Ohio vs. Miami (OH) recap: Bobcats' luck changes, fall for first time this season

No. 24 Ohio entered Saturdays intrastate contest with Miami (OH) undefeated and ranked in the BCS standings for the first time, but walked away with their first loss, a 23-20 defeat.

The loss drops the Bobcats to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in MAC play. Miami (OH) moved to 4-4, also 3-1 in MAC play.

The Redhawks took a three-point lead with just over a minute to play in regulation, but Ohio drove the ball down the field on the following possession, setting up 1st-and-goal on Miami's 7-yard line with 10 seconds remaining. With a chip shot field goal in hand, Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton instead took a sack. With no timeouts remaining for the Bobcats, the clock ran down and Ohio's perfect run came to an end.

Matt Sussman of SB Nation's MAC blog, Hustle Belt, writes that good luck helped Ohio stay undefeated this long, but it was ultimately bad luck that brought them their first loss:

"They cheated death for a few weeks and treaded enough water, but Ohio's undefeated season ended in the red zone...That was Miami's first win over Ohio since 2005 ... something that I'm sure many Bobcats fans are aware of. But all good things come to an end."

The East division of the MAC is tight at the top following Saturday's game. Ohio sits in fourth at 3-1 in the conference, just behind Miami (OH), Bowling Green and Kent State. Miami (OH) and Bowling Green have one conference loss, while Kent State is undefeated in MAC play.

Ohio looks to get back in the win column next Thursday as they face Eastern Michigan.