Just like we did last year, we’ll be providing a preview of Ohio State’s opponent for the upcoming week. It’s a twelve game slate, so it’ll be done as a series with each piece running prior to the game that week.
So, if you want to impress your friends while watching the game, we’ve got your cheat code right here. We do the research, you drop nuggets. You win on Saturdays. It’s as simple as that.
Ohio State’s fourth game of the year is the second one against an in-state opponent. Miami (OH) isn’t expected to put up too much of a fight on Saturday, but no opponent can be taken lightly. Here’s all you need to know about the Redhawks.
Miami (OH) Record
(1-2); The only win has come against FCS opponent Tennessee Tech
All-Time Vitals
Wins: 691, No. 31 All-Time
Record: 691-463-44 (.595), No. 28 All-Time
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 22, No. 16 All-Time
Bowl Games: 11, No. 89 All-Time
Bowl Record: 7-4-0, No. 11 All-Time
Consensus All-Americans: None
Heisman Winners: None
NFL Draft Picks: 76, No. 83 All-Time
Next … Best season and best player in program history
Best All-Time season
1973 – What many people don’t know is that Miami had quite a three-year run from 1973-1975. During that period of time, the football program won 32 games, losing just one and tying one. The best year was its only undefeated campaign in program history, the first year of that run in 1973.
The team used several players and employed a heavy running attack to outwork and outlast opponents. Bob Hitchens, Chuck Varner, and Sherman Smith combined for 1,500 yards on the ground split pretty evenly.
The team was equally physical on the defensive end, and when it was all said and done, Miami ended No. 15 in the AP poll after winning the Tangerine Bowl.
Best Miami Redhawk of All-Time
Ben Roethlisberger, QB (2001-2003) – Many of you that are old enough probably remember Big Ben pulling the trigger for the Miami Redhawks around fifteen years ago. He’s by far the most notable player to come from the program and become a household name in the NFL — even still today.
Roethlisberger upped his level of play each year in Oxford and had a junior season to remember. In 2003, he put up over 4,400 yards and threw for 37 touchdowns. For his career, Big Ben passed for over 10,000 yards and 80 touchdowns, and rewrote program records that still stand today.
He was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the No. 11 player taken overall.
Next … Head coach, offensive and defensive style
Current Head Coach
Chuck Martin – 23-41 in his sixth full season season at Miami (OH)
Redhawk Offensive Style
The Redhawks have transitioned into a “smash-spread” offense built to take advantage of the gap-running game. The coaching staff uses the threat of the run from the running back and quarterback position, but will sprinkle in passes to possession-type receivers that have height and can take advantage of 1:1 matchups.
You’ll see the offense line up in a power spread look with mainly three receivers out in the pattern, forcing the defense to bring more guys forward to get enough numbers up close to the line.
Redhawk Defensive Style
Miami uses a unique 4-2-5 defensive scheme designed to match up against all sorts of spread offenses. It’ll walk a hybrid type of player up on the line and play downhill to stop the run, and mostly man-to-man behind it. But look for the Redhawks to drop one of the “lineman” back into coverage on passing downs.
It’s a scheme that fits the personnel that’s been recruited to, but we’ll see if the physicality of Ohio State is a problem on Saturday.
Next … Player to watch
Miami (OH) Redhawk to watch
Brett Gabbert – QB — Yes, he is related to who you think. Brett, the younger brother of former Missouri quarterback and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup Blaine, is a different player than his sibling.
The youngest of three, Brett didn’t get the height genes and stands at just 6-0, 207 lbs, which honestly looks to be a little generous. But he’s a competitor and a bit more fiery and mobile in the pocket. He’s a bigger threat to run, can keep plays alive and will use his moxie to make plays.
He’s still a very raw passer that’s improving, but he’ll leave it all out there for his team. He’s just a freshman.
Miami (OH) can win the game if …
A flu epidemic suddenly breaks out in the Ohio State locker room. There’s no other way around it; for the Redhawks to win this game, there needs to be some pretty unbelievable and remarkably epic things happen. The Buckeyes will have to turn the ball over a bushel of times, miss out on scoring opportunities, and give up a ton of big plays on defense.
But that’s unlikely to happen. Ohio State has more talent on the bench than Miami has starting, and there’s no path to a victory unless it’s a flat and mistake-riddled game for the Scarlet and Gray. But … funnier things have happened right?
