The Miami University football team opens 2023 with a trip to Coral Gables, Fla, to face the Miami Hurricanes on Friday, Sept. 1. Opening kick is slated for 7 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium.

Television
The matchup with Miami (FL) will be carried live on ACC Network. Jay Alter will handle play-by-play duties, while Rene Ingoglia will serve as the color analyst. 

Radio
In its fifth 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 (713), conference wins (310), MAC Championships (16) and bowl wins (8). 
• Historically, Miami's 713 career wins, ranks third all-time among Group-of-Five programs, behind just Navy (733) and Army (720). Cincinnati is fourth with 658, followed by Appalachian State (654) and Central Michigan (643).
• Miami was 4-18 in Coach Martin's first 22 Mid-American Conference games. Since then, the RedHawks are 34-16 in their last 50 games versus schools from the MAC, the best record in the conference during that span.
• Miami has now had a .500 or better conference record in six of the last seven seasons, dating back to 2016. The RedHawks also captured the 2019 MAC Championship game and were a two-point conversion away versus Kent State from playing in the 2021 MACC.
• Martin, in his 10th year leading the RedHawks, has a new look on offense in 2023. Offensive Coordinator Pat Welsh returns for his 10th year with Martin, but his first as offensive coordinator. Defensively, Bill Brechin begins year two as the defensive coordinator (10th year at Miami). Special Teams Coordinator Jacob Bronowski is in his second year with the Red and White. 
• Miami is 13-8 in one-score games, dating back to the 2018 campaign.
• In its last 51 contests, Miami has had a lead at some point in 45 of those games. The RedHawks had a lead at some point in all but one game in 2022.
• After competing in the 2022 Bahamas Bowl, the RedHawks have now been bowl eligible six of the last seven seasons. From 2006-15, Miami was bowl eligible just twice.

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 20 seasons.  Martin has an all-time head coaching record of 119-66.
• 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 Miami (FL)
The 2022 Hurricanes dropped three of their final four games to end the year with a 5-7 record (3-5 in ACC play), ending a string of eight consecutive bowl appearances. Each of Miami's final four losses came by at least 24 points, including a 45-3 home defeat against longtime rival Florida State.

Series vs. the Hurricanes
The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 3-0, but the two programs have not met since 1987.

Last Meeting
In the midst of an eight-year span (1985-1992) where they dropped a total of eight games, the Hurricanes defeated Miami University 54-3 in 1987. It was Miami (Fla.)'s 13th consecutive home victory in a streak that eventually reached a national-record 58. The then-No. 3 'Canes, coached by Jimmy Johnson, went on to finish the 1987 campaign with a perfect 12-0 record, claiming the national title by upending No. 1 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
 
Memorable Meeting
In 1946, 'The U' edged Miami University by a score of 20-17, snapping the visitors' six-game winning streak. Miami (Fla.) held on for the narrow victory although the Red and White drove the ball to the home team's nine-yard line late in the game before coming up short on a fourth-down try. Both teams went on to successful years, with head coach Sid Gillman and standout halfback Ara Parseghian leading the Red and White to a 7-3 mark while the 'Canes went 8-2.

Familiar Face
Current Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Lance Guidry was the RedHawks' defensive back's coach in 2009-10. He served as interim head coach in Miami's 35-21 win over Middle Tennessee State in the 2010 GoDaddy.com Bowl.

If You're Not First, You're Last
Just a friendly reminder that Miami University (RedHawks) was founded in 1809 and the University of Miami (Hurricanes) did not open until 1925.
 
Bounce Back
Since early in the 2016 season Miami has lost back-to-back MAC games just twice in that span. In fact, Miami is now 13-2 following a MAC loss under Martin, dating back to Oct. 15, 2016. 

Monsters of the MAC
Statistically, Miami had one of the best defenses in the MAC in 2022. The RedHawks were first in scoring defense (22.6), third in total defense (373.1) and first in rush defense (135.9). In all, Miami returns nine defensive starters from the 2022 squad.

Take It Away Defense, Take it Away
The RedHawks defense forced 22 turnovers in 2022, a season-best under coach Martin. Prior to the 2022 season, Miami had averaged 16 turnovers forced per season, with a high of 20 in 2019. Miami finished the 2022 season +11 in turnover margin, 12th best in the country.

Five Things to Know About No. 5 Brett Gabbert
• Younger brother of NFL quarterback, Blaine Gabbert.
• Gabbert was named the 2019 MAC Freshman of the Year, joining Ben Roethlisberger (2001) and Deland McCullough (1992) as the only other RedHawks to capture this award.
• When Miami opened the 2019 season at Iowa, Gabbert became the first true freshman quarterback to open the season as the starter in Miami football history. 
• Is responsible for 50 touchdowns (45 passing, 5 rushing) in his Miami career.
• Ranks sixth in program history with 6,259 passing yards, completion percentage (.588) and passing touchdowns (45).

Gabbert Versus Gus
Back in 2018, senior quarterback star Gus Ragland helped recruit Brett Gabbert to Miami. Five years later, Gus Ragland is now coaching quarterbacks for Miami and will soon see Gabbert surpass many of his career numbers. Gabbert ranks sixth in career passing yards, just behind Ragland's 6,306 yards passing. Gabbert's completion percentage (.588) is just two spots behind Ragland (.602) and with 12 touchdown passes, Gabbert will move into third all-time in program history ... ahead of Ragland.

