2013 College football countdown | No. 39: Ohio

Paul Myerberg | USA TODAY Sports

Only today, and only thanks to Frank Solich, can we sit here and nitpick over a nine-win season from the Ohio Bobcats. Likewise, it's only today, with Solich in charge, that a nine-win season isn't greeted with a parade through downtown Athens, Ohio, one replete with a key to the city and a brass commemorative plate embossed on city hall.

Nonetheless. The Bobcats entered last season as – in one person's opinion – one of three non-automatically qualifying teams with the talent, experience, coaching and schedule to bypass a mere conference championship and make a run toward Bowl Championship Series contention. Instead, due to Ohio's injury woes, this accomplishment went to Mid-American Conference rival Northern Illinois; the Bobcats' promising season deteriorated in November just as the Huskies made their move.

Therein lies the beauty of college football, perhaps: If the cards fall your way – if the right talent returns, if the schedule is again kind, if the coaching staff remains intact – a team can dust itself off and try again, only 12 months later. Once again, Ohio enters fall camp with the right ingredients for a once-in-a-lifetime push into the national conversation. No excuses, right? Again, it's only under Solich that Ohio has begun holding itself to a different standard.

LAST YEAR'S PREDICTION

Nothing should stop Ohio from dominating the East division, nor should anything prevent this team from matching last year's win total. Nor should anything stop the Bobcats from claiming its first MAC title in more than 40 years. No other team in the league can match all that the Bobcats bring to the table, from this staff to the potential for offensive fireworks to an unspectacular but steady defense. With this team and this schedule, anything less than a 10-2 regular season would be very surprising. And if the Bobcats get past Penn State in the opener, gaining even more confidence, this team could – should, even – be the first MAC team since Ball State to post a 12-0 regular season. Then we're talking a BCS bowl; then we're talking about Ohio really breaking through, and breaking through in style.

2012 RECAP

— In a nutshell: All went according to plan through Akron. The Bobcats topped Penn State in the opener. Sneaked past Marshall two weeks later. Survived a few tests during the early stages of MAC play. This was a team of destiny – as of Oct. 13, at least. What happened to the Bobcats after the 7-0 start? Injuries, more than anything, and these dings and dents robbed Ohio of not only several key starters but also countless important reserves, causing a team with BCS aspirations to finish 8-4 overall, third place in the MAC East Division, losers of four of five to end the regular season. The team that limped to the finish line was a markedly different team than the one that started with a flash; for evidence, consider that a healthy and rested Ohio simply dismantled Louisiana-Monroe in the Independence Bowl – that was the team most expected in August, one that couldn't remain afloat amid a rash of season-changing ailments.

— High point: The win againstPenn State allowed Ohio to leap into the season in style, even if the Nittany Lions would obviously develop into a stronger team in October and November. As noted, the bowl win showed what the Bobcats could achieve at full capacity.

— Low point: November. The Bobcats didn't merely finish third in the East; they finished well behind the pack, thanks to late losses against Bowling Green and Kent State.

— Tidbit: Ohio won 61 games from 1985-2004: Cleve Bryant (1985-89) went 9-44-2, Tom Lichtenberg (1990-94) went 8-45-2, Jim Grobe (1995-2000) went 33-35-1 and Brian Knorr (2001-4) went 11-35. The Bobcats are 59-44 since Solich's arrival in 2005, with four nine-win seasons and at least eight wins in each of the last four seasons.

FORMER PLAYERS IN THE NFL

— 9: WR Phil Bates (Seattle), WR LaVon Brazill (Indianapolis), DT Landon Cohen (Dallas), OG Eric Herman (New York Giants), DT Neal Huynh (Atlanta), S Mike Mitchell (Carolina), CB Julian Posey (Miami), WR Taylor Price (Jacksonville), P Dave Zastudil (Arizona).

ARBITRARY TOP FIVE LIST

— NHL enforcers, 1985-1999

1. Bob Probert

2. Tie Domi

3. Dave Semenko

4. Joey Kocur

5. Stu Grimson

COACHING

— Frank Solich (Nebraska '66), 59-44 after eight seasons at Ohio. After going 4-8 in 2008, the second time the Bobcats had won four games in a season under Solich, Ohio has won a combined 36 games during the past four seasons. The initial four-win season came in 2005, Solich's first year in Athens. He quickly turned things around, however, bringing the Bobcats to nine wins in 2006 and a 6-6 mark in 2007; the 15 victories over a two-year span were the program's most since 1968-69. In fact, the 9-5 mark in 2006 featured a MAC East Division championship, the program's first conference title of any kind since 1968.

