Miami Ohio Redhawks 2026 College Football Preview
Posted June 11, 2026
2025 Recap
Record – 7-7
ATS – 8-6
That was a wild ride.
The RedHawks stumbled out of the gate, losing their first three games, but quickly found their footing in MACtion with a 4–0 conference start. They somehow slithered their way into the MAC Championship Game via a totally legit tiebreaker that would make AL CAPONE blush. The good vibes ended there as they were handled by Western Michigan in the title game and then scored a mere three points in an Arizona Bowl loss to Fresno St.
Miami Ohio has made the MAC Championship Game in each of the last two seasons but lost those contests by a combined 61–16. Let’s check in with the team and see if they have the MINERALS to make another run.
Miami Ohio Redhawks 2026 Outlook
OFFENSE
2025 By The Numbers:
- Scoring: 23.5 PPG (#6 MAC)
- Total Offense: 337.6 YPG (#7 MAC)
- Rushing: 150.3 YPG (#7 MAC)
- Passing: 187.3 YPG (#6 MAC)
- Sacks Allowed: 26 (#8 MAC)
There’s a wide‑open QB battle with no clear frontrunner after spring ball. Returning starter Thomas Gotkowski had a rough go in his CUP of COFFEE with the team last year (44%, 4–1 TD‑to‑INT) and will battle two transfers for the job. Mobile Kansas transfer David McComb brings athleticism, whilst Fort Hays State transfer Caleb HEAVNER arrives with serious D2 production (3,398 career passing yards, 24 TDs). Whoever wins the job will be handing off plenty — this figures to be a run‑first operation as usual.
The RedHawks move on from leading rusher Jordan Brunson but appear to have found a transfer GEM in Rodney Nelson (Monmouth), who was a monster in 2025 (1,805 yards, 18 TDs, 6.1 YPC). There’s enough size and depth at RB to keep the ground game humming. The offensive line is a major strength, boasting impressive size and experience. LT Eric Smith is a foundational piece, and they added a fine RT in Evan Malcore from Northern Illinois.
The THROW GAME is the bigger question mark after losing one of the best wideouts in the conference, Kam Perry, who bolted for Colorado after averaging an impossibly impossible 22.7 YPC last season. Miami has reloaded in the portal — Maleek Huggins arrives from Bethune‑Cookman (864 yards, 8 TDs) and should be an immediate upgrade, whilst TE Christian Ross (Memphis) should help open things up. Our MAC INSIDERS are also buzzing about the potential of Arizona transfer Devin Hyatt.
DEFENSE
2025 By The Numbers:
- Scoring Defense: 21.7 PPG (#3 MAC)
- Total Defense: 334.6 YPG (#3 MAC)
- Rush Defense: 134.3 YPG (#3 MAC)
- Pass Defense: 200.4 YPG (#6 MAC)
- Sacks: 40 (#2 MAC)
Chuck Martin’s stop units are reliably stout year after year, and 2026 should be no different. The defensive line returns several contributors from last season and added a spicy piece in EDGE Mikah Coleman, who transferred over from Cincinnati. The big question: do they have anyone on the roster who can replace the production of departed EDGE Adam Trick (8.5 sacks, 13 QBH)? That’s a tall order.
The LB unit is COMICALLY talented, as the RedHawks went out and landed a pair of productive transfers — CJ Young arrives from Kent St after posting 89 tackles and 2.5 sacks, whilst Blayne Myrick, an All‑Sun Belt performer, comes in from South Alabama (84 tackles, 6 TFLs). Oh ya, and they still have Malcolm McCain (#4 tackles, 7.5 TFL) patrolling the middle layer of the stop unit. That’s a THICC second level, yo.
In the secondary, the CB tandem of Mychal Yharbrough and Kaleb Martin is one of the better pairs in the MAC. Keep an eye on redshirt freshman Mason Ellins (Iowa State), a former 3‑star who could really make things difficult for opposing pass‑catchers. The main concern is a lack of proven experience at safety — that’s the spot to watch heading into fall camp.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Miami has an average ranking of #19 in special teams over the L3Y according to the INTREPID Phil Steele, including a #1 finish in 2023. The majority of the key components are back for duty this season, including KR Keith Reynolds (28.5 avg, TD). The one big task: finding a replacement for outstanding PK Dom Dzioban (20–23 FG).
Schedule Analysis
Overall — There aren’t any straight‑up KILLERS on the non‑conference slate, but they’ll be tested by Pitt (A), Cincinnati (N), and UConn (H). The MACtion draw is reasonable as they avoid Toledo, and there’s a very real scenario where they open conference play 4–0 before hosting Buffalo on November 3. And circle November 24 — we’ve got a YUUUGE showdown in Kalamazoo as Miami takes on Western Michigan.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot — at Kent State (Nov 17)
This is a rough situational setup. The RedHawks come off back‑to‑back games against MAC contenders Buffalo and Ohio, and they’ve got a massive road trip to Western Michigan looming the following week.
Season Win Total
Market consensus – June 11
Over 7.5 +130
Under 7.5 -170
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
If they can find a way to go 3–1 in non‑conference play, this becomes a 90,000 STAR LOCK. If they go 2–2, which is the most likely scenario, then 6–2 in MACtion feels very doable. A 1–3 start would make things… interesting.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Miami Ohio is known as the ‘Cradle of Coaches’ for good reason — the program has produced or developed some of the most legendary names in football history, including Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Ara Parseghian, Weeb Ewbank, and Sid Gillman. As far as we can tell, Lane Kiffin did not coach at Miami Ohio.
PRO TIP for visitors: Don’t step on the University Seal. According to Miami lore, doing so guarantees you’ll bomb your next exam. Students take this very seriously — because nothing motivates academic excellence like irrational fear of a DECORATIVE BRICK.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
Chuck Martin heads into Year 13 in Oxford and the man clearly knows how to win. The RedHawks have the pieces to be a legit MAC contender once again — a thundering run game, a stout and experienced defense, and one of the better coaching staffs in the Group of Six. The big wildcard? The QB situation. With no clear-cut starter coming out of spring, that battle will go a long way in determining how far this team can go.
The regular season finale at Western Michigan has all the makings of a de facto play-in game for the MAC Championship. Don’t be surprised if we see Miami Ohio back in Detroit come December.
Rise Up RedHawks!