Saturday, October 17
Oxford, Ohio
3:30 p.m.
Miami University
vs
Akron
RedHawks Host Akron Saturday for Family Weekend
10/13/2026 7:30:00 AM | Football
The Miami University football teams returns to Yager Stadium to host the Akron Zips on Saturday, Oct. 17. Opening kick is slated for 3:30 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN+.
About Miami
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (743), conference wins (331), MAC Championships (17) and bowl wins (9).  Historically, Miami's 742 career wins are third all-time among Group-of-Six programs, behind just Navy (759) and Army (748).
• Miami was 4-14 in Coach Martin's first 18 Mid-American Conference games. Since then, the RedHawks are 56-23 in their last 79 games versus schools from the MAC, the best in the conference during that span. Miami is 23-6 over their last 29 MAC games, which includes three-straight trips to the MAC Title Game.
• The RedHawks have competed in five straight bowl games and have been bowl-eligible in nine of the past 10 seasons.
• Since Oct. 15, 2016, Miami has lost back-to-back conference games just three times in that span (2017, 2022, 2025). Miami is 18-4 following a conference loss, dating back to midway through the 2016 campaign.
• Of the 119 players on the 2026 roster, 55 (27 transfers, 28 freshmen) are new this season. Another 16 players are red-shirt freshmen and eight transferred in for the 2025 campaign. In all, 46.2% of the roster is new this season and 66.4% of the team has been with the RedHawks for one season or less.
About Chuck Martin
• Chuck Martin was named Miami head coach on Dec. 3, 2013.
• He was named a 2023 Finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award after an 11-3 season.
• 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 23 seasons. Â
• Martin has an all-time head coaching record of 149-84.
• He is 74-77 all-time at Miami (57-35 in MAC play) and has won more games at Miami than any other coach. The previous high was held by Randy Walker (60 wins).
• Martin is the longest tenured active coach in the MAC.
• 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.
All In The Family
Nearly every member of the RedHawks' staff either played at Miami, played for Chuck Martin previously or worked for him before getting hired on as assistant coaches. In some cases, such as running backs coach Chris Hudson and safeties coach Zane Ries, they did all three. (In fact, the only exception who doesn't check at least one of those boxes is Mitchell White...but White's twin brother worked for Martin!)
RedHawks Respond With 20-19 Win at UMass
UMass scored a touchdown with one second to play to make to score 20-19, but a game-saving tackle by Malcolm McCain on the ensuing two-point conversion, sealed the victory for Miami. The RedHawks rushed for a season-best (vs. D1 teams) 165 yards, while UMass could only muster 65 yards on the ground over 30 carries. Miami's defense set new season bests against FBS opponents in total yards allowed (319), third-down conversions allowed (four), and yards per play allowed (4.9) in the game.
Caleb's Carries
Caleb Heavner's 29-yard run in the first quarter was the second-longest run by a Miami player this year (David McComb had a 32-yarder against UConn). Heavner finished with 11 carries for 54 yards and a rushing touchdown. In all, Miami racked up 165 yards on the ground on 36 carries for an average of 4.6 yards per rushing play.
Kellan Continues to Kick
After opening the season 2-6 on field goal attempts, Kellan McLaughlin has made six-straight, including a pair of field goals in the one-point win versus UMass. His 47-yard kick (career-best) in the fourth quarter was the eventual game-winner.
Scoop and ScoreÂ
Scoop Smith (the shortest player in FBS) added to the list of ways he's produced a touchdown this year for the Red and White with a 20-yard rush on a reverse versus the Minutemen. Smith has also scored via kick return (vs. Cincinnati) and reception (vs. UConn) as well as blocking a punt that turned into a Miami touchdown (vs. Holy Cross). Smith is one of 15 players to return a kickoff for a score in 2026 and ranks third nationally in kick return average (36.9). He is also one of three players this season that have scored via kick return, receiving and rushing (Leonard Farrow, Fla. Atlantic and Braeden Jackson, Iowa).
About Akron
Akron is 1-5 on the season (0-2 MAC) and has lost four-straight heading into Saturday's action. Brayden Roggow has thrown for 834 yards and six touchdowns this season, while Donelius Johnson is tops on the team with 57 tackles.
Series Versus Zips
Miami is 24-9-1 overall in the series and has won eight-straight contests, dating back to 2017. Akron last won in Oxford on Nov. 14, 2015 and Chuck Martin is 8-3 versus Akron in his career with Miami.
