MIAMI FOOTBALL

After extra week to tweak, MU hosts 'Cats

For whom will the Bell toll?

By MIKE SMITH
Through a series of events, its been seven years since Miami hosted Cincinnati in Oxford. After trailing 17-6  with less than three minutes remaining in that contest, the Bearcats pulled out a 21-17 victory. 

Last year, MU returned the blow with a dramatic road win. The RedHawks tied the game at 24-all on a Graham Nicholson field goal with 5:10 remaining. Yashn McKee then forced overtime by blocking a late Bearcat field goal. Brett Gabbert . . . 

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. . . hit Joe Wilkins Jr. with a TD to start the extra period and McKee sealed MU's 31-24 road win with an interception. That unleashed a wild  celebration - both at Nippert Stadium and back in Oxford. The latter became a double shot when Miami's bus returned with the Victory Bell. (HERE)

It was MU's first win in the series since 2005 and evened the oldest rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains at 60-60-7. Now, it appears that the series is going to end after 2025. That means this is would be the last meeting in Oxford. With a strong senior class, led by quarterback Brett Gabbert, it might be argued this is MU's best chance for victory in the final two contests. 

Good crowds were typical of past Miami vs Cincinnati contests in Oxford, but the 2024 matchup could be a record breaker. Fans of both schools will be threading their way up US 27 for a noon kickoff. Getting an early start is probably MORE than a good idea!

BEARCATS SLIGHT FAVORITES
For a number of reasons, Cincinnati is a slight favorite in most circles. The Bearcats are a Big 12 team, albeit only in their second Big 12 season and thus far own one conference win. Overall, the 2023 Bearcats went 3-9 in head coach Scott Satterfield's first year at the helm. 

Cincinnati is 1-1 so far in 2024, opening with a 66-13 thrashing of Eastern Kentucky and falling 27-21 last week at Pittsburgh.

Although Pitt is a quality opponent, the loss was particularly troubling because UC was on its home field and owned a 27-6 lead late in the third quarter. Pitt then ran off the game's final 22 points with three TDs and a field goal. 

QB PART OR TRANSFER INFLUX
Miami head coach Chuck Martin, while addressing the media after Week One (before UC's loss to Pitt), noted the 2024 Bearcat squad has "a ton of transfers." Among them is redshirt sophomore quarterback Brandan Sorsby. He threw for 1,587 yards and 15 touchdowns with only five interceptions while at Indiana in 2023. He also ran for 286 yards and four TDs during that campaign.

"The quarterback is really athletic," Martin said, adding, "This guy can make all the throws."

Through two games as a Bearcat, he has completed 63.8 percent of 69 pass attempts, contributing 681 yards and five TDs with no interceptions. 

Miami's defense must apply pressure (such as here against Bowling Green) and limit damage by UC's quarterback.

His top receiving target has been Xzavier Henderson. The (6-3, 200) senior played at Florida before joining UC for 2023. He caught 58 balls for 782 yards and three TDs last year. Twelve of those receptions (providing 140 yards) came against Miami.

Another target is former Ohio State tight end Joe Royer (6-5, 255). He has eight catches for a total of 138 yards and one score this season -- twice as many receptions  as during his three years with the Buckeyes. 

PRODUCTIVE RUN GAME
As for the running game, Cincinnati is averaging a robust 6.2 ypc. "The offensive line was really good in the first game," Martin said. "They were moving guys all over the place." 

Pitt limited the 'Cats to 4.1 ypc, but UC still totaled 151 yards on the ground. 

"They've got a lot of different ways to attack you in the run game, and then they throw the ball over your head," Martin said. 

As for Cincinnati's defense, Martin noted Cincinnati hired a defensive coordinator (Tyson Veidt) from Iowa State. That switch resulted "in a completely different scheme (3-3-5) . . . You don't see it very often," Martin said ​, adding that Kent State ran it for a while. 

