Football Picked to Win East in Preseason Poll
7/26/2022 8:59:00 AM | Football
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Miami University football team was picked to win the East Division in the annual 24-member media poll. The announcement was made by the league office on Tuesday, July 26, from the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Miami garnered 20 of 24 first place votes in the division and finished with 139 points. Kent State was second (116 points), followed by Buffalo (78), Ohio (72), Bowling Green (71) and Akron (28).
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Northern Illinois was picked to win the West Division in a nail-biter. The Huskies finished with 122 points, followed by Toledo (120), Central Michigan (112), Western Michigan (56), Eastern Michigan (52) and Ball State (42).
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Miami returns 16 starters from a squad that went 7-6 overall and captured the Frisco Football Classic in 2021. Quarterback Brett Gabbert, who was named to the preseason watch list by the Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien award, is one of eight starters returning on offense. Gabbert threw for 2,648 yards and 26 touchdowns last season.
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Defensively, Miami returns five starters, highlighted by Matthew Salopek and Ryan McWood. Salopek was second on the team with 112 tackles and McWood returns for his seventh year after missing most of 2021 with an injury.
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The RedHawks also return every key member of its special teams units, including placekicker Graham Nicholson, punter Dom Dzioban and return specialist Jalen Walker.
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East Division (first place votes)
West Division (first place votes)
MAC Champion Votes: Northern Illinois (9), Toledo (6), Miami (5), Central Michigan (4)
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Miami garnered 20 of 24 first place votes in the division and finished with 139 points. Kent State was second (116 points), followed by Buffalo (78), Ohio (72), Bowling Green (71) and Akron (28).
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Northern Illinois was picked to win the West Division in a nail-biter. The Huskies finished with 122 points, followed by Toledo (120), Central Michigan (112), Western Michigan (56), Eastern Michigan (52) and Ball State (42).
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Miami returns 16 starters from a squad that went 7-6 overall and captured the Frisco Football Classic in 2021. Quarterback Brett Gabbert, who was named to the preseason watch list by the Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien award, is one of eight starters returning on offense. Gabbert threw for 2,648 yards and 26 touchdowns last season.
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Defensively, Miami returns five starters, highlighted by Matthew Salopek and Ryan McWood. Salopek was second on the team with 112 tackles and McWood returns for his seventh year after missing most of 2021 with an injury.
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The RedHawks also return every key member of its special teams units, including placekicker Graham Nicholson, punter Dom Dzioban and return specialist Jalen Walker.
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East Division (first place votes)
- Miami (20) – 139 points
- Kent State (3) – 116 points
- Buffalo – 78 points
- Ohio – 72 points
- Bowling Green (1) – 71 points
- Akron – 28 points
West Division (first place votes)
- Northern Illinois (11) – 122 points
- Toledo (9) – 120 points
- Central Michigan (4) – 112 points
- Western Michigan – 56 points
- Eastern Michigan – 52 points
- Ball State – 42 points
MAC Champion Votes: Northern Illinois (9), Toledo (6), Miami (5), Central Michigan (4)
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Players Mentioned
Kicker/Punter
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Quarterback
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Linebacker
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Placekicker
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Linebacker
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Wide Receiver
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