Miami RedHawks head coach Chuck Martin was recently asked about his team’s upcoming matchup at Ohio State - a top-10 team that is once again in the conversation for a national championship after several lopsided wins to open the 2019 campaign.
Martin compared the . . .
The RedHawks prospects against OSU were daunting enough before this season began, but last week’s loss at rival Cincinnati and a physical opening game at Iowa have hit the RedHawks two-deep hard.
Given that Ohio State will have a commanding physical advantage across the board Saturday, Miami must worry about surviving the Buckeyes as much as challenging them.
Saturday, Sept. 21 -- 3:30 p.m. ET
Ohio Stadium --Columbus, OH
Big Ten Network
Series: OSU leads 5-0
➤➤ The Buckeyes are riding a 42-game win streak against in-state schools and is on a 48-game unbeaten streak (47-0-1) since a 7-6 loss to Oberlin in 1921.
➤➤ Ryan Day is in his first year as head coach of the Buckeyes. It is his third year of coaching at Ohio State.
➤➤ OSU won the last meeting with Miami 56-10 back in 2012. Miami’s Zac Dysert threw completed 31 of 53 passes for 303 yards and MU led 3-0 before OSU scored 21 second quarter points on the way to the win.
➤➤ The Buckeyes have rolled to three straight victories, knocking off Indiana (51-10), Cincinnati (42-0) and Florida Atlantic (45-21).
➤➤ For what it’s worth, the same Cincinnati team that went down to OSU 42-0 defeated Miami 35-13 a week later (Last Saturday)
➤➤ The Ohio State offense is led by quarterback Justin Fields. After seeing action in his freshman campaign at Georgia (backing up starter Jake Fromm), Fields got a waiver to transfer to and play at Ohio State this season.
Through three games, he has completed 52 of 74 pass attempts (70.2%), good for 425 yards and nine touchdowns. He has been sacked four times, but has yet to throw an interception.
Fields lead the nation in both points responsible for (78) and points responsible for per game (26.0).
➤➤ The Buckeyes are averaging 271 yards rushing per game. Junior J.K. Dobbins (5-10, 217) leads the rushing attack with 232 yards on 38 carries (6.1 ypc) and has found the endzone four times. He has a long of 60 yards (versus Cincinnati) this season.
➤➤ Senior Binjimen Victor (11 catches, 200 yards, 1 TD) is one of three Buckeyes with double digit receptions. Chris Olave owns 10 catches for 198 yards and two TDs, while K.J. Hill has 13 catches for 101 yards and a pair of scores.
➤➤ Ohio State’s defense has allowed just one touchdown and one field goal over the last eight quarters and his 10th nationally in scoring defense (10.1 ppg).
➤➤ OSU has given up just five runs of 10 yards or more this year.
ABOUT MIAMI (1-2)
➤➤ OSU Offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Kevin Wilson spent eight years at Miami as an assistant coach under Randy Walker.
➤➤ The RedHawks have been hit hard by injuries, with injuries finding several O-line players last week.
➤➤ True freshman Brett Gabbert has been at quarterback for all three Miami contests. He has completed 27 of 44 passes for 338 yards and two TDs.
➤➤ Injuries have strapped the receiving corps, but Jack Sorenson, Luke Mayock and tight end Andrew Homer have the most experience.
➤➤ With Jaylen Bester sidelined, Tyre Shelton (24 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD) and Davion Johnson (26 carries, 71 yards, 2 TDs) have joined senior Maurice Thomas (15 carries, 57 yards) as the ground game workhorses.
➤➤ DL Kameron Butler had a big day against Cincinnati last week, recording seven tackles, four TFL and two of four Miami sacks.
➤➤ DB Sterling Weatherford leads MU defenders with 20 tackles. He and Bart Baratti (17 tackles) both have one interception.
➤➤ Veteran kicker Sam Sloman has been perfect, hitting all seven extra points and all four field goal attempts (long of 41).