They were led by 16th-year head coach Frank Solich and played their home games at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio, as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.

[2][3] This was Solich's final year as the head coach at Ohio.

Ohio didn't play in a bowl for the first time since 2014 as the MAC only allowed its division winners to play but they were bowl eligible for the 12th straight year.

[4] Ohio had a game scheduled against North Carolina Central canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic as most of the FCS season was played in the spring.

[7] Ohio then had conference games with Miami, Buffalo, and Kent State cancelled due to positive COVID-19 tests and ended the season having only played three games.