dayton 2-0 (0-0 in the Pioneer League)
UD’s monster running backs had a great game against Thomas More. Noah Spencer, Gavin Lochow, and Luke Hansen each had a rushing touchdown, and the team finished the game with 205 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Dayton defeated Thomas More 30-7. The Flyers play their first game away from home next week when they play at Eastern Kentucky.
#9 Youngstown State 2-1 (0-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference)
YSU dunked on the Duquesne Dukes, 70-13. Beau Brungard was once again sensational. He was 20 of 23 for 290 yards passing and had 14 carries for 111 yards rushing. Brungard accounted for EIGHT total touchdowns, six passing and two rushing. The likely back-to-back Walter Peyton Award winner (the FCS Heisman) didn’t even play the entire game! His backup, Malachi Lewis, had over 100 yards and a touchdown pass himself. Next week is a huge game for the Guins as they hit the road to play the #2-ranked South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
Bill Willis Award Player of the Week
Brungard is at it again. In only three games, Youngstown State’s do-it-all quarterback is putting up video game numbers. Beau Brungard has 765 passing yards with 10 passing touchdowns, and 259 rushing yards with 4 rushing touchdowns!
Writer’s Note: The FBS rankings are from The College Football Power Rankings at TheForkball.com. The FCS rankings are from the FCS STATS Poll.
