Week One: Miami OH versus Ohio State

Miami (OH) at Ohio State--This is a matchup between two teams that ended the 2011 season with a losing record. The Miami OH RedHawks went 4-8 in 2011 with a 4-game losing streak to start the season and a 3-game losing streak to end the season. The RedHawks struggled against the upper competition on their schedule and only won against the bottom of the MAC. Ohio State finished the regular season in 2011 with a 6-6 record but lost to Florida in the Gator Bowl to finish at 6-7. The Buckeyes lost their final 4 games of the season with an embarrassing loss to Purdue among the 4 losses.

Offense: The Miami OH RedHawks were one of the better passing games in the nation with 299 yards per game in the air, ranking them at 14th nationally. The RedHawks found the end zone 24 times in the air with only 11 interceptions on the season. The running game for the RedHawks was the worst in the nation last fall only averaging 73 yards on the ground per game. Miami OH could only muster 2.4 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns on the ground last fall. The Miami OH offense could not find the endzone on a regular basis with 21.3 points scored per game, ranking the RedHawks 103rd nationally. Ohio State was a running team that struggled whenever they were forced to pass the football in 2011. The Buckeye rushing attack was good for 191 yards on the ground per game and a solid 4.4 yards per carry average. The Buckeyes were also able to find the endzone 20 times on the season. The Buckeyes had the 6th worst passing game in the nation last fall with only 127 yards in the air per game. The Buckeyes scored 18 passing touchdowns and only 5 interceptions but only attempted 245 passes on the season. Overall, the Buckeyes averaged 24.5 points per game, good for the 84th ranked scoring offense in the nation. EDGE: Ohio State

Defense: The Miami OH RedHawks played solid defense in 2011. The RedHawks gave up 165 yards per game on the ground with a 4.2 yards per carry average and 16 touchdowns allowed. The passing defense of the RedHawks averaged 195 yards per game allowed with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The RedHawk defense was very strong with a 22.9 points per game allowed, good for the 39th best scoring defense in the nation. Ohio State was solid at stopping the run last fall giving up 141 yards per game on the ground but only 3.8 yards per carry and 13 touchdowns. The Buckeye pass defense was a little more forgiving to opponents with 182 yards allowed in the air per game but only 18 touchdowns. The Buckeyes intercepted 13 passes on the season. The Buckeyes were 27th nationally with only 21 points per game allowed on the season. EDGE: Ohio State

Coaching: Urban Meyer is the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes and has been coaching since 1985 at St. Xavier HS. After St. Xavier, Meyer coached at Ohio State, Illinois State, Colorado State, Notre Dame, Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and finally Ohio State. Meyer has been the head coach at 3 schools before Ohio State with stops at Bowling Green (17-6), Utah (22-2), and Florida (65-15, 2 national championships). This is Meyer's first year coaching the Buckeyes. Don Treadwell is the head coach of the Miami OH RedHawks. Treadwell has been coaching since 1986 when he started as an assistant at Youngstown State. After Youngstown State, Treadwell coached at Miami OH, Cincinnati, Stanford, Boston College, North Carolina State, Michigan State, Ball State, Cincinnati again, Michigan State again before finally landing at Miami OH again but this time as head coach. 2011 was Treadwell's first as a head coach and the RedHawks went 4-8. EDGE: Ohio State

The two teams have met 4 times previously over the years. Ohio State is 4-0 overall versus Miami OH with games in 1904, 1911, 200, and 2005. Ohio State won 80-0 and 3-0 in 1904 and 1911 with the next two meetings in 2000 and 2005 were 27-16 and 34-14 wins over Miami OH.

Overall, Miami OH has a tough road ahead in going to Columbus, Ohio to play the Buckeyes at the Horseshoe. The Buckeyes struggled in 2011 with NCAA sanctions that include a postseason ban in 2012. With the new head coach Urban Meyer in charge, the Buckeyes will be very disciplined. Expect the Buckeyes to jump on Miami OH early and cruise to a fairly easy win.