It’s a must-win for the Chippewas, who are reeling after back-to-back heart-breaking losses.
The Central Michigan Chippewas (3-2, 1-2 MAC), losers of their last two contests, travel to southwest Ohio to take on the suddenly resurgent Miami RedHawks (3-4, 2-1 MAC) on the road.
This series has been all RedHawks dating back to 2016, with four contests in that time all going Miami’s way— and notably, all in Oxford or neutral territory. (The last time this game was played in Mt. Pleasant was also Central’s last win in the series back in 2014, Chuck Martin’s first year on the job in Miami.)
Both teams badly need this win to keep their postseason hopes alive, as they both sit one game below .500 on the year. Miami in particular will have something to prove, as a win here would solidify their case for the conference title. Central hopes stop the bleeding after some disastrous results and recent injuries have cut into the team’s performances.
Let’s take a look at what these teams are capable of:
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at 2 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio
- Viewing options: The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+. A valid cable subscription is required. Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Forest Conoly (color) will commentate.
- Radio options: Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and Brock Gutierrez (color) will provide the CMU call for WUPS-FM 98.5, while Steve Baker (play-by-play) and Terry Bridge (color) will provide the Miami call for WMOH-AM 1450.
- Gambling considerations: Miami are 12.5-point favorites, with an over/under of 47, per DraftKings.
- All-time series: Miami leads 16-13-1 all-time, with games dating back to 1978. Miami has won the last four contests between these two teams, including the 2019 MAC Championship Game in Detroit. The last meeting, which took place back in 2021, saw the RedHawks take a comfortable 28-17 win over Central in Oxford.
Getting to know the RedHawks
Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Miami is on a hot streak since the start of conference play, winning two-straight games by double-digits after a league-opening loss to Toledo.
They’ve looked much like their old selves in the process, with the defense leading the way and the offense making long, efficient drives after wandering through the desert in a tough non-conference slate.
In conference play, the RedHawks are fourth in scoring defense (21.4 points) and total defense (339.7 yards allowed per game), while ranking second in rush defense (103 yards per game). Their lone weakness is in the back end, playing seventh in the league in pass defense (236.7 yards per game), but five interceptions this season— with all five picks in the last three weeks— have really helped the numbers recently.
Keying in to Miami’s boosted defensive performance is linebacker Corban Hondru, who stepped into a starting role to start the MAC season, picking off Toledo twice and notching 34 tackles over three contests. It’s been an unexpected surprise for a linebacking crew which already includes reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year Matt Salopek (team-leading 63 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, one each forced and recovered fumble), Ty Wise (36 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, three sacks) and the emergent Brian Ugwu, who leads the team with 10 TFLs and four sacks on 40 total tackles.
The sheer depth of linebacker has allowed Miami to mix-and-match their defensive markings and make countering their attack extremely frustrating.
Miami has often been known as the ground-and-pound team, but 2024 has been very different. This season, the team has collected three one-play scoring drives over the last two games, while also creating significantly better balance than in years past.
They sit in the middle of the MAC tables offensively, sitting eighth in the MAC in rushing (134.3 yards per game) and seventh in passing (232 yards per game). Their efficiency through the air has been the difference this year, with nine touchdowns through the air to just one interception over three games in league play. (For comparison, Miami had four touchdowns to seven interceptions all of 2023 in league play.) They’ve had to sacrifice the run game to get there, but so far so good.
Brett Gabbert returning to the fold has been a blessing, with three receivers averaging over 44 yards per game and four receivers notching at least 18 receptions. Gabbert sits at 1,562 yards on 57 percent completion, 12 touchdowns and seven picks for the season, but has really turned it on in MAC play, completing 64 percent of passes for nine TDs and one interception.
Cade McDonald (35 rec., 466 yards, two touchdowns) is Miami’s leading receiver, though Reggie Virgil (18 rec., 359 yards, team-leading four touchdowns) has turned it on over the last month. Keyon Mozee is still chugging in Miami, as the graduate back is the workhorse on the groun with 71 carries for 471 yards and two touchdowns.
