This Week's Matchup
Miami looks to rebound this week as it hosts Northern Illinois on Family Weekend. Opening kick is slated for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Television
The matchup with the Huskies will be carried live on ESPN+. Jim Barber will handle play-by-play duties, while John Gregory will serve as the color analyst. 

ESPN+ 
ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company's Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App or ESPN.com.  The ESPN App also provides fans separate access to all of ESPN's "TV Everywhere" streaming of its linear television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, etc.) and ESPN3 – to fans with a pay TV subscription. ESPN+ and ESPN's authenticated streaming is also available on ESPN.com.

Fans who have any questions about the new ESPN App or ESPN+, may contact ESPN customer care:

Online: support.espn.com
Phone: 1-888-549-ESPN

Radio
In its first year of its partnership with Van Wagner, the Miami Sports Network continues its coverage of Miami Football with a group of affiliates blanketing most of Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana. "The Voice of the RedHawks" Steve Baker will deliver the play-by-play coverage, while Terry Bridge will provide color commentary. Randy Hollowell will be the network's sideline reporter. Tune-in to one of Miami's gameday affiliates:

WMOH-AM 1450 (Hamilton, Ohio)
WFMG-FM 101.3 (Richmond, Ind.)
WDBZ-AM 1230 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
WONE-AM 980 (Dayton, Ohio)
WKBV-AM 1490 and 100.9 FM (Richmond, Ind.)

First And Ten
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (692), MAC Championships (15) and bowl wins (7).

• Miami was 4-26 in Coach Martin's first 30 Mid-American Conference games. Miami is 17-7 in the last 24 conference games, for the best record in the MAC in that span.

• After graduating 25 seniors a year ago, Miami's depth chart is much younger in 2019. On the two-deep alone, Miami features 11 players classified as sophomores or younger.

• Martin, in his sixth year, has had many of the same coordinators in all six seasons. Eric Koehler and George Barnett, both in their sixth years with Miami, handle the offense and Spence Nowinski (second year) and John Hauser (sixth year) manage the defense.

• Since 2014, Miami Athletics has added nearly $40 million in facilities for the football program. The Dauch Indoor Sports Center was opened in 2015 and the  Athletic Performance Center was added in early 2017. Both facilities are located in the north end zone.

About Chuck Martin
• Head coach Chuck Martin, who earned that title on Dec. 3, 2013, brings an impressive resume to Oxford, Ohio.

• Not only was he 74-7 in six years at Grand Valley State (2004-09), he has coached in seven national championship games in the past 17 seasons.  Martin has an all-time head coaching record of 98-49.

• He has twice been named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Coach of the Year and has been a coordinator on both sides of the ball.

• Martin was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Grand Valley State University on Oct. 23, 2015.

Recap Vs. Western Michigan
Despite outgaining the Broncos by more than 50 yards, the Miami RedHawks fell 38-16 in a road Mid-American Conference matchup against Western Michigan. The RedHawks put together 347 yards, led by Brett Gabbert's career-high 260 yards through the air on 26-of-45 passing. However, three takeaways from Western Michigan, including a defensive touchdown, and four touchdown plays of 30 yards or more ultimately doomed the 'Hawks.

Notes From Western Michigan
• Brett Gabbert established career bests in completions (26), attempts (45) and yards (260) last weekend versus the Broncos.
• James Maye had a career-high five receptions for 76 yards.
• Miami had two interceptions called back due to pass inference calls.
• Sam Sloman knocked in a career-high three field goals last Saturday. He drilled kicks from 51, 49 and 27 yards out.
• Emmanuel Rugamba recorded his first career interception.

Bounce Back
Since early in the 2016 season Miami has lost back-to-back MAC games just once in that span. In fact, Miami is 6-1 following a MAC loss under Martin, dating back to Oct. 15, 2016.

About Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois is 2-4 on the season which includes a 39-36 win over Ohio last weekend. The Huskies average 21.0 points per game behind a strong passing attack. Ross Bowers has thrown for 1,635 yards and five touchdowns on the season. Defensively they allow 29.3 points and 375.0 yards per game.

