I'm struck at how little respect this team is getting around the conference. I know, I know, we haven't been murdering teams, but this is an undefeated  team with a national ranking. If you look at other boards, a lot of people are saying we don't even have the best team in the East. It's crazy. You would think our fellow MAC fans would be happy to have a team in the polls, but apparently not.

NIU fans, in particular, are demonstrating a disappointing level of immaturity.

I suppose other MAC teams aren't noticing OUr eyepatch...

13-1 over last 14 games.  Ranked in both BB & FB and only MAC team with fans. Sellouts in FB & BB and ESPN football  regulars.  Seems like they hate us for some of the reasons we dislike OSU.  Wall-mart even carries a nice selection of OU gear including some great bobcat  tailgate items. P

Athens Wal-Mart   Lancaster mall has a nice selection too.

it was nice to see all the Nelsonville Marques displaying Go Bobcats.  

Disappointed in attendance? Please explain?

JSF, as if most on this board would have anything, ANYTHING, nice to say if situations were reversed and Miami was undefeated and ranked...or Akron in basketball.  And as happy I am to wear my Bobcat stuff around Columbus and talk up our team, if we don't come up with some defense to stop Dysart in 2 weeks...welll...let's just say respect from other boards is the last thing we'll have to worry about...

I can semi-understand the lack of respect.  Other than our win against Penn State we haven't had any other win that is really impressive and other than New Mexico State we haven't shown any consistent dominance over a team during a game.  Plus you have three other MAC teams that only have one loss and believe they are just as good as us.  As long as our boys can keep winning we will either earn their respect or they can just deal with how we are doing. 

Someone please get the Logan Walmart with the program.  I was in that store on Friday and there was a huge number of A&M items for sale and numerous displays of their gear, but I didn't see even one Ohio item for sale.  Logan is just one county away.  You have to, of course, go through Hocking County to get to Fairfield County and Lancaster.  I know we have a branch (err . . . regional campus) in Lancaster, but still . . . 

Why do we care what they think of us? Why should they care what we think of them?

And if you're totally honest with yourself, we probably haven't been the best team in the conference over the past three weeks. Good thing the scheduling Gods were smiling on us for lining up tomato cans heading into the bye (and while I wish they'd play a complete 60 minutes, I'm not one of those upset about giving up a TD with 8 seconds left against Buffalo). Nothing wrong with someone else thinking they have the better team at the moment.

Personally I'm happy the MAC has a team in the top 25.  I believe 1-8 this is about as good as the conference has ever been.  But it doesn't have an elite team like Miami w/ Big Ben, BSU in 08, or a Lefevour led CMU.

Here's why there's not a ton of respect compared to those above teams:

There are 124 FBS teams.  Ohio's strength of schedule is 123.

And they're sneaking by a lot of those bunny teams.  Averaging about 5 points wins against 3 pretty bad MAC teams in Akron, UMASS, Buffalo.

Kent beat Buffalo by 16.

IU who BSU beat knocked off UMASS by 39.

When BSU had their undefeated run, the closest MAC games (outside of Lefevour's CMU team) were 20 point wins.  

I believe OU is one of the top teams in the MAC as usual, but if they were playing a schedule like every MAC W team is right now, it's unlikely they'd be undefeated.  Still good, but not undefeated.

Kent will be a good test, BSU will be a good test, but otherwise, OU lucked out with the MAC scheduling too, not getting NIU or Toledo.

We will see when it's all said and done.  If OU runs the table/ beats an NIU or Toledo in the title game, by that point, you'll have all the respect in the world.

I don't disagree with a word you said...none the less, I hope we just keep on winning.

Regardless of schedule, there are only 12 undefeated teams (9.6%) remaining in FCS. 

My guess is the next time Ohio plays, they'll only be 6-7 left. 

Has Ohio got a bit of a break via MAC scheduling? Sure but they beat Marshall and Penn State on the road. It's not like those were easy road victories. 

'Cats still have a lot to prove but I really don't get why other MAC schools are getting so worked up about our positive press. NIU and Toldeo should be hoping Ohio goes undefeated. Imagine the hype surrounding a 12-0 Ohio playing an 11-1 Toldeo / NIU in the MAC championship? Where both teams would likely be ranked? That would be incredible for the conference. 

As for anyone citing the transient property, that's the dumbest argument in all of sports. (i.e. we beat "X" team by 16 points so we're better). Year in and year out teams prove it means absolutely nothing. 

So if you look at the BSU 2008 Schedule - you could say they lucked out by only having to play Akron and Kent State in the east - and didn't have to play the top three teams - Buffalo (until championship), BG and Temple.

You can analyze it however you like.