Of course once we at Goff Rugby Report profiled a team that might be on the rise, that team loses; so it was in the MAC where Louisville, which started strong last week, were pipped this week by Ohio.

OU ran out to a seemingly commanding 27-5 lead in the first half thanks to two tries from fullback Killan Mulkern, and one from No. 8 Garrett Easterly. Mulkern converted all three and added two penalty goals. Louisville got a try from center Vatuvei Pio, and then late in the first half scored two more tries to make it 27-19 at the break. Another Louisville try early in the second half made it a one-point game, but then Ohio tries from flanker Sean Meaney and Easterly again, with Mulkhern converting both, put Ohio up 41-26. 

Louisville wouldn't go away, and scored a try, which was answered by Ohio center Samuel Telepak. But once again the Cardinals notched a try, but needed on more score to get a close-loss bonus point, and two to win. They were held out, and Ohio survived. Mulkern converted all five Ohio tries and added two penalties to go with his two tries for a personal haul of 26.

Meanwhile, also in the MAC, Western Michigan opened up their conference account with a 61-0 defeat of Kent State. Ruairi McGreavey kicked eight conversions and Ryan Loney scored two tries while seen others touched down in a nice team result for WMU.

Bowling Green put in another big score, beating Central Michigan 82-6. Mitchell Sora, Zakkery Root, Cole Shaffer, Palmer Griffen, Nicholas Ross, Alexander Geoghegan, Phillip Bryant, and Robert Kiskin scored tries. Adam Regini and Andrew Sionkosky each scored two. Fullback Michael Powell converted eight tries and added two penalties for 22 points with his boot. 

The senior-heavy BGSU has not allowed a try in their first two conference matches.

Next week, Ohio visits Cincinnati, Dayton hosts Miami, CMU plays at WMU, and Northern Illinois plays their first conference game of the season, hosting Kent State. Bowling Green takes a break from conference play to visit University of Notre Dame.