Ohio will take on Troy in this year’s Dollar General Bowl (formerly the GoDaddy Bowl) on Friday, Dec. 23, in a game that could sneakily turn out to be one of the most well-matched games of bowl season. The Bobcats are coming off of back-to-back MAC Championship appearances, and Troy is coming off of a nine-win season.
Ohio vs. Troy, Dollar General Bowl 2016: Start time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
The game is played each year in Mobile, Ala.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Troy almost upset the No. 2 Clemson Tigers at home during Week 2, losing in a tight 30-24 loss. After that loss, the Trojans put together seven straight wins, but a home loss to Arkansas State gave the Red Wolves the edge in the Sun Belt title race. Still, nine wins and a Dollar General Bowl berth isn’t too shabby.
Meanwhile, Ohio clinched the MAC East title with a three-point win over Akron in the final week of the regular season. The Bobcats would go on to lose in the Mac Championship, 29-23, in Detroit, but an 8-4 season along with a division title isn’t too shabby.
The Dollar General Bowl marks the nightcap to a three-game day before Christmas Eve, so it should be a fun way to end things on Friday night.
How to watch, stream, and listen
TV: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Online streaming: The bowl game can be streamed through WatchESPN.
Spread: Ohio is currently a 5-point favorite.
Three big things to know
- Troy head coach Neal Brown had a successful Year Two: The Trojans are under second-year head coach Neal Brown, and 2016 has been a massive improvement from a year ago. Last season, the Trojans finished 4-8. In just a year, Brown’s team won nine games and fell one game short of the Sun Belt title.
- The Bobcats haven’t won a bowl since 2012: Although Ohio has seen consistent years with winning seasons, they have been without a victory in a bowl since the 2012 Independence Bowl win over Louisiana-Monroe. The Bobcats lost to East Carolina in the 2013 Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl, and to Appalachain State in the Camellia Bowl last season.
- Troy’s quarterback leads the offense: Junior Brandon Silvers finished the 2016 season having thrown for over 2,900 yards, along with 22 touchdowns. Wide receiver Jordan Chunn had been his go-to receiver, racking up over 1,200 reception yards on the season. Ohio’s passing defense finished 72nd according to S&P+, so the Trojans passing attack could be in for a big night.
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