Ohio at Rutgers - 2025 Matchup Preview

Thursday, August 28th 2025 (6:00 PM EDT)
Rutgers -11.5 (46.5) (-455) Open: -11.5 | 46.5
Rutgers 34 - Ohio: 31

Bobcats (9 - 4) (6 - 6 - 1)
Coach Brian Smith (1 - 0)
Avg Score : 28 - 22 (21 - 26 on Road)
Record Prediction: 8.3 - 4.7 (#51)
Wins: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)
Losses: (Elite: 0) (Good: 1) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: 1) (Good: 0) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 9)

Our Line: Rutgers -5.5 (SP+ RUTG -3)
Projected Score: OHIO: 22 - RUTG: 27 (49)
RUTG Win prob: 77% | Cover: 45%
OHIO Travel: 413 miles

Scarlet Knights (5 - 7) (6 - 6 - 0)
Coach Greg Schiano (26 - 33)
Avg Score : 29 - 32 (35 - 30 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 5 - 7 (#86)
Wins: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 1)
Losses: (Elite: 0) (Good: 0) (Avg: 0) (Bad: 0)
Future: (Elite: 3) (Good: 4) (Avg: 1) (Bad: 3)

Matchup
Schedules
OHIO Players
RUTG Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Ohio's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 8/28	Ohio at Rutgers	+11.5	46.5	L 31 - 34	O	Y
Sat 9/6	Ohio vs West Virginia	+3.5	58.5	W 17 - 10	U	Y
Sat 9/13	Ohio at Ohio State	+28.0	49.0	L 9 - 37	U	Y
Sat 9/20	Ohio vs Gardner-Webb	-30.5	55.0	W 52 - 35	O	N
Sat 9/27	Ohio vs Bowling Green	-7.5	49.5	W 35 - 20	O	Y
Sat 10/4	Ohio at Ball State	-14.0	52.5	L 14 - 20	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/18	Ohio vs Northern Illinois	-10.5	41.5	W 48 - 21	O	Y
Sat 10/25	Ohio at Eastern Michigan	-11.5	60.5	W 28 - 21	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Tue 11/4	Ohio vs Miami (OH)	-2.5	50.5	W 24 - 20	U	Y
Tue 11/11	Ohio at Western Michigan	+1.5	46.5	L 13 - 17	U	N
Tue 11/18	Ohio vs Massachusetts	-34.5	53.5	W 42 - 14	O	N
Fri 11/28	Ohio at Buffalo	-7.0	44.5	W 31 - 26	O	N
Tue 12/23	Ohio vs UNLV	+6.5	64.5	W 17 - 10	U	Y

Total: Elite: 1, Good: 1, Avg 1, Bad 1, Poor 8
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 1, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 1, Good: 0, Avg 1, Bad 1, Poor 8
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 1, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Ohio's Schedule

Rutgers's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 8/28	Rutgers vs Ohio	-11.5	46.5	W 34 - 31	O	N
Sat 9/6	Rutgers vs Miami (OH)	-15.5	45.5	W 45 - 17	O	Y
Sat 9/13	Rutgers vs Norfolk State	-44.5	56.5	W 60 - 10	O	Y
Fri 9/19	Rutgers vs Iowa	+2.5	46.5	L 28 - 38	O	N
Sat 9/27	Rutgers at Minnesota	+3.5	51.5	L 28 - 31	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Fri 10/10	Rutgers at Washington	+9.5	62.5	L 19 - 38	U	N
Sat 10/18	Rutgers vs Oregon	+17.5	62.5	L 10 - 56	O	N
Sat 10/25	Rutgers at Purdue	+2.5	60.5	W 27 - 24	U	Y
Sat 11/1	Rutgers at Illinois	+13.5	63.5	L 13 - 35	U	N
Sat 11/8	Rutgers vs Maryland	-1.5	56.5	W 35 - 20	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 11/22	Rutgers at Ohio State	+29.0	54.0	L 9 - 42	U	N
Sat 11/29	Rutgers vs Penn State	+14.5	55.5	L 36 - 40	O	Y

Total: Elite: 3, Good: 4, Avg 1, Bad 2, Poor 2
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 1, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 3, Good: 4, Avg 1, Bad 1, Poor 2
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 1, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