Gotkowski and McComb to Miss Season
Miami will be down its top two quarterbacks for the rest of the season. Thomas Gotkowski suffered a season-ending injury during fall camp, while McComb was lost during the contest versus UConn on Sept. 26. Gotkowski helped lead the RedHawks to a MAC Title Game in 2025 and McComb was leading the NCAA in yards per completion (17.3) prior to his injury.
Heavner to Fill In
In his first two Division I starts, Caleb Heavner has completed 23-of-44 passes for 293 yards and one touchdown (zero interceptions). He has added 78 yards and a score with his legs as Miami's starting QB. Over his career at Fort Hays, he completed 344-of-545 passes for 3,632 yards and 25 touchdowns and added 1,154 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns with his legs.Â
Wear Your Emotions on Your Helmet
In a tradition that started back in 2018, the Miami University football team will be carrying a special message with them as they take the field on Saturday, Oct. 17 in Miami's annual Cancer Awareness contest. Each player's helmet features a colored ribbon of their choice to symbolize how they have been affected by cancer.
In The Trenches
While there are many new players on the Miami roster, the RedHawks do return four starters along their offensive line: Greg Smith Jr. (20), Kris Manu (20), Eric Smith (19) and Jacob Schorsch (13) have started a combined 72 games throughout their Miami careers. Evan Malcore, who started 32 games at NIU over the past three years, has started six games for the Red and White this season. In all, that is a combined 110 career starts between the five offensive lineman.
Run Defense Strikes Again
Just like every year, Miami features one of the best rush defenses in the nation. Miami currently ranks 29th in the country, allowing 102.3 rushing yards per game and have finished in the top-50 nationally in rush defense every year since 2022. Miami's rush defense has been even better as of late, holding BGSU and UMass to 127 combined yards on 53 carries (2.4 ypc.)
Linebacker Overload
Miami's linebacker group is arguably the deepest on the team. Malcolm McCain returns for his fourth year with the team and is Miami's top returning tackler with 73 stops in 2025. He is joined by Blayne Myrick, a transfer from South Alabama, who earned first-team all-conference a year ago (second-team in 2024) and CJ Young, who was named second-team All-MAC at Kent State in 2025. On top of that, Brock Uihlein had 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in the MAC Championship Game a year ago.
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About Miami
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (743), conference wins (331), MAC Championships (17) and bowl wins (9).  Historically, Miami's 742 career wins are third all-time among Group-of-Six programs, behind just Navy (759) and Army (748).
• Miami was 4-14 in Coach Martin's first 18 Mid-American Conference games. Since then, the RedHawks are 56-23 in their last 79 games versus schools from the MAC, the best in the conference during that span. Miami is 23-6 over their last 29 MAC games, which includes three-straight trips to the MAC Title Game.
• The RedHawks have competed in five straight bowl games and have been bowl-eligible in nine of the past 10 seasons.
• Since Oct. 15, 2016, Miami has lost back-to-back conference games just three times in that span (2017, 2022, 2025). Miami is 18-4 following a conference loss, dating back to midway through the 2016 campaign.
• Of the 119 players on the 2026 roster, 55 (27 transfers, 28 freshmen) are new this season. Another 16 players are red-shirt freshmen and eight transferred in for the 2025 campaign. In all, 46.2% of the roster is new this season and 66.4% of the team has been with the RedHawks for one season or less.
About Chuck Martin
• Chuck Martin was named Miami head coach on Dec. 3, 2013.
• He was named a 2023 Finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award after an 11-3 season.
• 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 23 seasons. Â
• Martin has an all-time head coaching record of 149-84.
• He is 74-77 all-time at Miami (57-35 in MAC play) and has won more games at Miami than any other coach. The previous high was held by Randy Walker (60 wins).
• Martin is the longest tenured active coach in the MAC.
• 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.
All In The Family
Nearly every member of the RedHawks' staff either played at Miami, played for Chuck Martin previously or worked for him before getting hired on as assistant coaches. In some cases, such as running backs coach Chris Hudson and safeties coach Zane Ries, they did all three. (In fact, the only exception who doesn't check at least one of those boxes is Mitchell White...but White's twin brother worked for Martin!)
