Ohio’s Parker Navarro delivers MAC title

Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro made actor Timothee Chalamet look prophetic Saturday. More importantly, the graduate student guided the Bobcats to their first Mid-American Conference title since 1968. 

Hours after Chalamet praised him on ESPN’s College Game Day, Navarro had a standout performance against Miami of Ohio in the MAC Championship Game. Navarro completed 20 of 27 passes for 235 yards with two touchdowns in the 38-3 victory.

He also added two rushing touchdowns while rushing for 67 yards on 13 carries. Navarro was named the MAC Championship’s Offensive Player of the Game. He’s also Our Esquina’s Latino Player of the Week in College Football.

Parker Navarro has accounted for 27 touchdowns through the air on and the ground this season. The 6-foot, 205-pounder from Tempe, Ariz., has thrown for 2,169 yards with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. He has also rushed for 943 yards and 15 touchdowns on 145 carries.

Parker Navarro is a true dual threat

“I thought the offense came out sharp,” Navarro told the local media afterward. “The defense was getting stops. And if you have that combination, I think we do what we did today, which is score a lot of points and allow very little.”

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Chalamet was a guest picker on College Gameday. He predicted the Bobcats’ victory against the Redhawks if Navarro could lead his offense.

“These teams are 2-and-2 in the last four matchups,” Chalamet said to College GameDay. “The Redhawks’ defense looks good. But I’m looking at fourth-year Bobcats quarterback Parker Navarro – 65 percent completion rating. If he can get going he’ll tilt this in favor of the Bobcats. I’m going underdog Bobcats here.” 

TD = Leg Dab🦵@Colemanowen_ | #OUohyeah pic.twitter.com/fn5ET9OjwE

— Ohio Football (@OhioFootball) December 7, 2024

Parker Navarro is a second-generation Division I athlete. His father Joel played football at New Mexico State. 

Championship Game performers

Penn State sophomore linebacker Tony Rojas finished with three tackles (one solo) in Penn State’s 45-37 loss in the Big 10 Championship against No. 1 Oregon. Georgia sophomore Joenel Aguero had three tackles (two solo) in Georgia’s 22-19 overtime victory against Texas in the SEC Championship.  

Tulane linebacker Jesus Machado finished with six tackles (five solo) in the Green Wave’s 26-14 loss against Army in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. Army linebacker Brett Gerena finished with four tackles (three solo) against Tulane.

UNLV wide receiver Jacob De Jesus had two receptions for 18 yards. His longest catch was for 10 yards in a 21-7 loss against Boise State in the Mountain West Championship Game. De Jesus has two touchdowns and 474 receiving yards this season.