Saturday, October 24
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1 p.m.
Miami University
at
Central Michigan
Photo by: Lexie Cunningham
10/20/2026 7:30:00 AM | Football
The Miami University football team hits the road to face the Central Michigan Chippewas on Saturday, Oct. 24. Opening kick is slated for 1 p.m. on ESPN+
About Miami
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (744), conference wins (332), MAC Championships (17) and bowl wins (9). Historically, Miami's 744 career wins are third all-time among Group-of-Six programs, behind just Navy (759) and Army (749).
• Miami was 4-14 in Coach Martin's first 18 Mid-American Conference games. Since then, the RedHawks are 57-23 in their last 80 games versus schools from the MAC, the best in the conference during that span. Miami is 24-6 over their last 30 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.
• Martin has an all-time head coaching record of 150-84.
• He is 76-77 all-time at Miami (59-35 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 Pound Akron, 34-14
Miami rushed for 324 yards and added four interceptions on defense in a 34-14 win over Akron last Saturday. Rodney Nelson had a season-best 142 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while Scoop Smith added one carry for 69 yards and D'Shawntae Jones rushed 12 times for 48 yards in the win. Defensively, Miami entered the contest with one INT all season long and picked off four last Saturday, including a pick-six for Blayne Myrick.
Martin's Milestone
Head Coach Chuck Martin earned his 150th career win as a college head coach with the victory. He is now 150-84 in 19 seasons between Grand Valley State and Miami.
Easy Pickings
Miami came up with four interceptions by four different players versus Akron, a feat the program last accomplished over 15 years ago (2011 GoDaddy Bowl). Ben Minich and Kaleb Martin each recorded their first career interceptions, while Blayne Myrick and Amariyun Knighten each recorded their first interceptions with the RedHawks.
Lyon's Roar
Grant Lyons led the Miami defense with a pair of sacks versus the Zips, matching his career high and marking his second multi-sack performance of the season. His four sacks this season are already a new career best and he currently ranks fifth in the MAC in total sacks.
Kellan Continues to Kick
After opening the season 2-6 on field goal attempts, Kellan McLaughlin has made eight-straight, including a pair of field goals in the win over Akron.
Scoop and Score
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. Two weeks ago he scored on a 20-yard rush versus UMass and 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 17 players to return a kickoff for a score in 2026 and ranks second nationally in kick return average (35.3). 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 Central Michigan
Central Michigan is 3-4 overall and 1-2 in MAC play this season. Offensively they rush for 184.3 yards per contest, led by quarterback Angel Flores (88.3 rpg.). Xavier White leads the Chippewas with 52 tackles this season.
Series Versus Chippewas
Miami is 17-13-1 overall in the series and has won five-straight contests, dating back to 2016. CMU last beat the RedHawks on Nov. 15, 2014 inside Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
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 three Division I starts, Caleb Heavner has completed 31-of-60 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns (one interception). He has added 123 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.
It's Not How you Start...
Miami football has a knack of crawling out of some deep holes. Over the past nine years, the RedHawks have started above .500 in the first month of the season just once, but have closed the year with a winning record each season.
Year Start Finish Record
2026 2-3 2-0 4-3
2025 0-3 7-4 7-7
2024 1-4 8-1 8-5
2023 3-1 8-2 11-3
2022 2-2 4-5 6-7
2021 1-3 6-3 7-6
2019 1-3 7-3 8-6
2018 1-3 6-3 7-6
2017 2-5 3-2 5-7
2016 0-6 6-1 6-6
Totals 13-33 57-24
In The Trenches
While there are many new players on the Miami roster, the RedHawks do return four starters along their offensive line: Kris Manu (21), Eric Smith (20), Greg Smith Jr. (20) and Jacob Schorsch (14) have started a combined 75 games throughout their Miami careers. Evan Malcore, who started 32 games at NIU over the past three years, has started seven games for the Red and White this season. In all, that is a combined 114 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 22nd in the country, allowing 99.3 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, UMass and Akron to 208 combined yards on 85 carries (2.5 ypc.) over the past three weeks.
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.
