Ohio football closed the regular season at 8-4, secured the upper tier of the MAC standings, and earned a spot in the Frisco Bowl against UNLV. But instead of momentum, the program was forced into explaining a decision it had no interest in explaining. On December 1, the university placed HC Brian Smith on leave, offering no cause and no context.

“Ohio University has placed its first-year head coach that just went 8-4 on leave—and won’t reveal why,” Front Office Sports reported on X on December 9. “Brian Smith’s attorney said last week that the coach, who had been with the program since 2022, was asked to leave in the middle of the day without explanation.”

What followed only accelerated questions as the timing created more questions than clarity.

According to WOUB , the sch

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