Predictions for Rutgers's Schedule

Important Stats (2025)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
OHIO	#42 (.21)	45% (42)	27.8	45% (57)	3.32 (15)	212	46% (30)	173	3.55 (82)	#55 (.12)	41% (62)	21.9	42% (68)	40% (56)	2.83 (13)	44.5	1.2	1.2
RUTG	#38 (.21)	47% (23)	28.7	46% (41)	3.03 (54)	142	47% (18)	266	3.38 (102)	#134 (.31)	47% (128)	31.8	47% (116)	49% (132)	4.45 (131)	32.6	0.9	1

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
OHIO	#40 (.24)	46% (30)		47% (35)	3.1 (52)	214	45% (35)	193	4.15 (47)	#23 (.1)	37% (10)		34% (3)	40% (57)	3.79 (68)	44.9	1.6	1.5
RUTG	#84 (.16)	43% (67)		44% (69)	2.92 (88)	164	42% (63)	189	4.19 (44)	#106 (.23)	43% (85)		48% (113)	40% (59)	4.03 (92)	33.8	0.6	0.9

Overall Stats 2025

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
OHIO Offense	13	27.8	21	44.9%	3.55	1.2	20	385	212	173	5.4	60%	38%	45%	46%	12%	.21
RUTG Defense	12	31.8	30.3	47.4%	4.45	1	-	-	-	-	-	50%	49%	47%	49%	12%	.31

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
OHIO Defense	13	21.9	25.8	41.3%	2.83	1.2	-	-	-	-	-	50%	48%	42%	40%	15%	.12
RUTG Offense	12	28.7	35.4	46.8%	3.38	0.9	23	408	142	266	3.7	49%	50%	46%	47%	16%	.21

Additional Stats 2025

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Ohio	13	29:39	20.2	43%	57%	5.8	44.5	1.2	1.2	4.4	1.5	2	29.9
Rutgers	12	32:31	23.3	43%	62%	4.1	32.6	0.9	1	3.9	0.9	3	28.1

Run Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
OHIO Offense	13	60% (11)	45% (57)	39.2	212.2	5.4	30 (26)	.21 (27)	3.32 (15)	79% (25)	7% (18)	1.1 (18)
RUTG Defense	12	50% (65)	47% (116)	-	-	-	-	.26 (134)	3.15 (110)	66% (29)	9% (106)	1.13 (129)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
OHIO Defense	13	50% (75)	42% (68)	-	-	-	-	.08 (57)	2.98 (89)	67% (33)	9% (83)	0.99 (91)
RUTG Offense	12	49% (73)	46% (41)	38.8	141.5	3.7	19 (49)	.09 (80)	3.03 (54)	75% (48)	9% (46)	0.86 (117)

Pass Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
OHIO Offense	13	38% (127)	46% (30)	13.9	22.8	173.2	7.6	12.4	14 (86)	10 (60)	.27 (60)	1.4 (118)	29% (31)	33% (36)	.24 (95)	5% (33)	1.6 (135)
RUTG Defense	12	49% (74)	49% (132)	-	-	-	-	-	-	5 (100)	.44 (134)	1.6 (66)	30% (95)	34% (118)	.36 (100)	4% (133)	2.1 (93)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
OHIO Defense	13	48% (63)	40% (56)	-	-	-	-	-	-	11 (31)	.21 (54)	1.6 (88)	31% (73)	28% (42)	.2 (30)	6% (76)	2 (57)
RUTG Offense	12	50% (61)	47% (18)	19.5	31.5	266.1	8.5	13.7	22 (42)	7 (60)	.34 (38)	1.5 (88)	29% (36)	36% (19)	.33 (58)	7% (110)	1.8 (129)

Ohio's Power Ratings
Ohio's Power Rating: -1.20 #73
Ohio's Offense Rating: 6.67 #82
Ohio's Defense Rating: 7.87 #68
2025 Talent Rating: 574.00 #101
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #101
Ohio's 2025 Expected Record: 8.3 - 4.7
Ohio's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: -2.9 #82
Ohio's Offense SP+ Rating: 24.7 #88
Ohio's Defense SP+ Rating: 26.8 #67

Average Talent
Average Mid-American Talent Rating is 567.54
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Power Ratings Matchup
Ohio: -1.20 Rutgers: 3.695

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Ohio: -2.9 Rutgers: 0.0

Rutgers's Power Ratings
Rutgers's Power Rating: 3.695 #59
Rutgers's Offense Rating: 20.13 #18
Rutgers's Defense Rating: 17.74 #123
2025 Talent Rating: 836.00 #45
Blue Chip Ratio: 3 #65
Rutgers's 2025 Expected Record: 5.0 - 7.0
Rutgers's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 0.0 #73
Rutgers's Offense SP+ Rating: 31.8 #43
Rutgers's Defense SP+ Rating: 31.8 #98

