Miami (Ohio) Redhawks:
Chuck Martin and Miami won their second MAC Championship in five years last season despite losing quarterback Brett Gabbert to a leg injury eight games into the season. Martin, a conservative coach by nature, played it close to the vest offensively, and won with defense and special teams led by Ray Guy Award (nation’s best punter) semifinalist Alec Bevelheimer and Lou Groza Award winner (nation’s best kicker) Graham Nicholson and his 27-for-28 field goal mark. Even kickers get pilfered in the portal from the MAC as Nicholson transferred to Alabama. Martin will not be able to rely on his kicker as much this year but may not have to with Gabbert returning from injury, which makes Miami the favorite to repeat in the MAC.
Offense
Gabbert (7,714 career yards, 59 passing TDs) has 38 career starts as the RedHawks QB and is back for his sixth year in the program. His backup last year Aveon Smith led them to five straight regular season wins, but is more of a runner and transferred to Alabama A&M.
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Up front, four of the five starting offensive linemen return from the MAC champs. Including left tackle Will Jados and right tackle Reid Holskey who were both second-team All-MAC last season.
Top rusher Rashad Amos (Ole Miss) and leading receiver Gage Larvadain (South Carolina) both entered the portal. Running back Kenny Tracy will see a significant uptick from his 46 carries and 250 yards. Purdue transfer Dylan Downing will also be in the rotation. At receiver, Kenny’s brother Javon Tracy (22 catches, 348 yards) and Cade McDonald (28 catches, 355 yards) are experienced, and veteran tight end Jack Coldiron returns after missing most of 2023 with a knee injury.
Defense
The RedHawks ranked seventh nationally last season with 15.9 points allowed per game and pitched two shutouts.
MAC Defensive Player of the Year Matt Salopek is the star of the unit with 392 career tackles (144 in 2023). Salopek and Ty Wise (122 tackles, eight sacks) make up the best linebacker corps in the MAC.
Defensive end Brian Ugwu had 62 tackles and eight sacks last year. It is still a solid group up front, but they will have to fill the void left by 1st Team All-MAC end Caideon Woullard, who transferred to Oklahoma.
In the secondary, two starters return including freshman All-American cornerback Raion Strader (57 tackles, 13 PBUs) and safety Eli Blakey (46 tackles).
Outlook
Miami will be tested early with non-conference games at Northwestern and at Notre Dame plus the annual Victory Bell game against Cincinnati, who the RedHawks defeated for the first time in 16 years last season. However, they could potentially start 0-3 and need to play catch up in order to reach eight wins. They also travel to Toledo and Bowling Green. With Gabbert back, they are the rightful favorite, but the schedule is tougher and they no longer have Nicholson to bail them out when the offense sputters.
Pick: Under 8 Wins
