In the four years prior to Frank Solich's arrival (2001-04), Ohio won 11 total games, tied for the seventh-fewest among all FBS teams over that time. Since 2005, the Bobcats are tied for the 35th-most wins in the FBS, ahead of Notre Dame, Miami (FL), Kansas State and 10 current MAC programs.
"I feel right at home in this coat, I want you to know that," Frank Solich, donning an Ohio coat, said in December 2004. "I appreciate being here and I want to agree with [athletics director Thomas Boeh] in that I hope this process doesn't have to take place for many, many years for really everybody's sake."
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Nearly every head coach in the history of college football utters something to that effect, which we dismiss as coachspeak more often than not. It might've been coachspeak from Frank Solich nearly 16 years ago but at least it proved to be true as Solich enters his 16th season at Ohio. And it'll be one of his most challenging after the departure of quarterback Nathan Rourke and several issues to fix on an unusually inconsistent defense that allowed nearly six yards per play and forced barely one turnover per game.
There's enough returning talent and trust in Solich to keep the Bobcats, ranked 100th in the HERO Sports Preseason College Football Rankings, in contention for six or seven wins and Solich's fifth East Division title but it's hard to see another run at eight or nine wins.
| Date | Opponent | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 5 | vs. NC Central | Win (1-0) |
| Sept. 12 | at Boston College | Loss (1-1) |
| Sept. 19 | vs. Marshall | Loss (1-2) |
| Sept. 26 | at Texas State | Win (2-2) |
| Oct. 3 | at Toledo | Loss (2-3) |
| Oct. 10 | vs. Eastern Michigan | Win (3-3) |
| Oct. 17 | at Miami (OH) | Loss (3-4) |
| Oct. 24 | vs. Bowling Green | Win (4-4) |
| Nov. 4 | at Central Michigan | Loss (4-5) |
| Nov. 11 | at Kent State | Loss (4-6) |
| Nov. 18 | vs. Buffalo | Win (5-6) |
| Nov. 27 | vs. Akron | Win (6-6) |