Of course, it's hard to discuss Frank Solich without touching on his long, meaningful association with Nebraska, where he started as the freshman team coach in 1979, began coaching the running backs in 1983 and was promoted to be Tom Osborne's replacement in 1998. During his time with the Cornhuskers, Solich coached two Heisman Trophy winners (Mike Rozier and Eric Crouch), countless all-conference and All-American performers and served as an assistant under Osborne for three national championships (1994-5, 1997). As head coach, Solich compiled a 58-19 record from 1998-2003, which included three double-digit win seasons, a Big 12 championship and an appearance in the 2001 national championship game, where the Huskers lost to Miami (Fla.) by a fairly significant margin.

Fired unceremoniously with one game remaining in the 2003 season, Solich was out of coaching entirely in 2004 before being hired at Ohio in 2005. None of his MAC coaching brethren can match his experience or his success. Though Solich has been unable to duplicate his success at Nebraska with the Bobcats – no one thought he would – he has made Ohio into one of the most competitive non-automatically qualifying programs in the country, as well as a threat to win the conference championship in every season. Very few active coaches in the FBS can say they've completely altered the direction of a program. Solich is still largely unheralded on a national level; he deserves nothing but praise for the way he's remade Ohio into a contender.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

— Offense: When all of his pieces are in place – and when he is upright, free of injuries – senior Tyler Tettleton is the best passing quarterback in the MAC. There's little doubt of this fact: Tettleton is a wonderful fit in the Bobcats' hybrid offensive style, thanks to his ability to deliver through the air and his sneakily efficient legs in the running game. On face value, Tettleton's numbers took a bit of a slide after his breakout sophomore campaign, when he threw for 3,306 yards and 28 touchdowns; on the other hand, Tettleton threw for 2,844 yards and 18 scores a year ago. But he missed a game, sitting out the win against Norfolk State, still averaged 7.7 yards per attempt, on par with his sophomore season, and significantly trimmed his interceptions. In total, he enters his senior year with every expectation of rewriting Ohio's record book, challenging Northern Illinois' Jordan Lynch for first-team all-conference honors and serving as the point man for one of nation's most balanced offenses. Look for the Bobcats to give Derrius Vick continued touches as the staff grooms the sophomore for the starting role in 2014 – he played very well in Tettleton's stead late last September.

Senior Beau Blankenship (1,604 yards and 15 touchdowns) joins Tettleton to give the Bobcats the MAC's one-two backfield punch. In Blankenship, Ohio has a trustworthy, dependable, reliable, security-blanket of a back, one very capable of shouldering 25-plus carries and carrying the water for the entire offense, though it's obvious that this running game works best when in concert, symbiotically, with Tettleton and the passing game – and vice versa, of course. There's a chance – though it's unproven, obviously – that Blankenship is less a senior and more a wind-up toy; just pull the cord and watch him go, typically to the tune of 20 carries and 135 yards. Senior Ryan Boykin (445 yards) would start for the most of the MAC, though he plays second fiddle to Blankenship in this system. The Bobcats also return sophomore Daz'mond Patterson (195 yards), who could push for a vastly increased role as a change-of-pace option.

The receiver corps is the weakest link of Ohio's offense, though it's not necessarily a weakness, if that makes sense. Where is Ohio lacking? It's not necessarily in the top grouping, not when the Bobcats return holdovers like seniors Donte Foster (59 receptions for 659 yards) and Matt Waters (14 for 225) and junior Chase Cochrane (22 for 377). Foster is obviously Tettleton's favorite target, not to mention one of the most prolific pass-catchers in school history, but the development seen from Waters and Cochrane during the second half of last season bodes well for their production in 2013. What the Bobcats need is increased production – and more consistency – from the second level, receivers like junior Landon Smith, senior Mario Dovell and redshirt freshmen Jordan Reid and Sebastian Smith and a huge number of incoming freshmen, a handful of whom seem likely to earn immediate playing time. Tight end Troy Hill (14 for 169) is a dependable option, albeit one largely ignored in this offense; his current backup, North Carolina State transfer Anthony Talbert, could be a useful asset if he has a full grasp of the system.

— Defense: The defense is a slight concern. Three reasons: one, the Bobcats loses some key experience, with five new faces in the starting lineup; this defense was particularly porous at times defending the pass, due to a degree of unreliability at cornerback; and three, Ohio is dramatically less experience along the defensive line. The latter, unfortunately, is simply an unavoidable personnel issue the Bobcats and coordinator Jimmy Burrow must address during fall camp. But one word of optimism: Ohio's secondary is going to be vastly improved. That may be putting it lightly, in fact.

