▁history . ▁In ▁the ▁first ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁play offs , ▁the ▁O w ls ▁defeated ▁Sam ford ▁in ▁a ▁rem atch ▁of ▁their ▁only ▁regular ▁season ▁loss ▁and ▁marked ▁the ▁school ' s ▁first ▁ever ▁play off ▁win . ▁In ▁the ▁second ▁round , ▁the ▁O w ls ▁ups et ▁No . ▁ 3 ▁seed ▁Jackson ville ▁State ▁to ▁advance ▁to ▁the ▁quarter final s . ▁In ▁the ▁quarter final s , ▁despite ▁a ▁fur ious ▁second ▁half ▁com eb ack , ▁they ▁lost ▁to ▁Sam ▁Houston ▁State . ▁ ▁On ▁January ▁ 9 , ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁head ▁coach ▁Brian ▁Boh annon ▁was ▁named ▁the ▁American ▁Football ▁Co aches ▁Association ' s ▁Co ach ▁of ▁the ▁Year . ▁ ▁Pres e ason ▁ ▁Big ▁South ▁poll ▁In ▁the ▁Big ▁South ▁pr ese ason ▁poll ▁released ▁on ▁July ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁O w ls ▁were ▁predicted ▁to ▁finish ▁as ▁Big ▁South ▁champions . ▁ ▁Pres e ason ▁All - Big ▁South ▁team ▁The ▁Big ▁South ▁released ▁their ▁pr ese ason ▁all - Big ▁South ▁team ▁on ▁July ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁with ▁the ▁O w ls ▁having ▁four teen ▁players ▁selected ▁along ▁with ▁two ▁more ▁at ▁three ▁positions ▁on ▁the ▁honor able ▁mention ▁list . ▁Qu arter back ▁Ch and ler ▁Bur ks ▁was ▁named ▁pr ese ason ▁off ensive ▁player ▁of ▁the ▁year ▁and ▁line back er ▁Bry son ▁Arm strong ▁was ▁named ▁the