Sean McVay Joins Cradle of Coaches
Miami added a 10th bronze statue to its Cradle of Coaches in Sean McVay back in 2023. 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.
About Miami
• Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (744), conference wins (332), MAC Championships (17) and bowl wins (9). Historically, Miami's 744 career wins are third all-time among Group-of-Six programs, behind just Navy (759) and Army (749).
• Miami was 4-14 in Coach Martin's first 18 Mid-American Conference games. Since then, the RedHawks are 57-23 in their last 80 games versus schools from the MAC, the best in the conference during that span. Miami is 24-6 over their last 30 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.
• Martin has an all-time head coaching record of 150-84.
• He is 76-77 all-time at Miami (59-35 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 Pound Akron, 34-14
Miami rushed for 324 yards and added four interceptions on defense in a 34-14 win over Akron last Saturday. Rodney Nelson had a season-best 142 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while Scoop Smith added one carry for 69 yards and D'Shawntae Jones rushed 12 times for 48 yards in the win. Defensively, Miami entered the contest with one INT all season long and picked off four last Saturday, including a pick-six for Blayne Myrick.
Martin's Milestone
Head Coach Chuck Martin earned his 150th career win as a college head coach with the victory. He is now 150-84 in 19 seasons between Grand Valley State and Miami.
Easy Pickings
Miami came up with four interceptions by four different players versus Akron, a feat the program last accomplished over 15 years ago (2011 GoDaddy Bowl). Ben Minich and Kaleb Martin each recorded their first career interceptions, while Blayne Myrick and Amariyun Knighten each recorded their first interceptions with the RedHawks.
Lyon's Roar
Grant Lyons led the Miami defense with a pair of sacks versus the Zips, matching his career high and marking his second multi-sack performance of the season. His four sacks this season are already a new career best and he currently ranks fifth in the MAC in total sacks.
Kellan Continues to Kick
After opening the season 2-6 on field goal attempts, Kellan McLaughlin has made eight-straight, including a pair of field goals in the win over Akron.
Scoop and Score
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. Two weeks ago he scored on a 20-yard rush versus UMass and 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 17 players to return a kickoff for a score in 2026 and ranks second nationally in kick return average (35.3). 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 Central Michigan
Central Michigan is 3-4 overall and 1-2 in MAC play this season. Offensively they rush for 184.3 yards per contest, led by quarterback Angel Flores (88.3 rpg.). Xavier White leads the Chippewas with 52 tackles this season.
Series Versus Chippewas
Miami is 17-13-1 overall in the series and has won five-straight contests, dating back to 2016. CMU last beat the RedHawks on Nov. 15, 2014 inside Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
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 three Division I starts, Caleb Heavner has completed 31-of-60 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns (one interception). He has added 123 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.
It's Not How you Start...
Miami football has a knack of crawling out of some deep holes. Over the past nine years, the RedHawks have started above .500 in the first month of the season just once, but have closed the year with a winning record each season.
Year Start Finish Record
2026 2-3 2-0 4-3
2025 0-3 7-4 7-7
2024 1-4 8-1 8-5
2023 3-1 8-2 11-3
2022 2-2 4-5 6-7
2021 1-3 6-3 7-6
2019 1-3 7-3 8-6
2018 1-3 6-3 7-6
2017 2-5 3-2 5-7
2016 0-6 6-1 6-6
Totals 13-33 57-24
In The Trenches
While there are many new players on the Miami roster, the RedHawks do return four starters along their offensive line: Kris Manu (21), Eric Smith (20), Greg Smith Jr. (20) and Jacob Schorsch (14) have started a combined 75 games throughout their Miami careers. Evan Malcore, who started 32 games at NIU over the past three years, has started seven games for the Red and White this season. In all, that is a combined 114 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 22nd in the country, allowing 99.3 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, UMass and Akron to 208 combined yards on 85 carries (2.5 ypc.) over the past three weeks.
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.
Sean McVay Joins Cradle of Coaches
Miami added a 10th bronze statue to its Cradle of Coaches in Sean McVay back in 2023. 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.
Players Mentioned
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