Because of injuries and attrition, the Bobcats were forced to start sophomore Ian Wells (45 tackles) and junior Larenzo Fisher (50 tackles) at cornerback in 2012 – this wasn't expected, obviously. A year later, thanks to the return of all-conference cornerback Travis Carrie and senior Jamil Shaw, this staff will have the luxury of shifting Wells and Fisher into secondary roles, exponentially increasing the team's options and overall talent level at the position. What does a healthy Carrie grant this offense? Carrie effectively shuts down his side of the ball, if healthy, and he seems back on the mend after missing all of last season due to a shoulder injury. No other team in the MAC can sniff Ohio's depth on the outside. On the back end, the Bobcats need to make a decision with junior Josh Kristoff (60 tackles), who could start at either safety spot. If Kristoff starts at free safety, Ohio could promote senior Xavier Hughes – if at full strength – into the starting job at strong safety; if Kristoff starts at strong, Ohio would use junior Thad Ingol at free.

Whether this defensive front can survive several losses hinges entirely on the play of five or six totally untested – and perhaps unprepared – new contributors. The line will revolve around sophomore Antwan Crutcher (40 tackles), who steps into Neal Huynh's former spot at nose tackle. While sophomore Brandon Purdum and junior Tony Davis will open the year as co-starters inside, the Bobcats' interior desperately needs newcomers Watson Tautuiaka and Cameron McLeod to produce from the start; the Bobcats need five or six interior linemen, especially if Crutcher can't play every down, so the two additions – with Tautuiaka in for spring drills – must give this defense depth in September. At end, Ohio returns three veterans in seniors Nic Barber and Ty Branz and junior Kendrick Smith, the latter a former LSU transfer. Beyond this trio, Ohio will call on redshirt freshman Kurt Laseak and true freshman Tarrell Basham. Want to make the case that this group is in fine shape if everyone remains healthy? I'm with you. But the Bobcats simply cannot afford any major injuries – especially Crutcher.

Senior Keith Moore (98 tackles, 5.5 for loss), a former walk-on, leads the way for a slightly reworked linebacker corps. Moore will shift from middle to the weak side, giving this defense a very valuable weapon both in coverage and in pass-rush situations, and should be considered among the top five contenders for league defensive player of the year honors. There will be a new starter in the middle, sophomore Ben Russell, though it should be said that Russell spent last season apprenticing behind Moore – a good leader to serve under, and there was never a doubt that Russell would move into a starting role as a third-year sophomore. In fact, I'll happily make the case that promoting Russell boosts Ohio's fate in two fashions: one, he's going to be a prototypical, box-score-filling middle linebacker, and two, Moore is going to be even more dangerous in space on the weak side. The third spot on the second level can be a linebacker or a fifth defensive back, depending on Ohio's defensive mentality. If the former, look for one of juniors A.J. Grady and Brandon Atwell to grab a starting job. But junior Nathan Carpenter (53 tackles) will see extensive time in a bit of a hybrid role; to me, I'd call Carpenter the starter and Grady or Atwell the situational replacement.

So: Ohio's defense is really strong in the secondary but noticeably weaker along the front seven. To me, based on the general nature of MAC offenses, you'd rather have a stout, deep and experienced secondary than a defense with heavier focus on the defensive line – not that the latter doesn't have its draws, but Ohio's speed on the second level and weapons on the back end make this defense very dangerous against most MAC opponents. Again, the key is not merely that the Bobcats land pressure off the corner on third down from the defensive line; overall, it's that the line has the bodies to rotate and rotate, keeping starters fresh without suffering any major decline in production from the second level. To me, and until this group proves itself in September, that's a bit of a concern.

— Special teams: One decline, the loss of kicker Matt Weller, is offset by the projected uptick from Ohio's normally reliable coverage and return units. Last year's group – again, always a strength – suffered several lapses in protection and in coverage, handing out a win to Bowling Green and failing to provide Ohio with the sort of advantage this program typically holds on special teams. In this case, the program's terrific level of coaching virtually ensures a return to Ohio's positive ways. But the hole at kicker is substantial, so the Bobcats must make a decision sophomore Matt Green, a former Oklahoma State transfer, and sophomore Josiah Yazdani. To be honest, very few programs in the FBS could replace a kicker of Weller's caliber.

