Miami football has been the epitome of consistency under head coach Chuck Martin. The RedHawks have reached three consecutive Mid-American Conference Championship games and haven't finished below .500 in conference play since 2015.
Though lots of new faces are cycling in for the RedHawks in 2026, everyone is on the same page about the goal in Oxford: play for, and win, conference championships.
"Our expectations are extremely high," defensive tackle and former Dixie Heights star Brach Rice said. "We want to win the MAC Championship and put ourselves in position for a playoff spot."
The RedHawks will learn a lot about themselves in Week 1. Miami opens the season on the road against Atlantic Coast Conference contender Pitt on Sept. 5. Pitt's staunch
defense will give the new-look RedHawks' offense a stiff test.
"It'll be a great challenge Week 1," Martin said. "I think it's awesome because you can throw them in the water and see what happens. They're going to find out right away what high-end college football is."
While everyone in Oxford would love to return from Pittsburgh with a win, the Panthers aren't the biggest game on the non-conference schedule. Miami and Cincinnati will renew the Victory Bell rivalry in TQL Stadium on Sept. 19, and the RedHawks want to reclaim the Bell after a 2024 home defeat.
"That game means almost everything," Rice said.
Miami landed at No. 2 in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, barely behind defending MAC champion Western Michigan. The talent is there for the RedHawks to find themselves in Detroit at year's end; now it's all about getting the pieces to blend.
"That's how you ultimately have success, is if every guy is out there doing his job every day," defensive end and former St. Xavier standout Grant Lyons said. "There's an urgency to win around here ... that's the expectation."
Miami RedHawks starting redshirt-freshman transfer at QB
Of 119 rostered players, 55 are playing their first season in Oxford. Some came months ago through the winter transfer window, others are just stepping on to campus in the summer. Martin is trying to build a championship contender with players he's still getting to know.
"It's a huge challenge, but it's a fun challenge," Martin said.
That challenge starts all the way at the top with QB1. Redshirt freshman and Kansas transfer David McComb was named the Week 1 starter; he'll be making his first collegiate appearance on the road against Pitt on Sept. 5. McComb had been battling returner Thomas Gotkowski for the job in camp, but Gotkowski suffered a non-contact injury and is now out for the year.
Though McComb lacks game experience, his processing speed has helped him integrate into the offense.
"He's done a great job with Coach (Gus) Ragland and he's worked his tail off," Martin said. "I keep reminding myself this is his first college game because he's capable of a lot and he's smart. Mentally, he understands all of it."
McComb will be put to the test right out of the gates with a trip to face Pat Narduzzi's traditionally stingy Panthers. Pitt should be a contender to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference title game and will likely be the best team Miami faces all season.
"If you can't learn from this one, then you can't," Martin said. "I hope there's guys out there just balling out. If they are, that'll probably be pretty good in the MAC."
Fortunately for McComb, he'll be surrounded by more proven pieces offensively. Miami returns four starting offensive linemen from last season and averages over 300 pounds on the line of scrimmage. The lone transfer, Evan Malcore, started 32 games for Northern Illinois over the past three years. He was also named to the Outland Trophy preseason watchlist for best interior offensive lineman in the country. There should be few defensive lines in the MAC that can overpower Miami up front.
The RedHawks should have a running back for nearly every situation. From quick and elusive Monmouth transfer Rodney Nelson to power runner D'Shawntae Jones, the committee running attack looks to be strength for Miami. Nelson was the Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 after running for 1,802 yards and 18 touchdowns, but will take a step up in competition in the MAC. Jones punched in seven of Miami's 17 rushing touchdowns as a freshman last season.
The receiving group will have a lot to prove this season. Braylon Isom and Lynel Billups-Williams are returners from last year's roster, but neither eclipsed 150 receiving yards in limited action. Damarion Witten was a highly touted recruit out of high school but he didn't see much field time before transferring out of Ohio State. Starting tight end Christian Ross is another transfer, bringing 174 yards and a touchdown from Memphis. If any pass catcher can emerge as a true No. 1 target, it will go a long way to keep opposing defenses honest.
Linebacker corps to lead stingy Miami defense
Outside of the offensive line, Miami's linebacker room is the deepest on the team. Redshirt sophomore Malcom McCain is Miami's top returning tackler, and Brock Uihlein could be set for a big jump after posting 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in last year's MAC title game. Two transfers bring all-conference pedigrees; Blayne Myrick was a first-teamer in the Sun Belt and is on the Butkus Award watchlist. C.J. Young was a second-team All-MAC selection.
That linebacker corps will be the focal point of a defense that has been stellar for the past five years. Since 2021, Miami hasn't finished worse than 41st nationally in scoring defense. Last year, getting after the quarterback played a big role in their success. The RedHawks finished No. 8 in the country with 40 sacks.
If that pressure rate is to continue, expect to see some big numbers from a pair of familiar faces. Fifth-year defensive end Grant Lyons and redshirt-sophomore defensive tackle Brach Rice both made names for themselves in Greater Cincinnati at St. Xavier and Dixie Heights, respectively. Though Lyons is making his debut as a Miami starter, he's excited to step up in his new role.
"I've put the work in and I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited to be out there and making plays for the RedHawks," Lyons said.
The defensive backfield is less proven than the front seven, but a few key players could be poised for breakout years. Eli Coppess is back for his fifth year after recording three interceptions in 2025. Ben Minich, a Lakota West alum, has transferred in after three seasons at Notre Dame. The corners and safeties have the size to match up with opposing wideouts, as each starter checks in at 6-foot or taller.
Miami RedHawks starters
Offense:
LT: Eric Smith, 51 (6-6, 306, fifth-year senior, Fairmont, West Virginia)
LG: Greg Smith Jr., 74 (6-4, 300, redshirt junior., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
C: Kris Manu, 72 (6-1, 300, redshirt sophomore, Dublin, Ohio)
RG: Jacob Schorsch, 70 (6-5, 300, redshirt freshman, Cincinnati)
RT: Evan Malcore, 54 (6-6, 305, fifth-year senior, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin)
TE: Christian Ross, 15 (6-4, 225, redshirt junior, Midland City, Alabama)
QB: David McComb, 16 (6-4, 220, redshirt freshman., Edmond, Oklahoma)
RB: Rodney Nelson, 0 (5-8, 179, redshirt junior, Owings, Maryland)
WR: Lynel Billups-Williams, 10 (5-9, 177, redshirt junior, University Park, Illinois)
WR: Damarion Witten, 8 (6-3, 206, junior, Cleveland)
WR: Braylon Isom, 18 (6-3, 217, redshirt sophomore, Saginaw, Michigan)
Defense
DE: Devin Bell, 2 (6-1, 236, redshirt sophomore, Akron, Ohio)
DT: Roosevelt Andrews III, 92 (6-1, 255, redshirt junior, Barberton, Ohio)
DT: Brach Rice, 4 (6-1, 260, redshirt sophomore, Covington, Kentucky)
DE: Grant Lyons, 43 (6-3, 242, fifth-year senior, Cincinnati, Ohio)
LB: Blayne Myrick, 15 (6-3, 236, fifth-year senior, Fairhope, Alabama)
LB: Malcom McCain, 3 (6-1, 230, redshirt sophomore, Snellville, Georgia)
Nickel: C.J. Young, 8 (6-0, 215, redshirt junior, Strongsville, Ohio)
CB: Kaleb Martin, 12 (6-0, 170, junior, Chattanooga, Tennessee)
S: Ben Minich, 17 (6-0, 197, senior, West Chester, Ohio)
S: Eli Coppess, 26 (6-1, 213, fifth-year senior, Pickerington, Ohio)
CB: Amariyun Knighten, 0 (6-0, 174, fifth-year senior, Hollywood, Florida)
Special teams
PK: Kellan McLaughlin, 38 (5-10, 174, redshirt junior, Louisville, Kentucky)
P/HO: Pierse Stainton, 34 (6-1, 190, senior, Sarasota, Florida)
LS: Trey Wallman, 60 (6-2, 225, fifth-year senior, Pittsford, New York)
KR: Scoop Smith, 24 (5-5, 150, freshman, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
PR: Lynel Billups-Williams, 10 (5-9, 177, redshirt junior, University Park, Illinois)
Miami RedHawks 2026 football schedule
- Sept. 5: Miami at Pitt (12:30 p.m., CW Network)
- Sept. 12: Miami vs. Holy Cross (1 p.m., ESPN+)
- Sept. 19 : Miami vs. Cincinnati (3:30 p.m., ESPN+)
- Sept. 26: Miami vs. UConn (TBA)
- Oct. 3: Miami vs. Bowling Green (TBA)
- Oct. 10: Miami at UMass (TBA)
- Oct. 17: Miami vs. Akron (TBA)
- Oct. 24: Miami at Central Michigan (TBA)
- Nov. 3 (Tuesday): Miami vs. Buffalo (7 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU)
- Nov. 10 (Tuesday): Miami vs. Ohio (7 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports)
- Nov. 17 (Tuesday): Miami at Kent State (7 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU/CBS Sports)
- Nov. 24 (Tuesday): Miami at Western Michigan (TBA)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Miami RedHawks looking for fourth straight MAC football title trip