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 906.67
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Ohio Scoring
Offense: 27.8 PPG
Offense on Road: 21
Defense: 21.9 PPG
Defense on Road: 25.8

Ohio's 2025 Record
Record: 9 - 4
Record vs Spread: 6 - 6 - 1
Over/Under Record: 6 - 7
Record on Road: 2 - 4
Record vs Spread on Road: 1 - 4 - 1
Record as Dog vs Spread: 3 - 1 - 1
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 1 - 1 - 0

Projected Score
Rutgers 27
Ohio 22

Total Points: 49

Based on Last 4 Games
Ohio 27
Rutgers 20

Total Points: 47

Based on Entire Season
Ohio 28
Rutgers 28

Total Points: 56

Rutgers Scoring
Offense: 28.7 PPG
Offense at Home: 35.4
Defense: 31.8 PPG
Defense at Home: 30.3

Rutgers's 2025 Record
Record: 5 - 7
Record vs Spread: 6 - 6 - 0
Over/Under Record: 7 - 5
Record at home: 4 - 3
Record vs Spread at home: 4 - 3 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 3 - 1 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 3 - 1 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2025	08/28	Rutgers	34	Ohio	31	Rutgers -11.5	Ohio	46.5	Over
2011	09/24	Rutgers	38	Ohio	26
2006	09/16	Rutgers	24	Ohio	7

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Rutgers	3	0	1 Overs
Ohio	0	1	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	3 - 0	0 - 1	0 - 1	0 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 3	1 - 0	0 - 0	1 - 0

(#73) OHIO at (#59) RUTG

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	OHIO	RUTG
Power RatePwr	#73	#59
SP+SP+	#82	#73
Perf GradeGrade	#79	#53
OffenseOff	#52	#7
DefenseDef	#82	#134
Spec TeamsST	#126	#106
TalentTal	#101	#45
Blue ChipsBC%	#101	#65

Ohio Notes(12/17) HC Smith fired. Weird situation
(11/13) WMU controls MAC after beating Ohio, Navarro meh
(11/4) Big W over Miami OH. Even game, ST's, clutch
(10/31) Beat WVU, 4-2 w/o paycheck games. Def meh
(10/31) QB Navarro decent, RB Bangura leads MAC, OL #2
(10/31) Top Off in MAC w/ WR Hendricks & RB Bangura
(9/22) Def all nearly 500 yds to Gardner Webb?
(8/29) Navarro great vs Gers, but Pass Def torched
(8/28) RB S Bangura - 2k career yds (TR Back, inj LY)
(7/27) WR rebuild, Hendricks good LY, have some depth
(5/5) QB Navarro back, JAG passer but strong runner
(5/5) RB rebuild, Brune starter in spring, track runner
Ohio Injury Report

Rutgers Notes(12/5) Fired DC Robb Smith after 1 season, also Co-DC out
(9/23) Kaliakmanis leads CFB in big time throws vs TWP
(9/19) Pass Off & Kaliakmanis good but inconsistent
(9/19) WR have 3 solid weapons, RB Raymond good
(9/19) Defense torn to shreds by Iowa. Yes, Iowa
(8/29) Run Def alarmingly bad vs Ohio, lucky to win
(8/21) OT R Langsdale out for season, big loss
(6/10) OL 4/5 back. 5 portal adds, looks pretty good
(6/10) Def not great LY, returns a lot. 9 portal adds
(6/10) OL has top 10 exp, 87% of which returning
(5/15) DL added 5 portals, JMU's best DE & DT
(5/13) Def portals very productive, esp on the DL
Rutgers Injury Report

Ohio on Offense

Very Run heavy Offense 59%, Pass: 39%
CategoryCat	OHIO Off	RUTG Def
Perf GradePerf	#52	#134
SuccessSuc	#42	#128
ExplosiveExp	#84	#114
PPAPPA	#42	#134
PowerPwr	#82	#123
SP+SP+	#88	#98
Pts POPPO	#82	#131
HavocHav	#17	#126

Ohio Run Game

Very Run heavy Offense 59%, Pass: 39%
CategoryCat	OHIO Off	RUTG Def
Run GameRun	#60	#133
Run SuccessRSuc	#57	#116
Run ExplRExp	#18	#129
PPAExp	#27	#134
Run BlockR Blk	#19	-
OL YdsOLY	#15	#110
Stuff RateStuff	#3	#62
TackleTak	-	#70