POSITION(S) TO WATCH

— Offensive line: Ohio will survive the loss of three key figures along the interior; whether the Bobcats thrive with some new characters at guard and center hinges on the development of the newcomers, most of whom have played significant snaps during the last two seasons. First, the outside: Ohio brings back senior John Prior on the left side and senior Ryan McGrath on the right, and there's no better tackling pairing in the MAC, in my opinion. With sophomore Mike McQueen and redshirt freshman Troy Watson in reserve, it's obvious that the Bobcats and line coach Keven Lightner have a plan for today and tomorrow – and as an aside, Ohio always does a great job developing younger linemen into starting roles. As evidence, consider sophomore Lucas Powell, who learned the center spot behind Skyler Allen a year ago; Powell should start, though junior Mark Smith is very much in the conversation. Another two seniors will start at guard, with a seasoned veteran in Jon Lechner at left guard and Sam Johnson, back from injury, set to take over at right. Now, injuries remain an issue: Prior, McGrath, Lechner and Johnson missed all or a significant part of the spring, though each is expected to make a full recovery by the heart of fall camp. And what if this group remains healthy? In that case, this is one of the top three lines in the MAC.

GAME(S) TO WATCH

— Bowling Green: The Bobcats avoid NIU, Toledo and Ball State from the West Division; instead, Ohio draws Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan. Lucky Bobcats. A date at Bowling Green on Nov. 12 decides the East: Ohio might be the favorite today, but it's entirely possible that it outplays the Falcons throughout the year yet lose the division due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. It's East or bust for the Bobcats; therefore, this is very easily the biggest game on the schedule.

SEASON BREAKDOWN & PREDICTION

— In a nutshell: Despite the returning pieces on offense, I don't think this quite as good a team as the one that stormed out of the gate to open last season before crawling to the finish line amid an onslaught of injuries. The issues are the interior of the offensive line, the depth at receiver, the question marks along the defensive line, the new look from the front seven and the kicking game. In a way, however, each of these issues can be addressed by the start of MAC play – seeing that we'll know much about each perceived concern after Ohio takes on teams like Louisville and Marshall in September. Beating either team might be difficult, let alone both, but this is obviously a team with the potential to sew up its issues in fall camp or during non-conference play – and don't sleep on this coaching staff to do just that.

On the other hand, I'd be extremely surprised if Ohio wins less than six games in MAC play. Missing the top three teams from the MAC West helps, of course, but this team's combination of a high-test offense and a potential-laden defense makes it an easy to pick to take home the East Division. Just how good is this offense? NIU is a bit more explosive, but Ohio's backfield combination, elite tackle play and solid top grouping at receiver could make this the most prolific offense in school history. Very few teams can match the Bobcats' reliability at quarterback at running back; fewer still can match this consistency while touting two all-conference offensive tackles. Put simply, the offense is going to roll.

And even if I've hedged my bets with this defense, there's no ignoring the Bobcats' talent and experience in the secondary. Returning cornerbacks like Carrie and Shaw, along with Wells and Fisher, give the Bobcats depth at the position unmatched – or even neared – by any rival in the MAC. It's this secondary that will make Ohio dangerous to every team on this schedule. So what's the bottom line? Anything less than eight wins would be a disappointment. Ten wins is easily in play. Eleven wins remains a possibility. This team has its flaws, true, but Ohio remains the class of the East Division and NIU's biggest threat for the MAC crown.

— Dream season: Ohio loses to Louisville in the opener but runs the rest of the table, ending the year 11-1 and with BCS hopes heading into the MAC title game.

— Nightmare season: This time, the Bobcats can't blame injuries for a 7-5 regular season.

— All-name team nominee: CB Blake Scipio.

UP NEXT

— Who is No. 38? Two Vice Presidents attended this university, though neither graduated from the school.

2013 TEAM OVERVIEW

— Conference: MAC, East

— Location: Athens, Ohio

— Nickname: Bobcats

— Returning starters: 14 (8 offense, 6 defense)

— Last year's ranking: No. 26

— 2012 record: 9-4 (4-4)

— Last year's re-ranking: No. 53

— 2013 schedule:

Sept. 1 at Louisville

Sept. 7 North Texas

Sept. 14 Marshall

Sept. 21 Austin Peay

Oct. 5 at Akron

Oct. 12 Central Michigan

Oct. 19 at Eastern Michigan

Oct. 26 Miami (Ohio)

Nov. 5 at Buffalo

Nov. 12 at Bowling Green

Nov. 19 Kent State

Nov. 29 Massachusetts

This article originally listed Ohio's location, seen above, as Oxford, Ohio. The Bobcats are in Athens, Ohio.

Paul Myerberg, a national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @PaulMyerberg.