If you’re looking for a quick fix on the miami university football score, you probably saw the 18-3 number from the Arizona Bowl and felt a bit deflated. It wasn't exactly a high-flying offensive clinic. In fact, it was kind of a slog. But if you've followed the RedHawks through this 2025-2026 cycle, you know that one game rarely tells the whole story of what Chuck Martin is building in Oxford.
Let’s be real. Losing to Fresno State in a bowl game where you only put up a field goal is tough to swallow. It capped off a 7-7 season that felt like a rollercoaster with a few too many loops.
The Reality of the Miami University Football Score This Season
The final tally for the year was seven wins and seven losses. Perfectly balanced, but not in the way fans wanted. Honestly, the season was a tale of two very different stretches. After a brutal start against Big Ten powerhouses Wisconsin and Rutgers—where the scores were 17-0 and 45-17 respectively—the team actually found some real rhythm.
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) play is where this team usually hangs its hat. They went 6-2 in the conference. That’s solid. You’ve got to respect a team that can rattle off wins against Northern Illinois and Western Michigan in the regular season. But then came the MAC Championship game in Detroit.
That 23-13 loss to Western Michigan at Ford Field was a heartbreaker. It wasn't just about the miami university football score; it was about the missed opportunities. The RedHawks had the lead at several points but couldn't close the door. It felt like a preview of the offensive struggles that would eventually haunt them in Tucson during the Arizona Bowl.
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Breaking Down the Arizona Bowl Slump
Why did the score end up 18-3?
It's a question people are still asking around the High Street bars in Oxford. Thomas Gotkowski, who took over the starting QB role toward the end of the year, had a rough outing. He went 6-for-22. That is not a typo. 6 completions. When your passing game is that stagnant, your defense has to be perfect, and while Miami's defense held Fresno State to 18 points—a very winnable game for most—the offense just didn't show up.
- Gotkowski’s Stats: 72 yards passing, 1 interception.
- Rushing Attack: Jordan Brunson did what he could, but the lanes weren't there.
- The "Snoop Dogg" Factor: The bowl, officially the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, had plenty of hype, but the RedHawks’ offense stayed in the locker room.
What the 2025 Results Mean for Next Year
You can’t just look at a miami university football score from November or December and assume you know where the program is headed. The transfer portal is already doing its thing. We saw Kam Perry, one of the best wideouts in the MAC with over 900 yards this season, signal his intent to enter the portal. That's a massive blow.
On the flip side, Devin Hyatt is coming in from Arizona. He’s a guy who had a nasty injury in 2024 but showed flashes of brilliance when he was healthy. If he can fill the void left by Perry, the 2026 scoreboards might look a little more respectable.
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The quarterback situation is the biggest "if" on the roster. Gotkowski had some bright spots during the regular season, like the 45-24 win over Ball State where the offense looked unstoppable. But the inconsistency is glaring. Whether Chuck Martin goes back to the portal for a veteran signal-caller or sticks with the youth movement is going to define the upcoming spring camp.
Key Scores from the 2025 Season
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 28 | @ Wisconsin | L 0-17 |
| Sep 20 | UNLV | L 38-41 |
| Oct 18 | Eastern Michigan | W 44-30 |
| Nov 29 | Ball State | W 45-24 |
| Dec 6 | Western Michigan (MAC Title) | L 13-23 |
| Dec 27 | Fresno State (Arizona Bowl) | L 3-18 |
Looking at those numbers, the volatility is wild. Scoring 44 points one week and 3 points a month later is the kind of thing that keeps coaches awake at night.
The Impact of the New Playoff Format
Wait. Some of you might be confused because you saw "Miami" in the College Football Playoff headlines recently. Let's clear that up.
The University of Miami (the Hurricanes) had a massive run this year, making it all the way to the National Championship against Indiana. That’s the "U" in Florida. Our Miami—Miami University in Ohio—finished their season in December. It’s a common mix-up, especially with the Hurricanes being a No. 10 seed this year and pulling off upsets against Ohio State and Ole Miss.
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If you are looking for the miami university football score and seeing numbers like 31-27 or 24-14 in January, you're looking at the Hurricanes. The RedHawks, meanwhile, are already back in the weight room in Oxford, trying to figure out how to get back to the top of the MAC.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're a die-hard RedHawks fan or just a bettor tracking the MAC, here is what you need to do to stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season.
- Monitor the Hyatt-Gotkowski Chemistry: Keep an eye on the spring game reports. If Devin Hyatt and Thomas Gotkowski (or whoever wins the job) don't click early, expect the under to be a safe bet for those early September games.
- Watch the Defensive Retention: Miami’s defense was actually the silver lining of the 7-7 season. They kept the team in games even when the offense was non-existent. If the core of that linebacker group stays out of the portal, they’ll remain a top-three unit in the conference.
- The "Midweek MACtion" Schedule: The 2025 season saw some weird Tuesday and Wednesday night losses (like the 24-20 heartbreaker to Ohio). These short-week games are where Miami’s depth gets tested. Look at the 2026 schedule as soon as it drops to see where those short-turnaround road trips fall.
The miami university football score wasn't what anyone wanted at the end of December, but the foundation in Oxford is still one of the most stable in the Group of Five. It's about finding that offensive identity that vanished in the desert.