This Week's Matchup
Miami travels to face Kent State in a crucial Mid-American Conference East Division showdown. The contest is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. and be carried live on ESPN+.

Television
The matchup with the Golden Flashes will be carried live on ESPN+. Michael Reghi will handle play-by-play duties, while Dustin Fox 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 (693), MAC Championships (15) and bowl wins (7).
• Miami was 4-26 in Coach Martin's first 30 Mid-American Conference games. Miami is 18-7 in the last 25 conference games, 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 Nowinsky (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 99-50.
• 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. Northern Illinois
Miami's offense got off to a slow start, recording just 21 yards of offense with 3:08 left in the first half. Miami then went on three straight scoring drives of 75, 90 and 62 yards to take a 21-17 lead with 3:11 left in the third quarter. Miami's defense would make the lead stand up, holding the Huskies to 350 yards of offense and just 115 yards on the ground.

Notes From NIU
• James Maye had his first career touchdown, a 45 yard strike from Brett Gabbert.
• Gabbert had a career high 273 yards passing in the win. He had a career-best 42 yards rushing as well.
• Jalen Walker posted career bests in catches (7) and yards (138). He entered Saturday's contest with seven catches for 135 yards on the year.
• Miami's defense had 10 TFL's in the win.
• Ryan McWood had a career-high 12 tackles.
• Maurice Thomas had an 86 and 37-yard kick return.
• Kicker Sam Sloman had a pair of field goals in the win.

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 now 7-1 following a MAC loss under Martin, dating back to Oct. 15, 2016.

About Kent State
Kent State is 3-4 on the season and 2-1 in MAC play with wins over Bowling Green and Akron. Last Saturday they lost 45-38 at Ohio. Quarterback Dustin Crum averages 162.7 passing yards per game for an offense that averages 25.0 points per game. Defensively, they allow 32.0 points and 467.6 yards per game. Keep in mind, this is a squad that has faced Arizona State, Auburn and Wisconsin.

Series Vs. Kent State
Miami is 49-17 all-time versus the Golden Flashes, including a 31-6 victory last season in Oxford. The RedHawks are 22-9 in Kent, Ohio, which includes a 17-14 loss back in 2017. In fact, Miami has lost three straight contests on the road at Kent State. Miami's last road win in the series was a 9-3 victory back in 2011.

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 18-3 on the season.

Lights. Camera. MACtion
Saturday's contest will be the fourth of eight straight conference games, something the RedHawks should be excited to see, especially after a tough non-conference schedule versus three top-25 programs. Over the last 11 conference games the Miami offense has been something special to see.
Points/game - 32.1
Yards/game - 381.0
Passing/game - 206.1
Rushing/game - 176.6

Preseason Poll
Miami was picked to finish second in the MAC East 2019 Media Preseason Poll. Ohio was picked to win the East with 144 points, recording all 24 first-place votes. The RedHawks were second with 107 points, followed by Buffalo (100 points), Kent State (62 points), Akron (54 points) and Bowling Green (37 points). Toledo was picked to win the West Division.

Red Hot
Miami is 22-for-26 this season on red zone opportunities. In those 26 attempts, Miami has scored 14 (53.8%) 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 64-of-69 red zone opportunities and are 43-of-46 in its last 11 MAC contests.

Martin vs. the MAC Since 2016
Miami is 18-7 in MAC play over its last 25 games,  best in the conference in that span. WMU is 18-8 (played one extra game this year), followed by NIU (17-8), Toledo (17-8) and Ohio (17-8).

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 seven games this season, throwing for 1,182 yards and four touchdowns.

Bester's Best
Junior running back Jaylon Bester had the best game of his career in the 34-20 win over Buffalo, 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 (came back for Buffalo), Bester has totaled 182 yards on the ground and another 47 from the air.

Maye Day Maye Day
Wide receiver James Maye has burst onto the scene over the last three games. The 5-foot-9 freshman had three touches (2 catches, 1 rush) total in his first four contests. In the last three weeks he has combined for 10 receptions for 224 yards, including a 52-yard catch versus Buffalo, a 46-yard grab against WMU and a 45-yard touchdown versus NIU.

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 102 games. Danny Godlevske leads the bunch with 30 starts, followed by Jarrett LaRubbio (26), Tommy Doyle (20) , Matt Skibinski (16), David Redding (4), Pete Nank (3), Caleb Shaffer (2) and Bennett Clark (1).