The Miami University RedHawks (2-3, 0-1) will face the University of Massachusetts Minutemen (4-1, 1-1) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 at McGuirk Stadium in Amherst, Massachusetts.
The matchup between UMass and Miami is an important mid-season test, with both teams looking to respond after disappointing conference losses.
The Minutemen have had a remarkable start to their season, with a stunning 37-21 win against Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Before the start of this season, the Minutemen hadn’t won since their game against Wagner College Seahawks on Oct. 26, 2024.
Their other three dominant wins this season have been against Sacred Heart University, California State University, Sacramento and Stonehill College. Their undefeated run ended this past Saturday with a 38-14 loss against the Eastern Michigan University Eagles.
The RedHawks are coming off a devastating 24-20 loss against the Bowling Green State University Falcons that came down to the last few minutes of the game.
The RedHawks have lost their top two quarterbacks to injuries, with Thomas Gotkowski and David McComb suffering season-ending injuries during fall camp and during the game vs. the University of Connecticut Huskies, respectively.
Yager Stadium welcomed senior Caleb Heavner, a transfer from Fort Hays State University, who has taken on the role of leading the offense at quarterback. Heavner completed 17 out of 24 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown in his first career start on Oct. 3 versus Bowling Green.
Prior to transferring to Miami, Heavner played in 29 games for Fort Hays State. There, he passed for 3,398 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. On the ground, he added 1,094 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Senior quarterback William Watson III, senior wide receiver T.Y. Harding and senior running back Curtis Kimmons IV are a few key offensive players for UMass.
Watson III is a senior transfer from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, leading the Minutemen to sit in the top half of the Mid-American Conference standings. He has 820 passing yards, 11 total touchdowns and two interceptions so far.
Harding has 236 yards on 19 receptions and two touchdowns, averaging 12.4 yards per reception. His standout performance was against Stonehill College, with a 56-yard rushing touchdown and 73 yards on four receptions.
Kimmons IV is from Florida, where he spent his first four collegiate years at Southeastern University (NAIA). Currently, Kimmons has 262 yards on 45 carries, having a tremendous debut against Rutgers with 78 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown.
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A key offensive element for the RedHawks will be junior wide receiver Lynel Billups-Williams. His third season at Miami has been electric, with 265 yards on 19 receptions and two touchdowns. He has become a prominent fixture in the offense, after only recording 51 yards last season.
On the other side, junior linebacker Malcolm McCain is contributing to the Miami defense. He has 39 tackles this season, 17 of them being solo tackles.
Heavner stressed that Miami’s success against UMass will come down to preparation and execution.
“Football is all about preparation,” Heavner said. “If you’re not prepared, then you have no chance, and if you’re prepared, you have a chance.”
Miami is focused on limiting mistakes and consistently executing its assignments.
UMass will try to bounce back after a 4-0 start, while Miami looks to regain momentum and avoid falling further behind in conference play. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN+.
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