Ohio Pass Game

Very Run heavy Offense 59%, Pass: 39%
CategoryCat	OHIO Off	RUTG Def
Pass GamePass	#111	#119
Pass SuccessPSuc	#30	#132
Pass ExplPExl	#118	#66
PPAExp	#60	#134
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#67	#120
F7 HavocF7	#18	#106
DB HavocDB	#33	#133

Rutgers on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	RUTG Off	OHIO Def
Perf GradePerf	#7	#82
SuccessSuc	#23	#62
ExplosiveExp	#90	#76
PPAPPA	#38	#55
PowerPwr	#18	#68
SP+SP+	#43	#67
Pts POPPO	#102	#13
HavocHav	#76	#84

Rutgers Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	RUTG Off	OHIO Def
Run GameRun	#39	#105
Run SuccessRSuc	#41	#68
Run ExplRExp	#117	#91
PPAExp	#80	#57
Run BlockR Blk	#3	-
OL YdsOLY	#54	#89
Stuff RateStuff	#21	#73
TackleTak	-	#97

Rutgers Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 50%, Run: 49%
CategoryCat	RUTG Off	OHIO Def
Pass GamePass	#12	#48
Pass SuccessPSuc	#18	#56
Pass ExplPExl	#88	#88
PPAExp	#38	#54
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#73	#72
F7 HavocF7	#46	#83
DB HavocDB	#110	#76

Program Comparison
RUTG 5 Year Profile: Consistent Top G5
'25 Profile: Remains Top G5

OHIO 5 Year Profile: Consistent Top G5
'25 Profile: Down to Average G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in SHI Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 81° - Wind: 7 mph

Rematch from Week 1
Rutgers -11.5 (46.5)
Rutgers won vs Ohio this year (34-31)

No Matchups Past 4 Years

OHIO's OC Scott Isphording (in his second season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Parker Navarro	188	303	62%	2375	14	11	7.8
Nick Poulos	4	8	50%	19	0	0	2.4

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Sieh Bangura (Tr)	240	1392	15	5.8	49
Parker Navarro	161	886	9	5.5	44
Duncan Brune	120	585	8	4.9	66
Jake Bruno	1	48	0	48.0	48

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Chase Hendricks	71	1037	7	14.6	67
Rodney Harris II	30	419	2	14.0	49
Mason Williams	27	285	3	10.6	30
Caleb Gossett	12	162	0	13.5	35

View Ohio's Full Roster

OHIO's DC John Hauser (in his second season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Jalen Thomeson	86	7	0	2	1
Adonis Williams Jr.	75	4	1	1	1
Charlie Christopher	63	3	2	2	2
Michael Molnar	62	5	2	2	3

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Jay Crable	28	8	6	4	4
Anas Luqman (Tr)	33	9	4	5	2
Joseph Marsh (Tr)	8	2	2	0	0
Derek Reagans	8	2	2	3	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Tank Pearson	49	0	0	0	8
Jack Fries	54	3	1	1	5
Jay Crable	28	8	6	4	4

RUTG's OC Kirk Ciarrocca (been OC for 3 years)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Athan Kaliakmanis	229	368	62%	3124	20	7	8.5
AJ Surace	4	9	44%	58	2	0	6.4

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Antwan Raymond	244	1241	13	5.1	51
Ja'shon Benjamin	68	328	2	4.8	19
CJ Campbell	22	119	0	5.4	22
Samuel Brown V	16	38	0	2.4	9

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
KJ Duff	60	1084	7	18.1	72
Ian Strong	52	762	5	14.7	45
DT Sheffield (Tr)	44	577	5	13.1	54
Kenny Fletcher	26	236	0	9.1	39

View Rutgers's Full Roster

RUTG's DC Robb Smith (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Jett Elad (Tr)	77	3	0	1	1
Dariel Djabome	67	6	2	2	0
Kaj Sanders	64	0	0	0	1
Abram Wright	53	1	0	1	2

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Bradley Weaver (Tr)	28	7	3	3	1
Eric O'Neill (Tr)	37	10	3	10	1
Dariel Djabome	67	6	2	2	0
Cam Miller (Tr)	43	2	1	0	5

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PD
Cam Miller (Tr)	43	2	1	5
Bo Mascoe	48	2	0	4
Jacobie Henderson (Tr)	39	3	0	3