Miami (OH) football: Will Redhawks repeat as MAC champions in 2020?

Despite a conference title and eight wins last season, Miami (OH) football still has plenty to prove as a young team heading into 2020.

Sometimes in college football, you can be an average team on paper but due to things like being good in close games, turnover luck or just playing in a really bad division and you can still overachieve and accomplish things like winning a division title and in some instances winning a conference crown.

Miami (OH) fits into most of those categories listed above and that’s why the Redhawks still have a lot to prove as a team.

During head coach Chuck Martin’s tenure, the Redhawks have been pretty below average as a team, not posting more than six wins and only making two bowl games. What changed last year? Well, Miami started winning the close games and was fortunate to have played in a division that included a winless Akron and really bad Bowling Green team.

The reason for optimism for Miami? The Redhawks were a really young team last year in most areas and had a true freshman starting at quarterback in Brett Gabbert.

Sixteen starters return from last year’s conference-winning squad and that youth give the Redhawks hope that they can repeat as MAC champs. History is working against Miami, however, as it has not won back-to-back conference titles since winning three straight from 1973-75 and the MAC has not had a repeat champion since Northern Illinois in 2011-12 when the Huskies earned a trip to the Orange Bowl and lost to Florida State.

The Redhawks have the talent and experience to repeat as conference champs if they can keep winning the close games and improve on the offensive side of the ball.