Miami RedHawks
For the second straight week, Miami football is stepping into Big Ten territory. The RedHawks head to Piscataway this Saturday, Sept. 6, for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff against Rutgers at SHI Stadium. The game will stream on Peacock.
Where Miami Stands
The RedHawks (0-1) are coming off a 17-0 loss at Wisconsin. Despite the shutout, there were positives. The defense kept the Badgers to just three points until late in the third quarter and limited them to 3.8 yards per carry. Defensive lineman Adam Trick had a breakout night with two sacks and two tackles for loss, while safety Silas Walters picked off his first career pass and tied for the team lead with eight tackles.
Offensively, the RedHawks are still trying to find their footing. Quarterback Dequan Finn, a sixth-year veteran who transferred from Toledo, threw for 83 yards and added 13 on the ground in his Miami debut. Running back Kenny Tracy, back healthy after missing 2024, had 15 rushing yards and added a pair of catches. Wideout Cole Weaver led the receiving corps with 35 yards on three grabs.
Miami enters with a pedigree of consistency under head coach Chuck Martin. The RedHawks have made five straight bowl appearances, won 20 games over the past two seasons, and captured the 2023 MAC Championship. Historically, the program’s 733 all-time wins lead the Mid-American Conference and rank third among all Group of Five schools.
About Rutgers
Rutgers (1-0) survived a 34-31 shootout against Ohio in its opener. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was sharp, completing 18-of-23 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Ian Strong went over the century mark receiving, and Antwan Raymond led the rushing attack with 87 yards and a score. Linebacker Moses Walker anchored the defense with a career-high 13 tackles and two for loss.
Greg Schiano’s Scarlet Knights have been on a roll in non-conference games, entering this week 13-0 in such contests since his return to the program. Rutgers has also scored 30 or more points in five straight games dating back to last season.
Series History
This is the first-ever meeting between Miami and Rutgers. The RedHawks, though, aren’t strangers to upsetting bigger names. They’ve beaten a Power Four opponent in two of the last three years, knocking off Northwestern in 2022 and Cincinnati in overtime in 2023.
Keys for Miami
If the RedHawks are going to pull another surprise, they’ll need Finn to settle in quickly and provide the dual-threat spark he became known for at Toledo, where he was the 2023 MAC Player of the Year. Protecting him is a new-look offensive line that lost five long-time starters from last season.
On defense, Miami has to build on the momentum from Madison. With Walters, Eli Blakey, and Trick emerging as tone-setters, the RedHawks will aim to slow down a Rutgers offense that looked efficient and balanced in Week 1.
The Bottom Line
Saturday is another tough test for Miami, but Chuck Martin’s program has made a living on grinding out results against bigger names. The RedHawks will need their veteran quarterback to shine, their defense to keep forcing mistakes, and maybe even a little “Kicker U” magic from Lou Groza semifinalist Dom Dzioban if they’re going to quiet SHI Stadium.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
