Venue & Game Details
Location: Memorial Stadium – Westerville, Ohio
Kickoff: 9:00 a.m. ET
Broadcast: Otterbein Sports Network (video), Ohio Wesleyan Radio (audio), live stats via both schools’ athletics sites
Capacity: ~5,000
Weather Forecast (Westerville, OH – Kickoff)
Conditions: Partly cloudy, mild
Temperature: ~66°F (19°C) at kickoff, warming into the low 70s by the second half
Wind: NW at 6–10 mph
Precipitation: <10%
Impact: Ideal football weather; light wind unlikely to significantly affect passing or kicking
Injury Report
Ohio Wesleyan
No major preseason injuries reported.
QB Kaden Buza (returning starter) healthy after leading OWU to a 26‑7 win over Otterbein last year.
RB Nathan Severs (All‑NCAC) available; scored in last year’s meeting.
WR Josh Hurst (TD catch vs. Otterbein in 2024) ready to go.
Otterbein
No significant absences reported.
QB Matt Griffin returns after rushing for Otterbein’s lone TD in last year’s game.
WR corps intact, but OL depth will be tested against OWU’s front.
Team Records & 2024 Recap
Ohio Wesleyan: 5‑5 overall, 4‑4 NCAC; averaged 25.4 PPG, allowed 21.8 PPG.
Otterbein: 2‑8 overall, 2‑7 OAC; averaged 17.0 PPG, allowed 39.0 PPG.
Recent Form (Last 5 Games – 2024 Season)
Ohio Wesleyan
L vs. Denison 28‑14
L @ Kenyon 13‑12
W vs. Hiram 41‑14
W @ Wooster 34‑22
L @ Wittenberg 17‑6
Otterbein
L vs. Ohio Northern 47‑15
L @ John Carroll 56‑0
L vs. Heidelberg 55‑7
W vs. Capital 39‑10
L @ Wilmington 31‑21
Key Player Matchups
RB Nathan Severs (OWU) vs. Otterbein Front Seven
Severs’ power running (140 rush yds in 2024 meeting) vs. a defense that allowed 200+ rush yds/game last season.
QB Kaden Buza (OWU) vs. Otterbein Secondary
Buza’s efficiency and ability to spread the ball vs. a unit that surrendered 30+ PPG through the air in 2024.
QB Matt Griffin (OTT) vs. OWU Pass Rush
Griffin’s mobility vs. an OWU defense that forced 4 INTs in last year’s matchup.
WR Josh Hurst (OWU) vs. CB1 Otterbein
Hurst’s route running and red‑zone presence vs. Otterbein’s top cover man.
Series History
All-Time Since 2017: Ohio Wesleyan leads 4‑3
Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2024 — OWU 26, Otterbein 7 in Delaware, OH
OWU led 16‑0 at halftime; Severs and Devon Haley scored rushing TDs, Hurst added a receiving TD.
Recent Trend: OWU has won the last two meetings by a combined 33 points.
Largest Margin: Otterbein 36‑15 (2017)
Smallest Margin: Otterbein 10‑7 (2018)
Betting Trends
Ohio Wesleyan: 4‑1 ATS in last 5 vs. Otterbein; UNDER in 3 of last 4 meetings.
Otterbein: 3‑7 ATS in 2024; OVER in 6 of last 8 overall.
Head-to-Head: OWU has covered in both of the last two matchups, winning by double digits.
Game Odds
Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops – 7.5
Otterbein Cardinals 47.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