As always, Miami’s special teams are sure to factor in. Alec Bevelheimer has done a great job with pinning returners, with the league’s second-best fair catch rate (18) and just one touchback on a 38.3 yard net average. Former punter Dom Dzioban is Miami’s placekicker and has been efficient, ranking third in the conference at 11-of-13 on attempts.
Getting to know the Chippewas
Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Chippewas are reeling at the worst time to do so, crawling out to a 1-2 start in conference play and coming off a particularly clumsy loss to Eastern Michigan on the road last weekend.
Their loss to Eastern was the fourth-straight time where CMU found themselves in a game decided by a single possession. It is a baffling pattern which has created a lot of consternation in Mt. Pleasant, especially given Central is the MAC’s top offensive team in total yards (403.3 yards per game) and third in scoring (29.9 points per game) while also displaying excellent situational defense.
Last week was particularity galling, as CMU squandered a 34-16 lead with 11 minutes remaining to fall 38-34. In the game, CMU had nine tackles-for-loss, five sacks, a game-opening interception and a fumble return touchdown on defense to help keep the Chips in the game, but the offense stalled out after an injury to Bert Emanuel Jr. and the defense just couldn’t get the stops they needed when it mattered.
There are plenty of questions as it concerns quarterbacks going into this week, but regardless of who is under center, running back Marion Lukes is the undisputed leader of the offense. Lukes paced the offense vs. EMU, with 118 yards on 13 carries. It was a decent follow-up to his three-TD performance the week prior against Ohio and re-established the run as CMU’s primary threat (195.6 yards rushing per game; second in MAC.) MIzzou transfer BJ Harris (48 carries, 287 yards, two TDs) has been the primary spell back of recent with Myles Bailey (24 carries, 171 yards, two TDs) going in-and-out of the lineup with injuries.
Six receivers have each nabbed at minimum 12 passes, with Evan Boyd (19 rec., team-leading 281 yards, two TDs) and Chris Parker (19 rec., 265 yards, team-leading three TDs) atop the receiving charts.
Look for the Central offense to keep the ball on the ground this week as they break in a young QB; CMU finished 5-of-12 on pass attempts vs. EMU, with Jefferson going 2-of-8.
CMU is about average in total defense, checking in at 83rd in the NCAA (377.4 yards per game)— but crucially, have been fairly weak in the running game at 104th in the NCAA (172.4 yards per game), which has lost them multiple games. Combine that with one of the NCAA’s worst turnover rates (one interception, three forced fumbles in seven games), and it’s a recipe for disaster.
Jordan Kwiatkowski (12 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, interception), Jonah Pace (sack, forced fumble) and Jason Williams (five tackles, half-sack, fumble return TD) were the key contributors to last week’s defensive performance. Kwiatkowski in particular has been the best defender overall for the Chips, with 61 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and an interception. Fellow backer Dakota Cochran has also featured, tying for the team lead with 3.5 sacks while also picking up seven TFLs, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Central’s passing defense is a Top 50 unit in the country, with the corner duo of Donte Kent, Jaion Jackson and Caleb Spann notching nine pass breakups and the safety duo of Caleb Spann and Da’Raun McKinney breaking up eight passes through seven games. They could find an intriguing matchup against a Miami team which has suddenly found success through the air— though CMU’s inability to produce turnovers (one INT by a defensive back in seven games) has put a ceiling on the defense’s potential.
Special teams has been a mixed bag for CMU. Donte Kent has had at least one return touchdown so far— but also had a touchdown called back on penalty and several costly muffs. Marion Lukes has also had similar luck on kick returns. At least they roster the MAC’s best field goal unit, with Tristan Mattson knocking through 11 of his 12 attempts this season, including 10-straight.