Preview: Miami football faces Colorado State at the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

The Miami University RedHawks football team (8-5) will finish its 2024 season against the Colorado State University Rams (8-4) in Tucson, Arizona at the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl on Dec. 28.

After a 1-4 start to the year, the RedHawks rallied for a seven-game winning streak in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play to become bowl eligible for the fourth year in a row. However, their winning streak culminated in a 28-3 loss against the Ohio University Bobcats at the MAC championship.

In Detroit, the RedHawks totalled 127 receiving yards, their second-lowest of the season. They had over 200 receiving yards in seven of the previous eight games before the championship. The team rushed for 62 yards despite averaging 159.1 rushing yards against MAC opponents leading up to Dec. 7.

For head coach Chuck Martin, the MAC championship left the team with a lot to desire.

“We didn’t play well in our last game,” Martin said. “We’ve had a great season, but we didn’t win the championship game. [We] got a pretty bad taste in our mouth from that.”

Since Dec. 7, Miami lost key players on both sides of the ball to the transfer portal. Junior Reggie Virgil and redshirt sophomore Javon Tracy, the team’s leading receivers, announced their commitments to Texas Tech University and the University of Minnesota respectively. Junior offensive lineman Will Jados will join Virgil at Texas Tech.

Defensively, the RedHawks will be missing sophomore defensive back Raion Strader, who led the team in break-ups (17) and contributed two interceptions this season. Strader will play for the Auburn University Tigers next season.

Despite these missing pieces, Martin said at a press conference that every healthy senior on the team will play on Saturday.

Among those seniors are running backs Keyon Mozee and Kevin Davis. The duo combined for six rushing touchdowns this season, and Mozee’s 1,073 yards was the second-most in the MAC.

Redshirt senior receiver Cade McDonald will also take the field. After missing three games late in the season, McDonald caught 82 yards and one touchdown in Miami’s last regular season game. On the season, he has 606 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

The Rams face similar obstacles with the transfer portal. Despite productive recruiting, Colorado State will be missing its top receiver in sophomore Caleb Goodie, who caught 436 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Miami may face Goodie, who committed to the University of Cincinnati, in the 2026 Battle for the Victory Bell.

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Sophomore linebacker Buom Jock joined Goodie in the portal. Jock led the Rams with 100 tackles and contributed one interception and one forced fumble for the Rams. As of now, Jock hasn’t committed anywhere.

In addition to missing their leading tackler, the Rams will also play without their defensive coordinator, Freddie Banks, who was dismissed after the regular season. Linebackers coach Adam Pilapil will replace him for the bowl game.

Saturday will be many of the RedHawks’ last collegiate games. Sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert, who started as a first year in 2019, will take his final snaps in the Red & White after culminating 10,630 yards and 80 touchdowns in his career.

For Martin, the trip to Tucson provides the RedHawks a chance to end the season on a high note as well as reflect on the season as a whole.

“Priority number one is to win the game,” Martin said. “We’ve got a football game, and we’re here to win a football game. Priority number two is to have as much fun as we can have while we’re in Arizona.”

Miami closes out the 2024 season at 4:30 p.m. EST with hopes of its ninth victory in a bowl game.

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu