The Miami University football team looks to get back to its winning ways with a Saturday, Oct. 16 showdown with the Akron Zips. Opening kick is slated for 2:30 p.m. in Miami's annual Homecoming game.

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

Radio
In its third 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. 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)

First And Ten
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (702), conference wins (301), MAC Championships (16) and bowl wins (7). The RedHawks also captured the 2019 MAC Championship with a 26-21 win over Central Michigan.

• Although Miami was 4-26 in Coach Martin's first 30 Mid-American Conference games, the RedHawks are 26-10 in the last 36 games versus schools from the MAC, the best record in the conference during that span.

• Miami went 2-1 in 2020, missing the final three contests of the year due to COVID. The RedHawks beat Ball State, the eventual MAC Champions, to open 2020, 38-31.

• The RedHawks clinched the MAC East Division Championship with a 6-2 record in 2019 and went 2-1 in 2020. Miami has now had a winning conference record in four of the past five years.

• Martin, in his eighth year leading the RedHawks, has had many of the same coordinators in the previous six seasons. Offensive Coordinator Eric Koehler has been with Martin all eight years on the offensive side of the ball. Spence Nowinsky (fourth year) and John Hauser (eighth year) manage the defense.

• Miami is 8-2 in one-score games, dating back to the 2018 campaign. The RedHawks were 5-0 in one-score games in 2019, including a 26-21 victory over Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game. Miami's 31-26 loss to Minnesota earlier this year ended Miami's consecutive one-score win streak at eight.

• In its last 31 contests, Miami has had a lead at some point in 27 of those games. The only four setbacks were a 42-10 loss at Buffalo in 2020 and three different losses in 2021.

• Miami competed in the 2020 LendingTree Bowl, its fourth bowl eligible season in the last five years. From 2006-15, Miami was bowl eligible just twice.

• Miami's defense has forced a turnover in 31 of its last 47 games and is 19-12 in contests when it forces a turnover. The RedHawks' defense has also recorded a sack in 36 of its last 47 games.

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 19 seasons.  Martin has an all-time head coaching record of 108-57.
• 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.

About Akron
Akron enters Saturday's game with a 2-4 record, including a 35-20 win at Bowling Green last weekend. The Zips average 21.3 points per game and are led by quarterback DJ Irons, who averages 164.8 yards passing and 49.2 yards rushing per contest.

Series Vs. Zips
Saturday will be the 30th meeting between the two schools with Miami holding a 19-9-1 advantage, including wins in the last four contests. Miami is 12-3-1 all-time at home versus the Zips. Back in 2019, a contest the RedHawks won 20-17 in Oxford, the RedHawks recorded 12 sacks.

Home Cooking
Miami finished a perfect 5-0 at home during the 2019 season (1-0 in 2020) and has won 11 straight at Yager Stadium. Miami's last home loss was on Sept. 29, 2018. In all, when Miami hosts Akron on Oct. 16, it will be 1,113 days since Miami's last loss at home.

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 8-1 following a MAC loss under Martin, dating back to Oct. 15, 2016.

Martin vs. the MAC Since 2016
Miami is 26-10 versus MAC opponents over its last 36 games, best in the conference in that span. Over that time, Miami has outscored its opponents 1,021-778.

Jack of All Trades
Jack Sorenson is in the middle of his sixth year with the RedHawks and is starting to find himself all over the Miami record books. The 2019 MAC Championship Offensive Player of the Year ranks ninth all-time in Miami history in catches (144) and eighth in receiving yards (2,116). Up next on the career catches is Chris Givens (157) and yards are Chris Givens (2,121) and Trevor Gaylor (2,1,31).

32 And Counting
While not a kept stat in the Miami or MAC record book, it would be hard to imagine Jack Sorenson's 32-straight contests with a catch would not be found atop any list. While Sorenson has missed several games due to injury, dating back to 2018, the wide receiver has caught at least one pass in every game he has played.

Monsters of The MAC
Miami's defense does not look out of place at all in 2021. After having one of the top defenses in the MAC in both 2019 and 2020, Miami ranks atop several defensive categories once again. In MAC games only, the RedHawks rank first in defensive scoring (15.0), third in total defense (343.5), first in rush defense (51.5), second in sacks (9.0) and second in third down percentage (30.0%)

Trench Warfare
Since the start of the 2018 MAC season, Miami ranks second in the conference in sacks with 98. In 2020, the RedHawks ranked second with 13 sacks (played three less games). They also finished second in 2019 (38) and sixth in 2018 (29). This year, Miami ranks third in the MAC with 2.7 sacks per contest.

Individual Defensive Tidbits
• Ivan Pace had 6.0 sacks versus Akron back in 2019, matching the NCAA record for sacks in a game.
• Kameron Butler has 22.0 TFL and 12.0 sacks in his last 23 games.
• Sterling Weatherford has done a little bit of everything for the Red and White, recording 182 tackles, 18 pass breakups, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 30 games played.
• Mike Brown is starting his 33rd straight game and has 163 tackles in his career.
• Dominique Robinson, who came to Miami as a quarterback, and later moved to wide receiver, now plays a crucial role at defensive end for the Red and White.