On WMU's first possession, PJ Fleck opted for a delay of game on 4th down with the thought a 5-yard penalty might give his punter a better chance to pin Ohio deep in its own territory. My question for all of the experts on this board, why wouldn't Solich decline the 5-yard penalty?

There must be some reason because this isn't the first time I have seen such a decision. My thinking: if it benefits the offense to move back 5 yards, wouldn't it benefit the defense to not have the offense move back 5 yards?

For bcat2 and others, this is in no way a complaint of our coaching staff. Just something that has occasionally crossed my mind.

when given the choice of taking the penalty or the results of the play, one can decline penalty BUT with delay of game there WAS NO PLAY so there is no option to decline! Same is true with false starts - no play happens

Delay of game is a dead ball foul, dead ball fouls can be declined. In fact every could can be declined.