Football’s simplest path to capture the MAC West title is to win its final two games. The Huskies (8-2, 5-1 MAC) start their two-game road trip when they take on the Ohio Bobcats (5-5, 3-3 MAC) 7 p.m. today at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio. Sports Editor Frank Gogola breaks down the Bobcats.

Quarterback: Derrius Vick

Redshirt junior quarterback Derrius Vick is back guiding the Bobcats’ passing game, playing in Ohio’s past two games after last starting Sept. 20 because of a knee injury. The 6-foot-1, 196-pound dual-threat quarterback has passed for 894 yards and five touchdowns and accumulated 249 yards and one touchdown on the ground. But, he’s stuck to more of a passing role since he returned Oct. 25 against Western Michigan, throwing for 246 yards and one touchdown and rushing 15 times for 12 yards. Against Buffalo he threw for 118 yards and rushed 12 times for 44 yards and one touchdown.

Running Back: A.J. Ouellette

Freshman tailback A.J. Ouellette returned from a high ankle sprain with a vengeance Nov. 5 against Buffalo. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound running back rushed for a season-high 155 yards and two touchdowns in the 37-14 victory over the Bulls. Ouellette, a walk-on, has racked up a team-best 562 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns despite playing in only eight of the Bobcats’ 10 games. With the cold November weather comes an increase in teams running the ball, and the Huskies’ defense will be tasked with slowing down a running back who’s putting together a solid freshman season.

Wide Receiver: Chase Cochran

Chase Cochran, redshirt senior wide receiver, headlines a multi-dimensional, balanced wide receiving corps. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound wideout has hauled in 19 receptions for one touchdown and a team-best 421 yards. Four Ohio receivers have amassed 265-plus receiving yards, but no wideout has more than two touchdowns. Cochran serves as the team’s deep threat, leading all Bobcats with 22.2 yards per reception and 42.1 yards per game. His biggest game came on the road Oct. 25 against Western Michigan, when he caught four passes for 110 yards and one touchdown.

Offensive Line: Lucas Powell

Redshirt junior center Lucas Powell anchors the Bobcat’s not-so-experienced offensive line. Powell is one of only two upperclassmen listed as starters on the Bobcats’ two-deep. He has started at center in all 10 of the Bobcats’ games this season. As a group, the offensive line has helped the Bobcats average 158.7 rushing yards and 215.9 passing yards per game. But, the group hasn’t done a great job of protecting its quarterbacks, allowing 20 sacks on the season. Run blocking will be crucial as the cold weather should force a heavy dose of carries.

Defensive Line: Tarell Basham

Sophomore defensive end Tarell Basham is showing his freshman season was no fluke. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive lineman registered 32 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his freshman campaign. In 10 games this season he’s totaled 28 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks and one forced fumble. Basham’s numbers have seen a slight dip with opposing offenses keying in on him more as he’s emerged as one of the MAC’s better pass rushers. The Huskies’ defense will need to stay aware of where Basham is as he shifts from one end of the line to the other.

Linebacker: Jovon Johnson

Jovon Johnson, redshirt junior strongside linebacker, flies around the field for the Bobcats’ defense. The 6-foot, 215-pound linebacker provides a punch on the run defense and in covering in space, placing second on Ohio with 61 total tackles. Johnson has shown his ability to get in the backfield, totaling a team-high nine tackles for loss, including two sacks. In the playmaking department he has intercepted two passes, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble. The Huskies will need to identify Johnson on each play because he can be a disruptive force on the defense.

Secondary: Josh Kristoff

Ohio’s secondary has struggled for the vast majority of the season and has been the weak point of the Bobcats’ defense. Josh Kristoff, redshirt senior free safety, leads the Bobcats’ defensive backs with two interceptions despite missing the first two games and starting only four times this season. The Bobcats were without redshirt junior Devin Bass, their best defensive back, Nov. 5 against Buffalo, and it’s unclear if he’ll start in the secondary. The Huskies will run the ball on a cold night, but they should have several chances to take shots down the field.

Special Teams: Josiah Yazdani

Josiah Yazdani, redshirt junior place kicker, found his kicking stride Nov. 5 against the Buffalo Bulls. Yazdani made field goals of 33, 28 and 19 yards after missing field goals of 36 and 42 yards the prior week against the Western Michigan Broncos. He has connected on 16 of his 22 field goal attempts and has split the uprights on all 22 of his extra point attempts this season. His season-long field goal was a 46-yarder Sept. 27 against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, and he’s had only one field goal attempt blocked on the season.