MIAMI NOTES

RedHawks require 'pedal to the metal' mindset

By MIKE SMITH
The 2024 football schedule hasn't exactly done Miami any favors thus far, and there may not be much in the way of favors through the final five weeks. 
Not only can the RedHawks ill afford another loss in their quest for a MAC title game appearance, they need some help. The 2024 elimination of East and West divisions mean teams with the top two records go to the championship game.  On the surface, it sounds fair enough. However, scheduling changes have complicated some things.
Western Michigan is the only MAC-undefeated team remaining. Six other teams have 2-1 conference records. Miami is one of the six, but has the loss to Toledo. In a direct head-to-head tiebreaker between MU and UT, the Rockets have an advantage. 
Since Miami and Western Michigan do not . . .

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. . . meet this year, the Broncos would have to lose at least once to even kick in tiebreakers with any other one-loss team. In order for Miami to overcome the Rockets' advantage, Toledo needs at least another loss. It's a situation in which other contenders can't help but look at the remaining schedules for both teams. 
Because of the new (non-divisional) schedule format, Toledo and Western Michigan will not meet this year. Hence, an inevitable opportunity for one of them to lose such a matchup does NOT exist. Miami already played the Rockets but will not meet Western Michigan.
Toledo, nearly fell last weekend, but it scored the game's only touchdown on a 52-yard pass play to edge Northern Illinois 13-6 in Dekalb. Sophomore quarterback John Alan Richter, who replaced an injured Tucker Gleason in Buffalo the previous week, went the distance at NIU. He completed 15-of-28 passes totaling 152 yards and the decisive TD against one of the MAC's better defenses. 
Toledo hosts Bowling Green this week in one of the MAC's top rivalries. It has been a difficult matchup to handicap, with many upsets over the years. After that, UT travels to Eastern Michigan before hosting Central Michigan and Ohio. It finishes at Akron Nov. 26.
Western Michigan, meanwhile, has flexed its offensive muscle and skills in three straight wins (Ball State 45-42), Akron 24-24 and Buffalo 48-41). The Broncos are No. 1 (MAC games only) in scoring (42.3 ppg) and total offense (445.7 ypg). 
WMU is at home against winless Kent State and Northern Illinois (4-3, 2-1 MAC) before visiting Bowling Green (3-4, 2-1 MAC) and Central Michigan (3-4, 1-2 MAC). The Broncos finish Nov. 30 at home against Eastern Michigan. 
Miami host Central Michigan (3-4, 1-2 MAC) Saturday before visiting Ball State (2-5, 1-2 MAC) in the first of four  weeknight contests. Winless Kent State and Northern Illinois (4-3, 2-1 MAC) visit Oxford before MU finishes with a trip to Bowling Green (3-4, 2-1 MAC).

After taking over a Miami football program near ashes, Martin has built the RedHawks into a strong MAC title contender. (MRO/MVSmith/file)

MORE . . . 
>>> Miami will honor its 29 seniors prior to Saturday's game. In all, this senior group has played in 731 career games.
>>> In what has become a yearly tradition, the the RedHawks will be wearing a colored ribbon on their helmets. Different colors symbolize different forms of cancer, and players pick which color to wear in support of those who have batled or are battling cancer. 
>>> After sputtering early in 2024, Miami has scored 30-plus points in back-to-back games for the first time this year. Gabbert and the receivers have sharpened, with the senior QB tossing seven TDs in the last two games. Meanwhile, Keyon Mozee has rushed for over 100 yards in three of his last four games. Each of his 100-plus yard games was a Miami victory. 
>>> Chuck Martin, who already held the record for most games as head coach at Miami (125) picked up his 59th win Saturday against Ohio. That tied him with Randy Walker for most MU victories. 
>>> Martin again thanked students and fans for their attendance and the atmosphere Saturday against Ohio. "It makes a difference," he said, adding that his team can use the support again this week against Central Michigan. "We've got a huge one. They're all huge at this point. There's five weeks left and we are in the stretch drive." 
>>> Martin has stressed preparation and execution for every game. Noting the parity of teams in the MAC, he said being off your best game just a little can spell defeat. "You've got to come ready to play. ... It's like win or go home right now. . . - not that the season is over at that point, but at least that's the mentality you've got to have."
>>> When the RedHawks are able to play "suffrocating" defense, Martin said, "We're able to tilt the field." That, in turn,  gives the offense and special teams a chance to do damage. "It makes it a lot easier to play when they are in their dominant mode ... We'll get our points ... and (can) play with a lead... Playing from ahead and not from behind is way different."

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