Miami Needs a Response and Ohio Is Coming to Dinner

The Battle of the Bricks comes with an actual family divide in my house. A few relatives went to Ohio, my grandfather was a history professor there, and my father and his siblings grew up in Athens. There is real affection for the place. There is considerably less interest in watching its football team leave Oxford happy.

Unfortunately, Ohio arrives playing well. The Bobcats are 7–2 and unbeaten in conference play after beating Akron 28–20. Miami is 5–4, trying to turn another painful finish into something more useful than another explanation.

Miami will honor 21 seniors. A win also secures bowl eligibility. Those are meaningful stakes, even if the ambitions extend further.

Offense: Give the Running Game Another Chance

D’Shawntae Jones supplied something worth carrying out of the Buffalo loss: 112 rushing yards on 17 carries. That should earn another substantial opportunity, especially if Miami can keep Caleb Heavner out of obvious passing situations.

Ohio presents a tougher assignment than simply handing Jones the ball and expecting a repeat. The Bobcats allow 137.9 rushing yards per game and 3.9 per carry. Miami needs enough early-down success to keep the playbook open.

Season averages through nine games.

Players to watch: Jones for sustained production, Heavner for decisions that keep drives alive, and Scoop Smith for the touches that can turn an ordinary possession into something Ohio has to chase.

My offensive target is 140–160 team rushing yards. That is an H&H projection, and reaching it would give Miami a reasonable foundation for a close game.

Defense: Make Ohio Earn the Next Set of Downs

Ohio averages 187.6 rushing yards per game. Miami allows 97.6. That is the matchup the RedHawks should want to test, provided they handle the quarterback as well as the running backs.

Nick Poulos has contributed 248 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns alongside his passing production. Losing contain while chasing a sack would give Ohio exactly the escape route Miami needs to close.

Season averages through nine games.

Players to watch: Grant Lyons and Roosevelt Andrews III need to create disruption without opening running lanes. Behind them, the secondary has to finish coverage when the first read disappears.

My defensive targets are fewer than 150 rushing yards allowed and Ohio below 40% on third down. Above all, Miami cannot keep doing the difficult part of a stop and then donating the first down.

Special Teams: Keep the Spark, Find the Consistency

Smith has scored four different ways this season, including the blocked-punt recovery against Buffalo. Miami has already returned two blocked punts for touchdowns. That is a legitimate weapon, and Ohio has to account for it.

The routine work matters just as much. Miami is 12-for-18 on field goals this season. In a rivalry game that could stay within one possession, clean protection, sound coverage and dependable execution cannot be supporting details.

Prediction: Ohio 27, Miami 24

I can see Miami winning this game. The run defense gives it a starting point, Jones offers an offensive building block, and playing at home matters. But Ohio has been more dependable, and Miami has not earned the benefit of the doubt about closing.

That makes this an extremely inconvenient prediction for someone whose family already has enough material.

Senior Night deserves a crowd, and the seniors deserve a loud sendoff. Miami also owes those fans a complete performance. Beat a good rival, finish the fourth quarter and give people something they want to come back for.

My grandfather taught history in Athens. I would appreciate Miami keeping Tuesday’s family discussion focused on that subject.