College Football Previews #49 and #50 - Miami (Ohio) and Ohio
Miami (Ohio) will be one of the teams to beat in the MAC in 2022. The Redhawks should challenge for the East Division Title if they can remain relatively healthy. Head Coach Chuck Martin enters his 9th season at the helm with high expectations. Miami (Ohio) welcomes back six starters on Offense including four starters on the Offensive Line. The Wide Receiving Unit brings back one starter in senior Mac Hippenhammer and will rely on several experienced returnees such as senior Jalen Walker to step up. Junior Quarterback Brett Gabbert - the final returning starter on Offense - is a top candidate to become MAC Player of the Year this season. Look for a pair of Running Backs to play prominent roles in senior Jaylon Bester and junior Tyre Shelton. Miami (Ohio) also returns six starters on Defense including two starters on the Defensive Line which will be anchored by junior Defensive Tackle Austin Ertl. The Linebacking Unit brings back two starters in senior Linebacker Ryan McWood and sophomore Linebacker Matthew Salopek. The Secondary also returns two starters and will be anchored by sophomore Safety Jacquez Warren. The Special Teams Unit will be slightly inexperienced with sophomore Kicker Graham Nicholson taking over the Kicking duties while sophomore Punter Dom Dzioban returns to handle the Punting duties. Miami (Ohio) will go as far as their star Quarterback can take them. The Redhawks have a tough Non-Conference slate with road games at Kentucky and Northwestern. A Neutral Site game against Cincinnati also looms large. I predict Miami (Ohio) to go 8-6 and finish in 1st place in the MAC East Division. The Redhawks will lose the MAC Championship Game but will rebound with a Bowl Game victory to complete a superb season.
Ohio hopes to build on what they accomplished last season. The Bobcats started slow but won two of their final four games to finish 3-9. Head Coach Tim Albin enters his 2nd season at the helm with moderate expectations. Ohio only welcomes back three starters on Offense including two starters on the Offensive Line. The Wide Receiving Unit doesn't return any starters and will lean on senior James Bostic (Vanderbilt transfer) and sophomore Miles Cross. Junior Quarterback Kurtis Rourke - the final returning starter on Offense - will have to be turnover free for the Bobcats to achieve success in 2022. Ohio will use a Running Back by committee approach this season with sophomore Sieh Bangura and senior O'Shaan Allison sharing the carries. Ohio returns nine starters on Defense including two starters on the Defensive Line in senior Defense Tackles Rodney Mathews and Kai Caesar. The Linebacking Unit brings back four starters and will be anchored by a pair of Middle Linebackers in senior Keye Thompson and junior Cannon Blauser. The Secondary welcomes back three starters and will be led by a pair of senior Cornerbacks in Justin Birchette and Alvin Floyd. The Special Teams Unit will be carried by junior Kicker Tristian Vandenberg while senior Punter Jonah Wieland will handle the Punting duties. Ohio needs their Defense to carry the team early in the season while the Offense plays catch up with several new and inexperienced players. The Bobcats have a pair of brutal Non-Conference road games in September at Penn State and Iowa State. I predict Ohio to improve slightly from last season and go 4-8 in 2022. The Bobcats will finish in 4th place in the MAC East Division. A Bowl Game is possible in 2023 but not guaranteed. Ohio needs to put the work in this season to get the results in the future.
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