Red-and-white-striped overalls flooded the stands and cowbells clattered throughout Yager Stadium. On Sept. 26, 2026, the Miami University RedHawks met their next competitive match of the regular season.
After a devastating four-point loss to the University of Cincinnati in the Battle for the Victory Bell game, the RedHawks were a three-point favorite against the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies, according to CBS Sports.
Just like it was written up, the RedHawks (2-2) defeated the Huskies (2-2) 24-21 in their first ever matchup against each other.
Junior UConn quarterback Kalieb Osborne opened the game firing. He threw a 24-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Ryder Treadway and later a 20-yard pass to junior wide receiver Javon Brown, setting up the offense in the redzone.
After three straight runs, two by Osborne, Brown caught a seven yard touchdown over the middle to give the Huskies an early 7-0 lead. UConn’s defense also started off strong, stopping Miami for a three-and-out on its first drive.
Chipping their way down the field, the Husky offense wouldn’t let off the gas. Osborne kept the ball on a read-option play and took off for a 38-yard touchdown, making the score 14-0. Osborne established himself as a dual-threat weapon, compiling 50 rushing yards and 62 passing yards in the first quarter.
Miami started to gain momentum in the second quarter. The defense forced a punt and redshirt-freshman quarterback David McComb led a seven play, 90-yard drive ending in a 10-yard rushing touchdown by McComb, to cut the Husky lead in half.
McComb then unleashed a deep-ball frenzy after the RedHawk defense forced a punt. A 50-yard pass to freshman wide receiver Scoop Smith was broken up. Then after a 15-yard catch-and-run from redshirt-junior wide receiver Lynel Billups-Williams, McComb fired again down the field to junior wide receiver Damarion Witten, also broken up.
Despite the incompletions, McComb capped the drive with a 58-yard touchdown pass to redshirt-freshman tight end Brendan Loftus, who made a spectacular one-handed catch and ran down the left sideline to tie the game, 14-14.
“I just kind of blacked out in the moment,” Loftus said. “I was so excited when I scored … I knew it was going to be a big play when he called it.”
The RedHawks opened the second half with another pass-heavy drive. McComb connected with Billups-Williams for 14, and later redshirt-sophomore wide receiver Braylon Isom for 35. The electrifying drive diminished after a 44-yard field goal attempt from redshirt-junior Kellan McLaughlin hit the front of the crossbar and was ruled no good.
UConn went three-and-out on its next drive thanks to a strong defensive effort from Miami. McComb hit his stride on the next drive, breaking away for a 32-yard run, and later finding redshirt-junior running back Rodney Nelson on a check down that turned into a 23-yard gain. The RedHawks took their first lead of the game 21-14 with an 11-yard touchdown pass from McComb to Smith in the left corner of the endzone.
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“David obviously helped us a bunch with his legs, like he always does,” said head coach Chuck Martin. “We threw it around a bunch … [he] averaged over 10 yards per attempt in the pass game and it was huge to get us back in the game.”
Miami’s lead didn’t last long. On UConn’s next drive, Osborne lofted a 53-yard pass to senior wide receiver Shamar Porter, and a couple plays after, Bowers powered up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run, tying the score 21-21.
McComb kept letting it fly, locating Loftus for a 10-yard gain and sophomore wide receiver Carl Jenkins for 38 yards.
After three straight incompletions in the endzone, the RedHawks sent out their special teams unit to try and break the tie. McLaughlin was unsuccessful again, this time from 40 yards out.
Both teams went three-and-out on their next drive, making for a gritty, defensive fourth quarter. On the next Husky drive, Osborne fired a pass over the middle but was intercepted by redshirt-junior linebacker CJ Young, changing the pace of the game and giving Miami the ball inside the 50-yard line.
“We really emphasized this week that our D-line is going to be the group that has to take this game over, and so second half we got after them a little bit,” said redshirt-sophomore defensive lineman Brach Rice.
Late in the fourth, McComb went down, injuring his left knee. Senior quarterback Caleb Heavner took over with less than five minutes in the game, the score still tied. Luckily, the offense entered field goal range after a couple short gains. Freshman kicker Brady Stidham nailed a 33-yard field goal to put Miami up three heading into the two-minute warning.
The defense was able to stop the Huskies one final time, and Heavner took a knee to give the RedHawks their second win of the season.
“[The defense] grew up a lot today,” Martin said. “It was a great step in the right direction. Great step. We got a lot of work to do, but that was great just that they got through it.”
Despite his injury, McComb threw for 312 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions on 19 completions out of 29 attempts. He also ran for 33 yards and a touchdown, topping off a stellar performance.
Miami will face the Bowling Green State University Falcons at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Yager stadium.
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