Miami (Ohio) has struggled against Power Five opponents

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On3 image — (Photo courtesy of Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After inheriting the worst team in college football, former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chuck Martin has done some really good things with the Miami (Ohio) football program. After a slow two-year start to set the foundation in Oxford, the RedHawks have finished .500 or better in MAC play six years in a row and were able to win a league title in 2019.

The MAC East program enters the 2022 season with high expectations having one of the best quarterbacks in the Group of Five with Power Five talent at wide receiver along with good depth tailback and an experience offensive line.

The goal is another conference title for the most storied program in the MAC. However, there has been one thing that the RedHawks simply can’t get past. Martin has yet to record the big upset in his career.

Through eight seasons, Miami (Ohio) is winless against Power Five programs under the former Grand Valley State head coach. Let’s take a look at the results (for this exercise we are including Cincinnati since that program will soon make the transition to the Big 12).

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–2014: Loss at Michigan 34-10, Loss vs. Cincinnati 31-24

–2015: Loss at Wisconsin 58-0, Loss vs. Cincinnati 37-33

–2016: Loss at Iowa 45-21, Loss at Cincinnati 27-20, Loss vs. Mississippi State 17-16

–2017: Loss vs. Cincinnati 21-17, Loss at Notre Dame 52-17

–2018: Loss vs. Cincinnati 21-0, Loss at Minnesota 26-3

–2019: Loss at Iowa 38-14, Loss at Cincinnati 35-13, Loss at Ohio State 76-5

–2021: Loss at Cincinnati 49-14, Loss at Minnesota 31-26

Miami (Ohio) enters their ninth season under Martin with an 0-16 record against power competition. The RedHawks have posted an 8-8 record against the spread (ATS) in these games, but that mark drops to 1-4 ATS in matchups against ranked opponents.

Kentucky enters the season at No. 20 in the AP Poll as the Wildcats are ranked in the preseason for the first time since 1978. Kentucky is just 1-6 ATS in their last seven openers at Kroger Field, but the program as shown good recent form with a 6-3-1 ATS mark in its last 10 games.

Trends are pointing towards the home team for the Sept. 3 tilt.