Ohio’s Physical Brand Delivers 17–10 Win Over UNLV in the 2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl

The 2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl delivered a physical, defense-first contest as Ohio outlasted UNLV, 17–10, on December 23 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t fast, and it wasn’t pretty, but it was exactly the type of game Ohio wanted. With the win, the Bobcats capped their season at 9–4 and extended their bowl winning streak to seven games, one of the longest active streaks in the country.

The first half set the tone, slow pace, limited possessions, and almost no margin for error. Ohio controlled the clock with its run-heavy approach but struggled to finish drives early. The only score before halftime came late in the second quarter when senior quarterback Parker Navarro powered in on a 5-yard quarterback run. A missed extra point put Ohio up 6–0. 

Ohio took control coming out of the locker room. On the opening drive of the second half, redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura broke through the UNLV front for a 23-yard touchdown run, the game’s biggest play to that point. Ohio converted the two-point try, stretching the lead to 14–0 and forcing UNLV to chase the game, something the Rebels never looked comfortable doing.

UNLV finally got on the board later in the third quarter with a 50-yard field goal, a rare explosive moment in an otherwise stalled offensive night. That kick made it 14–3, but Ohio’s defense continued to dictate terms.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Ohio delivered the knockout blow. Ohio kicker David Dellenbach drilled a 45-yard field goal to make it 17–3, giving the Bobcats a two-score cushion and putting pressure squarely on UNLV’s offense. The Rebels responded with urgency, driving the length of the field and scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown with under five minutes remaining to cut the deficit to 17–10.

That was as close as it got. Ohio closed the game the same way it played the rest of it, by bleeding the clock. Behind Bangura’s punishing running style and a disciplined offensive line, the Bobcats ran out the final minutes and secured the win.

Bangura was the clear standout, finishing with 149 rushing yards and a touchdown, earning him the game’s offensive MVP award. Senior safety, Adonis Williams Jr., was awarded the defensive MVP award.

The Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl wasn’t about style points. It was about execution, toughness, and control. Ohio checked all three boxes and walked away with another bowl trophy to prove it.