The Miami (OH) RedHawks are flying high into the 2025 season with high aspirations and even higher expectations. They will be following a solid performance in 2024 that kept them on the outside looking in for the MAC title. The RedHawks want to make the transition from contender to champion.
With a war-tested roster, stars on both sides of the ball returning, and a slate loaded with high-level showdowns, this may be their year to soar highest. But can Miami (OH) finally get over the hump and bring home the MAC championship?
2025 Miami (OH) Football Schedule
Here’s a quick look at every stop along the RedHawks’ title quest:
- Aug. 28—at Wisconsin
(Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI) - Sept. 6—at Rutgers
(SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ) - Sept. 20—vs. UNLV
(Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH) - Sept. 27—vs. Lindenwood
(Oxford, OH) - Oct. 4—at Northern Illinois
(DeKalb, IL) - Oct. 11—at Akron
(Akron, OH) - Oct. 18—vs. Eastern Michigan
(Oxford, OH) - Oct. 25—vs. Western Michigan
(Homecoming, Oxford, OH) - Nov. 4 (Tue.)—at Ohio
(Athens, OH) - Nov. 12 (Wed.)—vs. Toledo
(Oxford, OH) - Nov. 19 (Wed.)—at Buffalo
(Buffalo, NY) - Nov. 29—vs. Ball State
(Senior Day, Oxford, OH)
Breaking Down the Slate: What to Watch for in 2025
The RedHawks begin their 2025 season with a double dose of Big Ten opponents. Visiting Wisconsin and Rutgers consecutively is no cakewalk, particularly with both schools featuring top-shelf defensive fronts. These games may not decide Miami’s MAC destiny, but they will definitely set the tone for the rest of the year.
The non-conference schedule becomes less taxing in late September, when the RedHawks host UNLV and FCS opponent Lindenwood. They are important confidence-building games before the team enters MAC action, and they will allow the coaching staff an opportunity to tweak their schemes.
October signifies the beginning of conference action, and it gets competitive quickly. Road trips to Northern Illinois and Akron bookend a couple of crucial home games against Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. The Oct. 25 Homecoming game with the Broncos might be a deciding MAC West crossover that determines divisional placement.
November is MACtion, with weekday nightlights showdowns. First, the annual Battle of the Bricks vs. arch-nemesis Ohio on a Tuesday night. Then a challenging home battle vs. defending champion Toledo, followed by a possible icebox trip to Buffalo. The season wraps up on Nov. 29 vs. Ball State—a rivalry game that may have significant MAC title ramifications.
Will the RedHawks Rise to the Top of the MAC?
With head coach Chuck Martin beginning his 12th season, Miami (OH) boasts one of the MAC’s most consistent programs. The RedHawks feature a number of key returnees, including quarterback Aveon Smith and linebacker Matt Salopek, who possess leadership and explosiveness. Smith flashed brilliance last year, and if he can refine his consistency, the offense has the potential to be one of the MAC’s most dynamic.
Defensively, the RedHawks have established a tradition of hard-nosed, physical football. In 2024, they were in the top three in the MAC in scoring defense and rushing yards allowed. With the veteran front seven back, the chains won’t be easy to move.
Martin is upbeat about the prospects of the team.
“This team has gone through the fire. They know what it means to win, and now it’s just a matter of putting it all together each and every week,” Martin said during MAC Media Days. “Our expectation is simple: play for a MAC championship.”
KEEP READING: Western Michigan 2025 Football Schedule: Can the Broncos Bounce Back?
The trip to Detroit will not be easy. Toledo is still the standard in the conference, and Ohio, Buffalo, and Northern Illinois are never to be underestimated. But with a good home schedule and depth at key spots, the RedHawks could definitely make a push.
Of course, the key swing games also include the midweek series against Ohio and Toledo. Win those, and Miami will probably have its own fate in its hands going into the season finale against Ball State.
Buckle up, RedHawks fans—this could be the year the title drought ends.
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