DETROIT — Miami football coach Chuck Martin has built one of the Mid-American Conference’s most consistent programs over the past decade.
This season, however, even the dean of the MAC’s head coaches admits the RedHawks are venturing into unfamiliar territory.
With 45 newcomers joining 60 returning players, Martin said Wednesday, July 22, at MAC Football Media Day inside Ford Field that Miami’s offseason has centered on blending a roster that looks much different than the one that reached its third consecutive MAC Championship Game last season.
“We’ve had a great offseason,” Martin said. “The new kids have blended well. They’ve worked hard. They treat people the right way. We’re excited to get going.”
The conference’s coaches also expressed confidence in Miami despite the turnover.
The RedHawks were selected second in the 2026 MAC preseason coaches poll, receiving 134 points and four first-place votes. Defending MAC champion Western Michigan narrowly claimed the top spot with 138 points and nine first-place votes. Toledo was picked third, followed by Ohio and Central Michigan.
Miami finished 7-7 a year ago, reaching the MAC Championship Game for the third straight season before undergoing significant roster changes during the offseason.
Martin, entering his 13th season in Oxford, said the transfer portal has dramatically altered the way programs build teams.
“Everybody always talks about culture,” Martin said. “It’s hard to have a culture when your roster turns over as much as everybody’s rosters do. You lose the top guys, you lose the Adam Tricks of the world that not only is your best player, but he’s your leader and does everything for your program.
“You’re almost starting semi-new every year.”
The RedHawks spent the offseason integrating transfers while building chemistry before preseason camp begins Aug. 5.
Martin said the elimination of the spring transfer portal window has helped create stability, allowing players nearly a full year together before the season begins.
“You get them in January and you’ve got them for 11 months,” Martin said. “That opportunity to build trust among each other and that camaraderie and chemistry is so important with a football team.”
While transfers arrive with college experience, Martin noted they still face a steep learning curve.
“They understand college life,” the coach said. “They understand classes, meetings, weight training and treatment. But then they get to practice and they don’t know our signals or our systems. In that regard, they’re just like freshmen.”
Much of Miami’s preseason attention will center on quarterback, where no starter has emerged.
Thomas Gotkowski, David McComb and Caleb Heavner — whom Martin described as talented, competitive and high-character — remain locked in an open competition entering camp.
“I’d love to know before Pitt who’s clearly the guy,” Martin said. “At this point, it’s still a very open competition.”
“If somebody separates themselves in camp, that would be great. If they don’t, we’ll probably separate ourselves on Saturday.”
The uncertainty extends beyond quarterback.
Martin expects several position battles to continue into Miami’s challenging nonconference schedule, beginning with the season opener at Pittsburgh.
Rather than viewing those early games solely through the lens of wins and losses, Martin said they provide the clearest evaluation of players under pressure.
“We won’t be close to a finished product when we hit the field at Pitt,” Martin said. “Hopefully we’re a lot better than we were in the spring.”
Martin pointed to Miami’s season opener at Miami (Fla.) several years ago, when the RedHawks struggled before eventually rebounding to win a MAC championship.
“There wasn’t a ton decided that day,” Martin said. “But you find out how people react. Whether you have success or not, you see who loves being out there, who competes and who fights.”
Those answers, Martin said, may prove more valuable than any preseason projection.
“We’ll have a much better sense of who really wants to be the guys for us,” Martin said, “and who doesn’t.”
