Miami enters 2026 looking to get back to Ford Field and finally break through after three straight trips to the MAC Championship Game — a win in 2023 sandwiched by losses in 2024 and 2025. Chuck Martin, now in year 13, brings back a program that’s had just one losing season since 2018, but this year comes with more uncertainty than usual: the quarterback job is a true open competition (redshirt sophomore Thomas Gotkowski vs. transfers David McComb and Caleb Heavner), the receiver room is mostly new, and the offensive identity is still being built. Martin has called the defense the anchor and the offense the “state of confusion” — in a good-natured way — heading into fall camp.
Best case scenario: MAC championship
Worst case scenario: The first losing season since 2018
Biggest Question mark: Can the QB play be enough this season?
Offense
David McComb has been named the starting QB, the Kansas transfer has a ton of talent and will be tasked with leading the RedHawk QB room. Pair him with Wisconsin transfer Cade Yacamelli, plus the 4 returning linemen, and this team is promising. The 3 P4 transfers have to seamlessly come in to mesh well with the new QB and Keith Reynolds who returns at WR.
Defense
The defense is almost always one of, if not the best in the MAC, and I fully expect that to continue this year. This year’s pass rush will have to continue their “next man up” mantra this season after losing 4 guys last year who combined for 40 sacks/TFLs. Bai Jobe will be elite on the edge and will look to be the star on the new look defensive line.
Schedule
9/5 @ Pittsburgh: This one will be an uphill battle, however, the Panthers aren’t invincible. They do return starting star QB Mason Heinschel and several returners at RB and WR. There will be opportunities to pressure the Panthers as their line allowed 44 sacks last season. Their defense has bolstered their depth and experience as they will look to improve this year. The secondary has massive question marks, but bringing in Auburn transfer Raion Strader from Auburn, along with Shawn Lee Jr. returning should help increase the depth of the team. strader was a RedHawk before moving to Auburn and now to Pittsburgh.
9/12 vs. Holy Cross: The home opener this season is a matchup with FCS opponent Holy Cross. The Crusaders just took a 35-10 loss to Lehigh in their home opener. Miami should roll here.
9/19 @ Cincinnati (TQL): This feels like a matchup that QB JC French and UC’s wall of an offensive line should run through. However, this is the Victory Bell, and anything can happen. This matchup being at TQL will be amazing!
9/26 vs. UConn: This is the most winnable of their notable NC games.
10/3 vs. Bowling Green: This is an extremely young team right now, and I do expect Eddie George to get the Falcons back to where they need to be. However, I think they’re a year away at this time. Miami should win this one at home.
10/10 @ UMass: It’s hard to not get better than 0-12. However, they still aren’t towards the top of the conference and Miami should handle this easily. The Minutemen have just 26 total wins since 2012. This is another team on the come up that just isn’t quite there yet.
10/17 vs. Akron: Despite not having a winning season since 2015, the Zips are slowly crawling back to relevance. This year, they will look to have their first winning season since 2015 this year. Miami should win this one as well.
10/24 @ CMU: Stop me if you’ve heard this before, however, Central Michigan is on the come-up as well. The Chippewas will look to build more momentum under Matt Drinkall. They had a winning season last year and retained a good deal of their squad, meaning there’s a real shot the Chippewas make a leap this year. If the defense can get up to speed quickly that is. This one will be a test, and I can honestly see it going either way. I’ll go with the home team here.
11/3 vs Buffalo: Predicting Buffalo is impossible. If they come in with no expectations, they win big (2024). With high hopes, they fall flat (2025). If this season’s offense can get consistent, this could be another year where the squad does better than expected.
11/10 vs Ohio: After coaching chaos, Ohio has their 3rd coach in 2 years. John Hauser is now tasked with completely rebuilding this program that desperately needs stability. Hauser is 1-0 as the HC, beating UNLV in the Frisco Bowl last year. The offense will now need to get things figured out quickly or they risk their first losing season since 2021. Miami should win here.
11/17 @ Kent State: 5 wins last year. While not a great number, that represents significant improvement. Mark Carney returns and looks to take the Flashes to a bowl game for the first time in 5 years. This should be a game Miami wins as they roll into the biggest game in the conference.
11/24 @ WMU: This is likely the biggest game in the conference this year. A rematch of last year’s MAC title game, However, 26 seniors are gone now and WMU has to quickly reload or face a steep drop off in production. They are looking for a second straight MAC Championship and will be led by Broc Lowry. Can the new additions, especially on the defensive line come together? I’ll predict a Miami loss here.
Miami’s record Prediction: 8-4. Yet another winning season under Chuck Martin and co. in Oxford. The defense has to come together and the QB room has to produce consistently.