Miami vs Buffalo: two win streaks, one MAC title race spot
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Miami (5-3, 3-1 MAC) hosts Buffalo (5-3, 3-1 MAC) on Tuesday, November 3 at 8 PM Eastern time.
- The game airs on ESPN from Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio, with both teams on three-game win streaks.
- The winner stays in the MAC title race, and Miami chases a fourth straight title game trip.
Miami hosts Buffalo on Tuesday night in a game that could shape the MAC title race. Both teams are 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference.
Both bring three-game win streaks into Yager Stadium. Kickoff is at 8 PM Eastern time on ESPN.
A rare primetime spot
Tuesday's game was moved from 7 PM to 8 PM. It was also lifted onto ESPN from ESPN2 or ESPNU. That is the conference's biggest TV stage.
The MAC announced the change on October 26.
Midweek games in November are what fans call MACtion. It is a MAC tradition where the league takes over Tuesday and Wednesday night TV.
November 3 starts Miami's run of weeknight games. The RedHawks will play their final four regular season games on Tuesdays. College football fans can track the full weekend slate as the season heats up.
What is at stake
Miami and Buffalo sit tied for second in the MAC standings. Each is 3-1 in league play. The winner stays one step closer to the conference title game in Detroit.
A Miami win moves the RedHawks closer to a fourth straight MAC title game trip. That would extend one of the best runs in program history.
Buffalo has its own prize in reach. A win would be the Bulls' fourth in a row. It would also strengthen their hold on second place.
Buffalo's run game meets Miami's wall
Buffalo runs the ball well. The Bulls gain 176 yards per game on the ground. That is third best in the MAC.
Senior back Messiah Burch leads the charge. He has run for 845 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Burch has topped 100 yards in five straight games. He is the first Buffalo back to do that since Jaret Patterson in 2019. He ran for a career-high 184 yards and three touchdowns against Bowling Green on October 24. He leads the MAC and ranks 12th in the nation at 105.6 yards per game.
Miami's defense is the wall he must climb. The RedHawks allow just 94.9 rushing yards per game. That is first in the MAC and 14th in the nation.
Chuck Martin told the Cincinnati Enquirer it is a battle up front: "They do a great job of running the football and they're physical. Whoever can control the line of scrimmage is going to have a great opportunity to win the game."
A backup quarterback keeps Miami rolling
Miami lost its top two quarterbacks to season-ending injuries. Thomas Gotkowski was hurt in fall camp.
McComb was lost on September 26 against UConn. He was leading the nation in yards per completion at 17.3.
Caleb Heavner, a backup from Fort Hays, stepped in. He is expected to make his fifth start on Tuesday.
He has thrown for 615 yards and three touchdowns this season. He also adds 217 rushing yards and two scores with his legs.
His last outing was his best. He threw for a career-high 221 yards in the 28-27 win at Central Michigan. He led a 75-yard drive on eight plays.
D'Shawntae Jones scored from one yard out with 1:41 left. That win was Miami's third in a row. Comebacks are becoming a college football theme this fall.
"I've never stayed down ever on a football field," Heavner told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It was a good shot, but unless they're like, 'You absolutely can't play,' I'm going to do everything I can to play."
History favors the home team
Tuesday is the 28th meeting between the schools. Miami leads the series 18-9. The RedHawks are 11-3 against Buffalo at Yager Stadium.
They have won the last two meetings. Buffalo has not won at Miami since October 29, 2015. The Bulls are 3-11 all time in Oxford.
Buffalo coach Pete Lembo faces a milestone too. His next win is his 20th at Buffalo. That would tie Turner Gill and Jeff Quinn for sixth in program history.
Miami will also wear special helmets and jerseys on Tuesday. The school honors its bond with the Myaamia Tribe of Oklahoma. That relationship goes back more than 50 years.
What happens next
After Tuesday, Miami closes the season with three more Tuesday games. The next home game is November 10 against Ohio. That game was moved to 8 PM and airs on ESPN2. It is Miami's final home game of the season.
For Buffalo, the road does not get easier. The Bulls must win at one of the MAC's toughest places to keep pace at the top.
The unbeaten teams keep shrinking, and every November loss hurts more.
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