Head Coach Brian Smith celebrating 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl victory



Football
8/23/2025 4:00:00 PM







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ATHENS, Ohio— The Ohio football team is set to open the 2025 season when it takes on Rutgers on Thursday, Aug. 28, at SHI Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET and can be seen on the Big Ten Network with Jason Horowitz, Brock Vereen and Caroline Hendershot on the call. 

The Bobcats’ matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Veteran Ohio radio personality Marty Bannister is reprising his role as Ohio’s play-by-play broadcaster. Bannister will be joined by color analyst Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for more than two decades. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. RUTGERS 

The Bobcats and the Scarlet Knights have met three times: 1937, 2006 and 2011. Under Don Peden, Ohio snagged a 13-0 win but fell short twice with Frank Solich at the helm. 

The teams’ last matchup featured multiple record-setting Bobcats, with two of the top three single-season receivers—No. 2 La’Von Brazill and No. 3 Donte’ Foster— and highly decorated quarterback Tyler Tettleton leading the charge. Tettleton holds the single-season and career passing records for yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns. 

SCOUTING RUTGERS 

Head Coach Greg Schiano enters his 17th season with the Scarlet Knights where he has amassed a program record 94 wins. In 2024 with Rutgers, Schiano led his team to a second consecutive bowl appearance for the first time since 2009. 

Senior quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis enters his second season with Rutgers after recording 13 starts in his last season. In 2024 with the Scarlet Knights, Kaliakmanis recorded 2,696 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. In 2024, Kaliakmanis was the only quarterback in the Big 10 to attempt every passing attempt for his respective team. 

On the defensive end, Rutgers returns one of its 2024 sack leaders in Jordan Walker, who had four sacks and seven tackles for a loss last season. The defense also returns leading tackler Dariel Djabome who was voted Third Team All-Big 10 at the conclusion of the 2024 season. Djabome was also honored as a Second Team All-Big 10 selection by Phill Steele magazine for 2025. 

Among other notable players for the Scarlet Knights are four other Phil Steele Preseason All-Big-10 selections in offensive lineman Kwabena Asamoah (fourth team), running back CJ Campbell Jr. (fourth team), wide receiver DT Sheffield (fourth team) and defensive lineman Eric Oneil (Fourth Team). 

In 2024 Rutgers completed its season 7-6 after a 44-41 bowl game loss to Kansas State in the Rate Bowl. 

To read the complete Week One game notes, click here. 

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