---

Ohio vs. Texas State prediction and game preview for the opening contest of the 2016 season. Find out who’s projected to win the matchup between the two Bobcats.

---

Ohio vs. Texas State Game Preview

Game Details

When: Saturday, Sept. 3 – 3:30 p.m. ET

Where: Peden Stadium, Athens, Ohio

Matchup to Watch

Ohio’s receivers vs. Texas State’s secondary

Sebastian Smith is Ohio’s main offensive weapon after catching 65 passes for 777 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Jordan Reid (45 receptions, 616 yards, 5 TDs) and Brendan Cope (30, 510, 2) also are back. They won’t be catching passes from JD Sprague, though, after he departed the team in mid-August, leaving Greg Windham as the unquestioned starter.

Texas State will have to contain that group if it plans to win the battle of the Bobcats. It finished ninth in the 11-team Sun Belt in pass defense last season.

Edge on Offense

Ohio’s threats in the passing game have been mentioned, but it’s also pretty stacked in the backfield. It lost just once in six games when going for at least 200 yards on the ground in 2015, an attack A.J. Ouellette will lead after rushing for 687 yards and six touchdowns last year.

Quarterback Tyler Jones and running back Tyler Siudzinski are back for Texas State, which doesn’t bring back a single player who caught more than one pass last season.

Advantage: Ohio

Edge on Defense

Ohio has linebacker Quentin Poling back after he led the unit in tackles and interceptions. It ranked fifth in the MAC in total defense, but it’s prone to issues after giving up 152 points during a three-game losing streak in late October and early November last year.

Advantage: Ohio

Edge in Special Teams

Texas State has only 71 players on scholarship compared to roughly 85 most other teams have, limiting its depth that certainly will take its toll on the special teams unit.

Advantage: Ohio

Coaching Edge

Frank Solich is 71 years old and still going strong, as he seeks his fourth MAC East Division title. The former Nebraska coach has never won a MAC title, though.

Everett Withers is in his first season with Texas State after two FCS playoff appearances at James Madison. He takes over a program coming off a 3-9 season and heading into its fifth year in the FBS.

Advantage: Ohio

Intangibles

Texas State allowed at least 37 points in each road game last season, going 0-6. Ohio went 5-1 at home.

Advantage: Ohio

Ohio vs. Texas State Prediction

Ohio wins the battle of the Bobcats 31-10.

MORE: 2016 College Football Bowl Projections