Miami University Football Preview 2025: Can the RedHawks Return to Another MAC Title Game?

Miami Herald

a day ago

The RedHawks keep rolling along.Some MAC programs have it figured out. Despite the transfer portal losses, and a lack of talent compared to the Power Four, these MAC schools know how to keep winning while others need everything to break the right way.Toledo, Ohio, and for the most part, Northern Illinois have been in that mix. Miami University has done a better job than most of maintaining that winning consistency under Chuck Martin.
It was a rough start, going 5-19 in 2014 and 2015, but since then, there's just been one season with fewer than six wins. There have been three MAC title appearances in the last six years, two championships, and six bowl appearances - 2020 was the only outlier.But this run might be challenging.
The Miami University offense loses almost everyone, the defense has to replace almost all of the top players, and yet all appears to be fine.Martin and his staff were able to bring in a whole new receiving corps, a fantastic veteran quarterback in Dequan Finn, and the depth developed over the last few seasons should step in and shine.And, not surprisingly, the RedHawks should in the mix for a third straight MAC Championship appearance.
Miami University RedHawks Preview 2025: Offense
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN- Last year's attack wasn't quite good enough. It didn't turn the ball over, and it hit the big shots down the field, but it was 96th in the nation in scoring, 98th in total yards, and went 1-5 when scoring 20 points or fewer. That included the 38-3 loss to Ohio in the MAC Championship, but …- The RedHawks have their quarterback. Dequan Finn was outstanding in his last three years at Toledo, didn't get on the field much in his one year at Baylor, and now he's back in the MAC. When he's right, he's one of the best all-around Group of Five playmakers.
- The receiving corps is starting over in the portal. Deion Colzie (Notre Dame) is going into his fifth season, but he only has 21 career catches. He's for the outside, Keith Reynolds (Washington) is for the inside, and Darion Williams (Florida State) is a 6-3 option going into his sixth year.The transfer portal brought in the tight ends, too, in Grant Leeper (Iowa) and Brody Kosin (Indiana) - both are looking for their first college catch.- The fantastic line is undergoing an overhaul. It got whacked by the portal, losing star left tackle Will Jados to Texas Tech. Somewhere up front, transfers Austin Uke (Stanford) and Payton Kirkland (Colorado) will fill in around backups and untested options. There's talent, but it all might need a little bit to come together.- The top running backs are gone, but Jordan Brunson returns after finishing third on the team with 299 yards and four scores. He's a big power back, and so is Kenny Tracy, who's back after missing all of last year hurt.
Miami University RedHawks Preview 2025: Defense
- The defense came up with a whole slew of takeaways, the secondary was strong, and the team ended up 15th in the nation, allowing just 18.8 points per game. Unlike the offense, the defense isn't doing much through the transfer portal.- The pass rush has to come from somewhere. Getting Bai Jobe from Kansas will help, and Kameron Wilson has five years of backup experience at Cincinnati. They'll be turned loose, and veteran Adam Trick should take on a bigger role after making 37 tackles and 4.5 sacks last year.The tackles aren't big, but Roosevelt Andrews and Nasir Washington will produce. Washington should take a step up as the main man on the line.
- All-star tackling machine Matt Slopek is gone, but Corban Hondru made 70 stops in the rotation, and Oscar McWood is a solid veteran on the other side. Malcolm McCain is a big banger who should be a statistical star in the middle.- Saving the best for last, the secondary should be the team's biggest strength. The safety combination of Silas Walters and Eli Blakey were second and third on the team in tackles, respectively, and Luke Evans is a big corner with all-star potential. Koy Beasley (Purdue) is an untested, but promising, option for the other side.
Miami University RedHawks Key to the Season
Keep running well.As always with Miami, the team wins when it runs well. It went 5-0 when running for yards or more two years ago, and 8-1 when getting to 100 yards. Last season, the team was 8-0 when getting past 110 yards, and only lost to Notre Dame when getting to 100.
Miami University RedHawks Key Player
Adam Trick, EDGE Jr.Again, several key losses came on the D line. The tackles will be okay, but the great secondary will struggle if there isn't any pressure. Trick started to rise up in his third season, but he has to crank up more than 4.5 sacks.
Miami University RedHawks Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Dequan Finn, QB Sr.How good was he at Toledo? In his last three seasons, he threw for close to 7,000 yards with 63 touchdown passes and 23 picks. He'll add more of a rushing element for the MU attack - he ran for over 1,800 yards and 25 scores with the Rockets. He got in a little work last year at Baylor, but now he'll shine in the RedHawk attack.Top Transfer Out: Will Jados, OT Sr.It's hard to find left tackles in the MAC. Jados is a 6-8, 307-pound pass protector with three years of starting experience. Now he'll be showing off for the NFL scouts at Texas Tech.
Miami University RedHawks Key Game
at Ohio, November 4It's a rematch of the MAC Championship that went so very, very wrong for the RedHawks. With Toledo to follow, and a nasty date at Buffalo after that, a loss in Athens could keep Miami from going back to the title game.- 2025 Miami University Schedule Breakdown
Miami University RedHawks Top 10 Players
1. Dequan Finn, QB Sr.2. Silas Waters, S Sr.3. Corban Hondru, LB Sr.4. Eli Blakey, S Sr.5. Nasir Washington, DT Sr.6. Dom Dzioban, PK/P Sr.7. Oscar McWood, LB Sr.8. Deion Colzie, WR Sr.9. Luke Evans, CB Soph.10. Malcolm McCain, LB Soph.
Miami University 2024 Fun Stats
- Field Goals: Miami 27-of-31, Opponents 15-of-21- Passing TDs: Miami 23, Opponents 10- Fumbles: Opponents 20 (lost 10), Miami 13 (lost 6)
Miami University RedHawks 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
The RedHawks won't roll over in the early games, but they'll lose at Wisconsin and Rutgers. The date with UNLV is telling - it's a winnable home game coming off a two-week break.Missing Kent State and UMass in MAC action is a killer - those would be two layup wins that were on last year's slate - but the conference season isn't bad … until November.The RedHawks will go bowling for a fifth-straight season, but getting back to the MAC Championship will come down to run of at Ohio, Toledo, at Buffalo, and Ball State.
They'll be in the title hunt, but to get in they'll have to win two of the three against the Bobcats, Rockets, and Bulls, and they'll come up just short.Set The Miami University RedHawks Win Total At … 7.5Likely Wins: at Akron, Lindenwood50/50 Games: Ball State, at Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, at Northern Illinois, at Ohio, Toledo, UNLV, Western MichiganLikely Losses: at Rutgers, at Wisconsin
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