The Ohio Bobcats are rebranding.
It may take a perceptive set of eyes to pinpoint the changes, but Ohio University announced new logos which will go into effect in the summer of 2026. The primary purpose of this branding was to unify the academic and athletic components of the university under one logo — the arched “OHIO” which is traditionally featured on the football helmets.
“Over the last two decades, most national universities have moved to single logo systems rather than utilizing distinct logos for academic and athletic programs,” Robin Oliver, vice president for University Communications and Marketing at Ohio University, issued in a statement. “Using one logo across all activities helps to drive broader brand recognition in the marketplace.”
The arched “OHIO” will become the standard mark in the academic universe and will see increased utilization for athletics purposes. However, the primary logo for athletics remains the “Attack Cat” logo, featuring a bobcat head in front of the arched “OHIO.” This logo remains similar to the previous Attack Cat logos that have been in use since 1996, and the only update to this emblem is the font of “OHIO.”
The minor changes can be visualized below:
Ohio noted in its press release that the bobcat pawprint logo, which has become more abundant across the past few years — and was worn on the helmets during the Bobcats’ 2025 Frisco Bowl victory — will remain in play as a secondary logo.
The new branding becomes official in the summer, and the transition to replace logos and signage across the university is expected to be completed by August 2029. Ohio will operate under this updated branding on Sept. 5, 2026 when it battles Nebraska in a football non-conference road opener.