Smith Becoming a Dual-Threat
Prior to last season, Aveon Smith had thrown just seven career passes, but with an injury to Gabbert in the 2022 season opener, Smith gave defenses something different to plan for.
• Miami was 5-4 on the year with Smith under center, including a 17-14 win over Northwestern.
• He rushed for over 100 yards two different times in 2022 and over his last six starts he averaged 84.5 yards rushing per contest.

New-Look Wide Receiver Group
Gone are the days of Jack Sorenson and Mac Hippenhammer catching passes in the Red and White. Miami will feature a much different group of pass catchers in 2023. Running back Kevin Davis leads the way with 47 career receptions, followed by tight end Jack Coldiron (46), Miles Marshall (24) and Nate Muersch (14). Transfers Joe Wilkins Jr. (Notre Dame) and Gage Larvadain (Southeastern Louisiana) are expected to play major roles this season, but neither have caught a pass as a RedHawk.

Running as a Unit
Under Coach Martin, the RedHawks have always used a handful of running backs in each contest. Last season alone, Keyon Mozee was tops with 109 carries, followed closely by Kevin Davis (54) and Kenny Tracy (37). Quarterback Aveon Smith led the team with 123 carries for 553 yards and six touchdowns in 2022.

Trench Warfare
Miami's offensive line has two major holes to fill along the offensive line after losing both Rusty Feth and Caleb Shaffer to the transfer portal. Combined, those two started 69 games, dating back to 2019. Miami still has plenty of experience returning in 2023. Reid Holskey has started each of the last 26 games for the Red and White, followed by Sam Vaughan (14 starts -- also returning from an ACL injury), Will Jados (10), Kolby Borders (9) and Ben Jackson (2). Transfer John Young saw action in 25 games at Kentucky over the past two seasons.

End of The Line
Miami arguably has the best defensive line in the MAC heading into 2023. Corey Suttle, Brian Ugwu and Caiden Woullard combined for 15 sacks last season, while Austin Ertl and Kobe Hilton each started all 13 games in 2022 at defensive tackle. 

Tackling Machine
Linebacker Matt Salopek has 248 career tackles and has surpassed 100 stops in each of the past two years. With 100 tackles in 2023 he would become the first Miami player to secure 100-plus tackles in three-straight seasons since Matt Pusateri did the same from 2002-04.

Nothing But Net
In his first year with the football program, Graham Nicholson did not disappoint. He finished the season 15-20 on field goals, including 6-of-7 on attempts between 40-49 yards. He added 30 touchbacks on 65 kickoffs in 2021. He was 18-for-22 on field goals in 2022. He also had his first game-winning field goal, connecting on a 36-yard field goal with 21 seconds to go in the 17-14 win at Northwestern. 

New-Faces New Places
The transfer portal has changed college football and Miami is no different. The RedHawks have 20 players on the team that transfered from other schools: Rashad Amos (South Carolina), Jordan Brunson (Virginia Tech), Jeremiah Caldwell (Louisville),  Michael Dowell (Michigan State), William Hardrick (Mississippi State), Maddox Kopp (Colorado), Jackson Kuwatch (Ohio State), Gage Larvadain (Southeastern Louisiana), Miles Marshall (Indiana), Cade McDonald (Michigan State), Yahsyn McKee (Mercer), Keyon Mozee (Kansas State), Jalen Peterson (Indianapolis), Corey Suttle (Iowa State), Brian Ugwu (Rutgers), Joe Wilkins Jr. (Notre Dame), Cameron Williams (Indiana), Jayden Williams (Southern California), Ty Wise (Indiana) and John Young (Kentucky).

Brotherly Love
Miami's Kenny Tracy has been with the RedHawks since the 2020 season, while his brother Javon Tracy, redshirted in 2022 after competing in two games.

Sean McVay Joins Cradle of Coaches
This summer Miami added a 10th bronze statue to its Cradle of Coaches in Sean McVay. McVay, the current head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, joined Ara Parseghian, Paul Brown, Weeb Ewbank, John Harbaugh, John Pont, Carm Cozza, Bo Schembechler, Red Blaik, and Paul Dietzel in the south end of Yager Stadium.

Graduating Champions
Before Miami even takes the field in 2023, 12 different RedHawks have already completed their undergraduate degree: Brendan Beattie, Jack Coldiron, Michael Dowell, Austin Ertl, Brett Gabbert, Ben Jackson, Miles Marshall, Cade McDonald, Camden Rogers, Matt Salopek, Sam Vaughan and Joe Wilkins Jr.

If You Build It...
Miami's Director of Athletics, David Sayler continues to add facilities for the department. The two newest football installments can be seen just north of Yager Stadium. The new David and Anita Dauch Indoor Sports Center (DISC) opened in February of 2015 and features a full-length 120-yard field and four sprint lanes.

Between Yager Stadium and the DISC is the Athletic Performance Center. The APC provides much-needed upgrades to Miami Football's locker room and offices while also hosting a state-of-the-art medical and athletic training facility that serves all Miami's student-athletes.