Ohio Bobcats to Face UNLV Rebels in 2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
The Ohio Bobcats (8-4, 6-2 MAC) will continue their impressive bowl game streak, accepting an invitation to play the UNLV Rebels (10-3, 6-2 MWC) in the 2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl on Tuesday, December 23rd. The game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. ET kickoff and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
“We’re excited to have two great teams coming to Frisco as this should make for an exciting matchup,” said Sean Johnson, Executive Director of the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl. “We have two offensive-oriented teams, and our bowl is known for that, as it is the 2nd highest scoring bowl game over the past 10 years.”
This bowl appearance marks the seventh in nine years for Ohio, a testament to the program’s consistent success. The Bobcats have distinguished themselves as the first Mid-American Conference team to win six consecutive bowl games, including victories in the Bahamas Bowl, Frisco Bowl, Potato Bowl, Arizona Bowl, Myrtle Beach Bowl, and the Cure Bowl. Ohio concluded the 2025 regular season with an 8-4 record, achieving a perfect 6-0 record on their home field for the second consecutive year. Their journey to bowl eligibility began on November 4th with a decisive win over rival Miami (Ohio), securing their sixth win of the season. The Bobcats finished strong, adding a 31-26 road victory against the Buffalo Bulls on November 28th to their resume.
The team’s success is reflected in the individual accolades earned by nine Bobcats following the conclusion of the regular season. Redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura and graduate student offensive lineman Davion Weatherspoon were both named First Team All-MAC selections. This marks the fourth year in a row that Ohio has had at least two players honored on the All-MAC First Team. Bangura led the MAC in multiple categories, including rushing yards (1,243), rushing touchdowns (14), and rushing yards per game (103.6). He is now the fifth Bobcat in program history to surpass 3,000 career rushing yards and the fifth to record multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Ohio’s recent bowl history is particularly noteworthy. Their 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl victory over Jacksonville State (30-27) not only secured their sixth consecutive bowl win but also marked the program’s first-ever 11-win season. Graduate student quarterback and Cure Bowl MVP Parker Navarro had a record-breaking season, becoming the second quarterback in Ohio history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season (1,062 yards), a feat not accomplished since 1996. Navarro also became the first Bobcat quarterback to surpass both 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season. Graduate student wide receiver Coleman Owen also etched his name in the record books, becoming Ohio’s all-time single-season receiving yards leader with over 1,000 receiving yards.
UNLV enters the Frisco Bowl with a 10-3 record, marking the first time in program history the Rebels have appeared in bowl games for three consecutive seasons. The team is led by junior quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Mountain West selection – the first Rebel quarterback to receive such honors since College Football Hall of Famer Randall Cunningham in 1983 and 1984. Despite a recent 38-21 loss to Boise State in the Mountain West Championship, which ended a four-game win streak, Colandrea has consistently performed at a high level, remaining the only player in college football this season to throw for at least one touchdown and accumulate at least 15 net rushing yards in every game.
The Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl is one of 17 college football bowl games operated by ESPN Events. Tickets are available for purchase here. Media credentials can be requested here.
Beyond the game itself, the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl benefits from the sponsorship of Scooter’s Coffee, a rapidly growing chain founded in 1998. Today, Scooter’s Coffee operates over 900 locations across 32 states, known for its “Amazing People, Amazing Drinks…Amazingly Fast!” service. Customers can find more information about Scooter’s Coffee, including their signature Caramelicious® drink, on their website, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, and X pages, and are encouraged to share their experiences using the hashtag #ScootOnAround.
The game will be played at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the 91-acre campus of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and training facility, while Toyota Stadium undergoes renovation. The Star features the Ford Center, a 12,000-seat stadium, along with a variety of other amenities including a hotel, fitness center, and sports therapy center. More information about The Star can be found at www.TheStarInFrisco.com.