Preview: Football team faces last opponent at Yager for 2024 season

At the 2024 home opener, the Miami University RedHawks football team suffered a 27-16 defeat to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats to lose the 128th Battle for the Victory Bell. Since then, Miami has won each of its games at Yager Stadium.

The RedHawks (6-4, 5-1 in conference play) conclude their home schedule tonight at 8 p.m. against the Northern Illinois University Huskies (6-4, 3-3 in conference play).

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) standings are far from finalized, but the RedHawks’ five-game winning streak propelled them to first place, tied with the Bowling Green State University Falcons (6-4, 5-1 in conference play) and Ohio University (7-3, 5-1).

The team that entered conference play at 1-3 and lost to its first MAC opponent is now contending for a spot at the MAC championship in December.

Last week’s victory over the Kent State University Golden Flashes marked the second time this season that the running backs contributed most of the offense’s yards. Senior running back Keyon Mozee played his best game of the season with 196 yards, including a career-best 74-yard rushing touchdown.

Sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns, with senior receiver Reggie Virgil catching two receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. Virgil leads Miami’s receivers with 598 yards and seven touchdowns.

Redshirt sophomore receiver Javon Tracy follows Virgil closely with 590 yards and six touchdowns. Gabbert has targeted Tracy and Virgil for 41 and 29 completions respectively this season.

Defensively, Miami played one of its best games against Kent State with four sacks, matching its performance against Ball State the week prior.

Four RedHawks tackled the Golden Flashes’ quarterback. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Brian Ugwu earned his fifth sack of the season, the most of any player on the team, while redshirt first-year linebacker Christian McKinney earned his first.

Miami enters tonight’s matchup as favorites according to ESPN, but the Huskies’ current two-game winning streak should be of note to the RedHawks.

Northern Illinois shocked college football with a victory over the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in September, earning them a top 25 ranking.

One week later, the Huskies lost in overtime to the University of Buffalo Bulls, dropping to 2-1 and 0-1 in MAC play. Since then, Northern Illinois has earned a 3-3 conference record.

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The Huskies have simultaneously lost close games to middle-of-the-pack teams and won against top-ranked teams. Their season includes a 17-7 victory against Bowling Green and a 42-28 victory against Western Michigan, both top four teams in the MAC.

Each of the Huskies’ conference losses have been within one score. In two of those losses, they put up more offensive yards than their opponents.

Their offense is primarily led by the team’s running backs, who have rushed for 2,197 yards.

Redshirt senior Gavin Williams leads the team’s rushing attack with 631 yards and three touchdowns, ranking seventh in the conference for rushing yards.

Senior Antario Brown cracks the top 10 in the MAC with 567 yards, and his four touchdowns puts him at first on the team.

In the air, junior quarterback Ethan Hampton has thrown for 1,361 yards and 12 touchdowns in his nine games. He started each week until an injury against Bowling Green.

Redshirt first-year Josh Holst started two games against the University of Toledo Rockets and the Ball State University Cardinals. Hampton returned against Ball State, but he didn’t start again until the Western Michigan game.

With Hampton now 2-0 since returning as a starter, Miami’s defense should be wary of Northern Illinois’ passing game. However, the Huskies’ running backs provide a significant threat on the ground. Miami’s defense has allowed over 100 rushing yards in seven games this year.

The RedHawks play at Yager for the final time in 2024 at 8 p.m. The current conference standings aren’t set in stone yet, and Northern Illinois’ season is full of upsets in both the MAC and college football overall.

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu