MIAMI at OHIO
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Saturday, Oct. 28 -- 1 p.m. ET
Rynearson Stadium - Ypsilanti, MI
ESPN+
Two teams coming off close losses meet in Ypsilanti when visiting Western Michigan faces Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles (4-4, 2-2 MAC) are even on the year and in MAC play. Another victory will pull EMU within one win of bowl eligibility. Western Michigan, meanwhile, is trying to break a three-game losing streak.
The Broncos (2-6, 1-3 MAC) hold a 34-22-2 lead in the all-time series. However, EMU has prevailed in the last four meetings. Senior QB Taylor Powell led the Eagles to a 45-23 victory last year, throwing for 293 yards and three touchdowns.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
-- The Broncos put up a stiff fight before falling to East Division co-leader Ohio last Saturday. Ohio led 6-0 at intermission and was up 13-10 after three quarters. Both teams tallied fourth quarter TDs in the final 4:36, leaving WMU three points short.
-- Ohio out-gained the Broncos 460-369 overall.
-- Hayden Wolff completed 30 of 42 pass attempts, good for 290 yards with one TD and on interception -- the game's only turnover.
-- Kenneth Womack recorded a game-high 14 catches for 90 yards and one score.
-- Ohio's No. 1 rushing defense limited WMU to 79 yards rushing (3.6 ypc).
-- Senior linebacker Nate Norris recorded 14 tackles (5 solo).
-- Western Michigan ranks fifth among MAC teams in scoring (23.9 ppg) and is 12th/last in scoring defense (34.3 ppg).
-- The Broncos offense is second in rushing (160.5 ypg), first in passing (215.9 ypg) and fourth in pass offense efficiency ((122.6).
-- RB Jalen Buckley is second among MAC rushers, averaging 91.0 ypg and 5.6 ypc.
-- Wolf is fifth among MAC passers (132.9 ypg) and third in pass efficiency (132.9).
-- Womack is first among MAC receivers in catches (49 total/6.1 per game).
EASTERN MICHIGAN
-- EMU's bid for a road win fell short last Saturday in Dekalb. Northern Illinois and the Eagles were locked in a 10-10 tie at halftime and traded field goals before Rocky Lombardi scored on a 1-yard run with 1:11 remaining n the game.
-- NIU outgained the Eagles 289-257 on a windy day, with Eastern Michigan committing the game's only two turnovers.
-- Junior Austin Smith completed 14 of 26 pass attempts totaling 151 yards with two interceptions.
On the year, he is completing 58.1 percent of his passes, with six TDs and five interceptions.
-- Hamze El-Zayat caught six balls for 74 yards against NIU. Tanner Knue
Tanner Knue leads Eagle receivers on the year, catching 32 passes totaling 305 yards with three TDs.
-- Kicker Jesus Gomez has made eight field goals , including a 55-yard boot that is second longest among MAC kickers this season.
-- The EMU defense continues to limit teams in scoring to start the game as opponents are now averaging just 2.8 points in the first quarter of the game, including not allowing any points in four ofthose contests, which ranks 17th nationally. Additionally, the defense is allowing an
average of just 8.5 points to be scored in the first half of play, the 17th-best average in the FBS, down from 10.0 following the game with Kent State. Overall,the defense is limiting opponents to 19.5 points per game, the third best in the MAC and 31st-best nationally.
-- The Eagles’ offense is averaging 251.1 yards of total offense per game. One of seven teams nationally that is averaging under 300 yards per contest, Eastern is one of just two teams in that group that holds a record of .500 or better.
-- Mitchell Tomasek continues to help the Eagles flip the field asthe punter has boomed a pair of 70+ yard kicks in 2023 while averaging 45.2 yards per kick, the 15th-best average nationally and the bestin the MAC. Through the Northern Illinois game,Oct. 21, Tomasek remains the only punter in the FBS to record multiple punts of 70-yards or more.
-- According to ESPN data, the Eastern Michigan special teams unit ranks fifth nationally and second in the MAC in efficiency, which are based on the point contributions of each unit to the team’sscoring margin, on a per-play basis
Saturday, Oct. 28 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Peden Stadium - Athens, OH
CBSSN
While the football Battle of the Bricks is always a big date for both Miami and Ohio, this year's matchup has been circled on calendars for months. Ohio was a preseason MAC coaches poll pick to repeat as MAC East champs. Miami, with the return of quarterback Brett Gabbert, was a MAC East title pick in some other polls.