As for Miami, the RedHawks stumbled -- mostly on offense -- in their opener at Northwestern. 

Martin knew the Wildcats had a good defense, but with Brett Gabbert back at quarterback, MU was certainly expecting to put one -- or more -- touchdowns on the board. Instead, it managed a mere pair of field goals by Dom Dziozan.

It was a 3-3 game at intermission. However, NU scored 10 straight points and led 13-3 with 14:47 remaining. Miami made it a one-score game with a field goal at 7:28 and dodged a bullet when Northwestern missed a subsequent 45-yard try. 

There was 2:49 remaining when MU took over, and it opened the offensive throttle. After a short run and incompletion, Gabbert completed four straight passes. That took the RedHawks to NU's 36 with 1:02 left. However, his next pass was intercepted, and Northwestern ran out the clock.

With the schedule providing a bye week, Miami had two weeks to (1) Recover from a very physical game  (2) Clean up some problems areas.

Several key statistics from the Northwestern game reveal what some of those problem areas might be. 

Jordan Brunson is a part of the RedHawks run game. (MVSmith/MRO file)

>>> The RedHawks totaled 40 yards rushing and averaged 1.7 ypc. 
After losing Rashad Amos (Ole Miss) through the transfer portal, there was some questions about how well MU would run the ball this year. With an experienced line, Martin will expect more. "We had some good runs, but there were inconsistencies," he said. 
Junior Jordan Brunson, who at 6-0, 233 is similar in build to Amos, was the main workhorse against NU, averaging 4.1 ypc on eight trips totaling 33 yards. 
>> Each team had two turnovers. 
Martin is a big believer in the importance of turnovers, especially regarding stopping drives and affecting field position.
Northwestern lost one TD when Miami recovered a second quarter fumble inside the RedHawks one-yard line. MU's two interceptions stopped second half drives -- including Miami's final bid for a tying score.
>>> Gabbert completed 22 of 37 pass attempts, good for 227 yards with two interceptions. 
It's difficult to be at the top of your game in Week One, particularly when you are coming back from a devastating injury. Gabbert will probably feel more comfortable with each passing week. One thing that would help that process is protection. Northwestern recorded four sacks and six TFL.
"They are really good up front," Martin said of the Wildcats defense. "We knew that going in -- that they were deep and talented and physical up front (while) pass rushing, so they got us sometimes, and that stopped drives." 

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Cade McDonald had eight catches against Northwestern. (MVSmith/MRO file)

I>>> Cade McDonald caught eight passes totaling 105 yards. 
It was a pretty good day for the former Michigan State wideout, now in his second year with Miami. 
Reggie Virgil caught three balls and after that it was mostly running backs. Tight end Jack Coldiron had two receptions in his long-awaited return, while receivers Javon Tracy and Andre Johnson each recorded one catch.
n short, MU could use some more chunk plays (and a few scores wouldn't hurt). Gage Larvadain (now with South Carolina) provided those big plays early last year. Somehow, the receiving corps needs to collectively keep drives going and/or provide big plays. That would be especially true if MU cannot ride a running game. 
>>> Northwestern QB Mike Wright ran nine times for a total of 65 yards and the game's only TD. 
Defense has been Miami's "rock." However, the RedHawks had zero sacks and Wright's scrambling/running skills kept several key drives moving. Dual-threat QBs permeate the college football landscape these days, so limiting their damage is a key. 
​>>> Miami was 4 of 14 on third down against Northwestern.
It's difficult to keep drives going with a 28.5 percent conversion rate. 
For the most part, Martin summed it up with the word "inconsistent." Ironing out those inconsistencies has been a big part of the bye week -- even on special teams, where Martin felt like his team was a block or two from springing a big play. Last year's block of a UC field goal was just one example of how important special teams can be. 

Both MU and UC are coming off disappointing losses. Both are hungry for a win, and with the Victory Bell at stake, a win would be quite the feast. 

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