RedHawks Respond With 20-19 Win at UMass
UMass scored a touchdown with one second to play to make to score 20-19, but a game-saving tackle by Malcolm McCain on the ensuing two-point conversion, sealed the victory for Miami. The RedHawks rushed for a season-best (vs. D1 teams) 165 yards, while UMass could only muster 65 yards on the ground over 30 carries. Miami's defense set new season bests against FBS opponents in total yards allowed (319), third-down conversions allowed (four), and yards per play allowed (4.9) in the game.
Caleb's Carries
Caleb Heavner's 29-yard run in the first quarter was the second-longest run by a Miami player this year (David McComb had a 32-yarder against UConn). Heavner finished with 11 carries for 54 yards and a rushing touchdown. In all, Miami racked up 165 yards on the ground on 36 carries for an average of 4.6 yards per rushing play.
Kellan Continues to Kick
After opening the season 2-6 on field goal attempts, Kellan McLaughlin has made six-straight, including a pair of field goals in the one-point win versus UMass. His 47-yard kick (career-best) in the fourth quarter was the eventual game-winner.
Scoop and ScoreÂ
Scoop Smith (the shortest player in FBS) added to the list of ways he's produced a touchdown this year for the Red and White with a 20-yard rush on a reverse versus the Minutemen. Smith has also scored via kick return (vs. Cincinnati) and reception (vs. UConn) as well as blocking a punt that turned into a Miami touchdown (vs. Holy Cross). Smith is one of 15 players to return a kickoff for a score in 2026 and ranks third nationally in kick return average (36.9). He is also one of three players this season that have scored via kick return, receiving and rushing (Leonard Farrow, Fla. Atlantic and Braeden Jackson, Iowa).
About Akron
Akron is 1-5 on the season (0-2 MAC) and has lost four-straight heading into Saturday's action. Brayden Roggow has thrown for 834 yards and six touchdowns this season, while Donelius Johnson is tops on the team with 57 tackles.
Series Versus Zips
Miami is 24-9-1 overall in the series and has won eight-straight contests, dating back to 2017. Akron last won in Oxford on Nov. 14, 2015 and Chuck Martin is 8-3 versus Akron in his career with Miami.
Gotkowski and McComb to Miss Season
Miami will be down its top two quarterbacks for the rest of the season. Thomas Gotkowski suffered a season-ending injury during fall camp, while McComb was lost during the contest versus UConn on Sept. 26. Gotkowski helped lead the RedHawks to a MAC Title Game in 2025 and McComb was leading the NCAA in yards per completion (17.3) prior to his injury.
Heavner to Fill In
In his first two Division I starts, Caleb Heavner has completed 23-of-44 passes for 293 yards and one touchdown (zero interceptions). He has added 78 yards and a score with his legs as Miami's starting QB. Over his career at Fort Hays, he completed 344-of-545 passes for 3,632 yards and 25 touchdowns and added 1,154 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns with his legs.Â
Wear Your Emotions on Your Helmet
In a tradition that started back in 2018, the Miami University football team will be carrying a special message with them as they take the field on Saturday, Oct. 17 in Miami's annual Cancer Awareness contest. Each player's helmet features a colored ribbon of their choice to symbolize how they have been affected by cancer.
In The Trenches
While there are many new players on the Miami roster, the RedHawks do return four starters along their offensive line: Greg Smith Jr. (20), Kris Manu (20), Eric Smith (19) and Jacob Schorsch (13) have started a combined 72 games throughout their Miami careers. Evan Malcore, who started 32 games at NIU over the past three years, has started six games for the Red and White this season. In all, that is a combined 110 career starts between the five offensive lineman.
Run Defense Strikes Again
Just like every year, Miami features one of the best rush defenses in the nation. Miami currently ranks 29th in the country, allowing 102.3 rushing yards per game and have finished in the top-50 nationally in rush defense every year since 2022. Miami's rush defense has been even better as of late, holding BGSU and UMass to 127 combined yards on 53 carries (2.4 ypc.)
Linebacker Overload
Miami's linebacker group is arguably the deepest on the team. Malcolm McCain returns for his fourth year with the team and is Miami's top returning tackler with 73 stops in 2025. He is joined by Blayne Myrick, a transfer from South Alabama, who earned first-team all-conference a year ago (second-team in 2024) and CJ Young, who was named second-team All-MAC at Kent State in 2025. On top of that, Brock Uihlein had 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in the MAC Championship Game a year ago.
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Players Mentioned
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