Series Vs. Northern Illinois
The all-time series is tied at 9-9. NIU is 5-4 all-time in Oxford. NIU is the only Mid-American Conference school where Miami is not currently winning the all-time series.

Mallory Cup
This will be the second straight year these two teams will compete for the Mallory Cup, honoring, Bill Mallory, one of the all-time great Mid-American Conference coaches. Mallory was 64-31 all-time as a head coach in the Mid-American Conference for both Miami and NIU. His 64 wins and .674 win percentage rank eighth in conference history. Mallory is the only football coach in history to win a championship with two different MAC schools. He also won MAC Coach of the Year in 1973 with Miami and 1983 with NIU.

Cancer Awareness Helmets
For a second consecutive year, the entire Miami University football team will be carrying a special message with them as they take the field on Saturday in Miami's annual Cancer Awareness contest versus Northern Illinois. Each player's helmet will feature a colored ribbon of their choice to symbolize how they have been affected by cancer.

Senior Day
Miami football will be honoring 24 seniors on Saturday. Being recognized are: Travion Banks, Bart Baratti, Kobe Burse, Doug Costin, Evan Crabtree, Quentin Hardy, Zack Hazlett, Cole Jones, Allan Koikoi, Kyle Kramer, Trent Kramer, Jarrett LaRubbio, Dean Lemon, Luke Mayock, Sam Murrer, Payton O'Reilly, Zedrick Raymond, Myles Reid, Jack Schroer, Luke Sheppard, Matt Skibinski, Sam Sloman, Kyle Speas and Maurice Thomas.

Home Cooking
The RedHawks are 102-79-4 all-time at Yager Stadium. Miami has won each of its last five home games. Miami's last home loss was Sept. 29, 2018.

Non-Conference Slate
Would be hard to argue against Miami having the toughest non-conference schedule in the country in 2019. Miami did host Tennessee Tech, but it then had three road contests at Iowa, Cincinnati and Ohio State. All three schools are currently top-25 programs. Overall, Iowa, Ohio State and UC are a combined 15-3 on the season.

Red Hot
Miami is 18-for-21 this season on red zone opportunities. In those 21 attempts, Miami has scored 12 (57.1%) touchdowns. Last season, Miami was 42-for-43 in the red zone with 35 (81.4%) touchdowns. Miami was also 33-for-33 in the red zone during MAC play with 27 touchdowns last year. In its last 17 games, Miami has scored on 60-of-64 red zone opportunities and are 39-of-41 in its last 10 MAC contests.

Martin vs. the MAC Since 2016
Miami is 17-7 in MAC play over its last 24 games, tied for best in the conference in that span. NIU, WMU and Toledo are also 17-7, followedand Toledo (16-7) and Ohio (15-8), since early in the 2016 MAC season.

Gabbert Makes History
When Miami opened the season at Iowa, Brett Gabbert became the first true freshman quarterback to open the season as the starter in Miami football history. The younger brother of NFL quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, has started all six games this season, throwing for 909 yards and three touchdowns.

Bester's Best
Junior running back Jaylon Bester had the best game of his career in the 34-20 win over Buffalo two games ago, establishing career-highs in attempts (24) and yards (107). His 107-yard performance was the first 100-yard game of his career. Bester's previous highs were eight carries for 65 yards last season versus Ball State. Since returning from injury, Bester has totaled 152 yards on the ground and another 35 from the air versus Buffalo and Western Michigan. 

Maye Day Maye Day
Wide receiver James Maye has burst onto the scene over the last two games. The 5-foot-9 freshman had three touches (2 catches, 1 rush) total in his first four contests. In the last two weeks he has combined for eight receptions for 159 yards, including a 52-yard catch versus Buffalo and a 46-yard grab against WMU.

Offensive Line A Strength
Heading into this week's action Miami has one of the most veteran offensive lines in the nation. Overall, Miami's offensive line has started a combined 97 games. Danny Godlevske leads the bunch with 29 starts, followed by Jarrett LaRubbio (25), Tommy Doyle (19) , Matt Skibinski (15), Pete Nank (3), David Redding (3), Bennett Clark (1) and Caleb Shaffer (2).