Kickoff: 2:00 PM ET
Venue: Peden Stadium, Athens, Ohio
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (Athens, OH)
Temperature: ~74°F (23°C) at kickoff
Conditions: Partly cloudy, light winds (5–8 mph)
Impact: Comfortable early fall conditions; no major weather disruptions expected.
Injury Report
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (Big South/United Athletic, FCS):
QB Matthew Caldwell (starter, 3 TDs, 2 INTs through two games) healthy.
RB Narii Gaither (team’s leading rusher, 145 yards, 1 TD) available.
WR T.J. Luther (deep threat, 110 yards, 1 TD) active.
Secondary depth thin; CB Jalen King questionable.
Ohio Bobcats (MAC, FBS):
QB CJ Harris (replacing Kurtis Rourke, 412 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT) healthy.
RB Sieh Bangura (278 rushing yards, 3 TDs) available.
WR Ty Walton (215 yards, 2 TDs) active.
LB Keye Thompson (team leader in tackles) probable after minor ankle sprain.
Key Player Matchups
QB Matthew Caldwell (GWU) vs. Ohio Secondary
Caldwell has shown flashes but is turnover-prone; Ohio’s DBs will look to capitalize.
RB Narii Gaither (GWU) vs. Ohio Front Seven
Gaither is Gardner-Webb’s most consistent offensive weapon; Ohio must contain him to avoid long drives.
QB CJ Harris (Ohio) vs. GWU Pass Rush
Harris has been efficient; Gardner-Webb must pressure him to prevent rhythm passing.
RB Sieh Bangura (Ohio) vs. GWU Linebackers
Bangura’s power running could wear down an FCS defense not used to MAC-level size and speed.
Recent Team Form
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (1–2, FCS)
8/30/25: L 34–17 @ Appalachian State
9/6/25: W 28–14 vs. Elon
9/13/25: L 41–20 @ East Carolina
Trend: Competitive against FCS peers, but struggles against FBS opponents due to depth and size mismatches.
Ohio Bobcats (2–1, MAC)
8/30/25: W 27–21 vs. Albany
9/6/25: L 31–17 @ Kentucky
9/13/25: W 34–20 vs. Texas State
Trend: Offense balanced, defense opportunistic; only loss came against SEC competition.
Series History
This is the first-ever meeting between Gardner-Webb and Ohio.
Betting Trends
Ohio:
2–1 ATS in 2025.
Overs hit in 2 of 3 games.
5–2 ATS in last 7 home games.
Gardner-Webb:
1–2 ATS in 2025.
Overs hit in 2 of 3 games.
0–5 SU in last 5 vs. FBS opponents.
Head-to-Head: First meeting.
Historical Betting Results
Ohio: Reliable SU at home vs. FCS opponents, but often fails to cover spreads larger than 25 points.
Gardner-Webb: Historically struggles ATS vs. FBS competition; rarely competitive beyond the first half.
MAC vs. FCS: MAC teams cover ~65% of the time in these matchups.
Game Odds
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs 54.5
Ohio Bobcats – 27.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 19, 2025