Entering the weekend, both teams are part of a three-way tie (with Buffalo) atop the East Division standings. However, the RedHawks took a serious hit last week when Gabbert sustained a season-ending leg injury while trying to rally his team past West Division leader Toledo.
The Rockets prevailed, 21-17, but it is the loss of Gabbert that MU must overcome.
According to ESPN data, the Eastern Michigan special teams unit ranks fifth nationally and second in the MAC in efficiency, which are based on the point contributions of each unit to the team’sscoring margin, on a per-play basis
-- The RedHawks were off to their best start since 2003, winning six straight games after losing to Miami (Fl) in Week One. Toledo's victory ended the win streak and handed MU its first confenence loss.
-- Led by Dequan Finn, Toledo scored TDs on three of four first half possessions and held a 21-3 lead at intermission. Miami's defense shut out the Rockets after that, and MU scored two third quarter TDs to make it a 21-17 deficit.
Gabbert was injured trying to score from two yards out and left the field by ambulance. Although Rashad Amos scored on the next play, Miami's offense managed just 44 yards and no points in the final quarter.
-- Gabbert, who leads the MAC in passing yards (1,634, 204.3 ypg) passing TDs (14) and pass efficiency (151.1) completed 14 of 29, good for 179 yards with one interception against Toledo. Aveon Smith finished, completing 3 of 7 for 23 yards.
-- Miami registered 97 yards rushing (3.5 ypg) with two TDs against UT. Rashad Amos led the way with 10 carries totaling 55 yards and one score.
-- Gage Larvadain, who missed a couple games due to injury, led MIami receivers with seven catches totaling 85 yards.
-- Miami had two turnovers against UT -- one was an interception thrown by Gabbert and the other was a fumble by Smith. The latter ended Miami's last possession near midfield with 1:20 left.
-- Smith has seen very limited action this year, but he started nine games in Gabbert's injury absence last year. He was 5-4 as a starter.
While Gabbert's strength is in passing, Smith's skill set includes strong running skills. The freshman was the first Miami QB to lead the team in both passing and rushing.
-- According to Head Coach Chuck Martin, Smith's game management and passing skills progressed substantially during his freshman season.
-- Miami's defense has been among the MAC leaders much of the season. The RedHawks are second (behind Ohio) in scoring defense (19.4 ppg), fourth in rushing defense (135.8 ypg, seventh in pass defense (195.6) and fifth in pass defense efficiency (123.9).
-- Miami's defense is particularly strong up front and at linebacker. The RedHawks rank first in the MAC and 15th nationally with 21 sacks this season. Defensive ends Caiden Woullard (6.0) and Brian Ugwu (4.5) rank first and fifth in the MAC, while Ty Wise in ninth (4.0).
-- Ty Wise made a career-high 13 tackles against UT, while Matt Salopek added 10. The latter is third among all MAC defenders with 79 tackles.
-- Kicker Graham Nicholson has not missed a field goal or PAT in 2023. He is 14 of 14 with a long of 52 on FGs. Punter Alec Bevelhimer leads the MAC in punting, averaging 46.3 yards per boot.
-- The Bobcats bounced back from a loss at Northern Illinois with a 20-17 win over Western Michigan last week.
Ohio led 6-0 at intermisssion and 13-10 after three quarters. Kurtis Rourke his Sam Wiglusz with a 7-yard TD at 4:36 with what proved to be the winning score. WMU closed the gap to 20-17 with a touchdown at 2:21 but could not get the ball again.
-- Rourke completed 24 of 39 passes, good for 275 yards with one TD.
-- Wiglusz caught 10 balls, good for 155 yards and one TD. Miles Cross added six receptions for 63 yards.
-- Keye Thompson (13) and Bryce Houston (12) led Bobcat defenders with a combined 25 tackles (9 solo).
Houston leads the team with 82 total tackles and 39 solo stops, putting him second in the MAC and ranked 11th in FBS football. He’s also
recorded eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and three quarterback hurries.
-- Tank Pearson picked off a Bronco pass.
-- The Bobcats average 22.5 points per game on 143.3 rushing yards and 207 passing yards per game.
-- Kurtis Rourke is 122-for-194 on 1,343 yards, throwing nine touchdowns in seven games.
-- With opponent offenses averaging just 13.88 points and 260.6 yards per game, Ohio’s defense leads the MAC and is No. 5 in FBS football.