FRISCO, Texas — Ohio leaned on a punishing ground game and a resilient defensive effort to outlast UNLV, 17–10, on Tuesday night and claim the Frisco Bowl.
Sieh Bangura powered the Bobcats with 149 rushing yards and a touchdown, setting the tone for an Ohio team that continued its remarkable postseason run. The victory marked Ohio’s seventh consecutive bowl win dating back to 2017, a sharp contrast from a program that dropped eight of its first 10 bowl appearances.
The Bobcats (9-4) navigated a turbulent month to finish the season on a high note, playing under defensive coordinator and interim head coach John Hauser after the dismissal of head coach Brian Smith earlier in December. Ohio responded with a composed, disciplined performance on both sides of the ball.
The game’s first half was defined by defense and missed opportunities. Ohio broke through early in the second quarter when quarterback Parker Navarro capped a long drive with a 5-yard keeper. The ensuing extra point struck the upright, leaving the Bobcats with a 6–0 lead. UNLV threatened late in the half, driving deep into Ohio territory, but DJ Walker intercepted Anthony Colandrea in the end zone with 32 seconds left to preserve the shutout.
Ohio seized momentum coming out of the locker room. Bangura ripped off a 23-yard touchdown run less than four minutes into the third quarter, and Navarro connected with Chase Hendricks on a two-point conversion to extend the lead to 14–0.
UNLV (10-4) found points after a break in Ohio’s favor. Hendricks muffed a punt late in the third quarter, allowing Kayden McGee to recover at the Bobcats’ 30-yard line. The Rebels capitalized with a career-long 50-yard field goal from Ramon Villela, trimming the margin to 14–3.
David Dellenbach added a 45-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to push Ohio’s lead to 17–3. UNLV made one final push when Colandrea scored on a fourth-and-goal keeper from the 2-yard line with 4:45 remaining, pulling the Rebels within 17–10. Ohio’s offense then bled the remaining clock, denying UNLV another possession.
Navarro finished an efficient 11-of-15 passing for 143 yards with one interception, while Bangura carried the offensive load on 19 attempts. Colandrea threw for 184 yards on 19-of-30 passing for UNLV.
The loss snapped UNLV’s nation-leading streak of 35 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points and dropped the Rebels to 4–4 all-time in bowl games. For Ohio, the Frisco Bowl served as another postseason statement — one built on toughness, balance, and resilience.
