A 10-3 record in his first season in Cincinnati left many wondering what coach Brian Kelly could do for an encore. How about a 11-3 season which included an appearance for the UC Bearcats in a BCS Bowl game, the first in school history. While Kelly continues to be a name mentioned when higher profile coaching jobs become available, the former head man at Central Michigan seems to like it in Cincinnati.

While Tony Pike will have Marshawn Gilyard to continue to throw the ball to, another receiver or two will need to step up according to the 2009 Cincinnati Bearcats preview. If Kelly can keep his offense ticking and fill in the holes on defense the Bearcats will once again be poised to make a run at the Big East title in 2009.

The 2009 Ohio Bobcats’ football season was that many will remember as a “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” season. If we would have made a few more field goals, Wyoming and Northwestern may have been wins. If we could have held onto the ball against Ohio State or Central Michiagn we might have pulled off the upset. The season represented several games that should have been wins, or at least better opportunities for a victory. But the season ended with a 2-8 team finishing strong with consecutive wins to close out the season, including the 3rd straight win over rival Miami.

The 2009 Ohio Bobcats preview tells of a Ohio football team that, lead by Frank Solich, could very well be bowling late this year or early in 2010. With an offense in Athens that have many thinking they saw an alien, Boo Jackson and Theo Scott give the Bobcats two experienced and talented QBs. If Donte Harden can remain healthy and show the flashes of brilliance that we saw last season, the Ohio offense could fire on all cylinders. The key will be the defense and if they can get the stops when they need them and stray off the field. This will be critical to the 2009 Ohio Bobcats football team’s success.

With the Big Ten down in recent years, the Ohio State football program’s reputation has taken a bit of a hit nationally. Of course the Buckeyes have nobody to blame but themselves thanks to consecutive losses in the BCS Championship Game in recent years followed by last year’s close call with the Ohio Bobcats, blowout loss at perennial power USC and loss to Texas in the Fiesta Bowl.

2009 brings another year and plenty of promise for the Buckeyes. Gone are stars like Jame Laurinaitis, Malcom Jenkins, Chris “Beanie” Wells and others. But the hype, albeit a bit undeserved, has begun with Terrelle Pryor already being mentioned as a Top 5 Quarterback nationally and 2009 Heisman Trophy candidate. Coach Jim Tressel is a master of beting up his Big Ten competition, but the man once known as “Big Game Jim” has not been on the winning side of a “big” game against a non-conference foe in quite some time.

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The Buckeyes will look to regain their reputation this fall, and the 2009 Ohio State football preview shows the Buckeyes as the team to beat in the Big Ten once again. Only time will tell how the Buckeyes will fare this season, but one thing is certain, Ohio State will have ample opportunities for a big win, or more, in 2009.