FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[D3fanboy]

Heidelberg just took another step from being "The Berg" to a much cuter kitten named "Heidi."

That's not good for Berg or a good look for the OAC as a conference...

the OAC looks to be very tiered this season.  With JCU tucking tail and running away, I was hopeful that there would be a step up by the rest of the conference.  BW and Etta had decent OOC wins, but havent really played anybody in conference yet. The rest of the conference was pretty bleh in OOC and seemed to have taken a bit of a step back.  Who knows maybe Wilmington just has a world-class offense?

A. Mount

B.

C.  BW and Etta

D. ONU?

E. Berg, Muskie, Wilma

F. Cap, Ott

maybe we'll get BW and Etta head and shoulders above the pack and end up with a big 3 and little 6 situation and get a couple (maybe 3) playoff teams and have a good showing in the weird bowl game thing

[Dr. Acula]

The thing that I noticed was that Berg's talent level seemed to be down.  Not even comparing them to the pinnacle when Hallett was there.  Just compared to the solid post-Hallett teams that you knew weren't good enough to push Mount or JCU, but had talent at the skill positions that they'd beat up on half the conference and maybe win 7 games.  This team is not that.

[D3fanboy]

The thing that I noticed was that Berg's talent level seemed to be down.  Not even comparing them to the pinnacle when Hallett was there.  Just compared to the solid post-Hallett teams that you knew weren't good enough to push Mount or JCU, but had talent at the skill positions that they'd beat up on half the conference and maybe win 7 games.  This team is not that.

I really hope that Heidi doesn't slip all the way back to the pre-Hallett years, but, man, they look like they are going to be fighting like hell to get to 5 wins this year.  6-4, 5-5 and potentially 5-5 (4-6?) is a pretty rough fall from what Hallett was building in Tiffin. 

[Dr. Acula]

The thing they've done post-Hallett on a pretty consistent basis is recruit well and have good talent at QB/RB/WR.  I have not seen that same thing this year although in fairness QB and WR are interdependent so one could drag down the other.

Perusing the conference stats a few items of interest:

Ott is allowing an insane 9.6 ypc on the ground.  335 yds/gm rushing.  That's crazy.  They got torched by Etta, but even OWU ran for 280 yds at almost 7 ypc.

Etta is dead last in passing offense at 116 yds/gm and 52% completion %.  They're rushing for over 300 yds/gm but suffice to say if they're that one dimensional against Mount it's not going to go well.  Hodges is 100 yds/gm clear of #2 in the conference at 238.5 yds/gm.

Gurney at Muskie is throwing for over 400 yds/gm so far.  825 yds and 9 TD in 2 games.  His 205.6 efficiency is just a hair behind Maloney.  Taken with a grain of salt considering what defenses the two have faced, but it looks like the Fish can spin it.

Wilm is allowing 579 yds/gm of total offense.  That's a tough way to win games.

Cap QB Tyler Love is top 10 in rushing at 65 yds/gm (7.6 ypc).  Unfortunately he is completing under 40% of his passes and ranks last in efficiency so the Cap offense has struggled overall.

I had to work on half of these above because the OAC stats show Wilm with 4 games played, Muskie with 3, etc. which are not correct so you have to go to the school sites to verify stuff.  What a PITA.

[D3 Poster]

Dr A...stats of the day!

[Dr. Acula]

Dr A...stats of the day!

Pouring down rain at lunch = OAC stats lunch in the office!  Mother Nature loves stats 3 weeks in.

[D3fanboy]

Wilm is allowing 579 yds/gm of total offense.  That's a tough way to win games.

579 yds/gm against the mighty offenses of BW, Muskie and Wooster....the second Saturday in October might be something else

[Dr. Acula]

Wilm is allowing 579 yds/gm of total offense.  That's a tough way to win games.

579 yds/gm against the mighty offenses of BW, Muskie and Wooster....the second Saturday in October might be something else

Go for 1000 yds??

[D3fanboy]

Wilm is allowing 579 yds/gm of total offense.  That's a tough way to win games.

579 yds/gm against the mighty offenses of BW, Muskie and Wooster....the second Saturday in October might be something else

Go for 1000 yds??

755 yards is the Mount record.  It'll come down to second half Mount runs

[WRMUalum13]

Heidelberg just took another step from being "The Berg" to a much cuter kitten named "Heidi."

That's not good for Berg or a good look for the OAC as a conference...

the OAC looks to be very tiered this season.  With JCU tucking tail and running away, I was hopeful that there would be a step up by the rest of the conference.  BW and Etta had decent OOC wins, but havent really played anybody in conference yet. The rest of the conference was pretty bleh in OOC and seemed to have taken a bit of a step back.  Who knows maybe Wilmington just has a world-class offense?

A. Mount

B.

C.  BW and Etta

D. ONU?

E. Berg, Muskie, Wilma

F. Cap, Ott

maybe we'll get BW and Etta head and shoulders above the pack and end up with a big 3 and little 6 situation and get a couple (maybe 3) playoff teams and have a good showing in the weird bowl game thing

Logan Hansen's Computer rankings pretty much follow your tiers except the bottom 3 are
Capital 145
Wilmington 151
Otterbein 169

Still unbelievable that Cap and Otterbein are so bad considering they are in such a population dense part of the state.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Stagg Bowl - Canton, OH

Jan 4th, 2026 8pm

[WRMUalum13]

Stagg Bowl - Canton, OH

Jan 4th, 2026 8pm

Where'd you find that?

[Captainred81]

I think you're right on the Columbus area schools having a huge HS football field*** of recruits, but there is a ton of schools recruiting the area too.  I'm guessing every D3 school in Ohio is spending umpteen days/weeks at the area high schools.  Its probably hard to get the top recruits.  I think if they could some how find a bit of success, maybe even in the transfer portal, they could convince some of the better local talent to sign on
 

[Pat Coleman]

Stagg Bowl - Canton, OH

Jan 4th, 2026 8pm

Where'd you find that?

Here, most likely, which we posted today:
https://www.d3football.com/notables/2025/09/stagg-bowl-set-for-jan-4-2026

[Dr. Acula]

I think you're right on the Columbus area schools having a huge HS football field*** of recruits, but there is a ton of schools recruiting the area too.  I'm guessing every D3 school in Ohio is spending umpteen days/weeks at the area high schools.  Its probably hard to get the top recruits.  I think if they could some how find a bit of success, maybe even in the transfer portal, they could convince some of the better local talent to sign on
 

I've always thought that Cap and Ott's strength (location) would be an asset recruiting kids from outside of metro areas in OH.  You're right, central Ohio is getting recruited from all angles so you need more than location to get the best kids.  Plus most of these current recruits don't even remember a time when both of those football programs weren't door mats.  Otterbein has won 9 games total over the last 7 seasons and they aren't going to be adding much if any to that this year.  Capital is about to put up their 14th straight losing season that've seen 23 wins.  Going back to 2019 they've won 4 games total.

At this point I view Cap as almost a lost cause.  It's been years and multiple HC since they've been competitive.  Otterbein has been stacking some really bad seasons.  If they don't pull out of it and get some continuity with the coaching staff they're heading in the same direction.  The only thing that gives me hope is that Otterbein always finishes in the top half of the men's and women's All-Sports standings so they support and emphasize athletics institutionally.  That's half the battle in D3.