Are we really playing both of these guys next year? The two best teams in the MAC? I smell trouble
Ohio and Miami Ohio
- Thread starter Salvi's Headband
- Start date
2 opening games. Certainly more challenging than Howard but winnable games. I'd put them roughly at the Va. Tech level. A slow start to the season by next year's team could bring a loss.
The sky is always falling and only on Rutgers:
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At the Virginia Tech on the road level? No. Plus, I’m pretty sure both of them lose their starting quarterbacks and a lot of key players. The rest will get poached.
They're both at home so it wouldn't so no, not Va Tech on the road. But neither are they Howard, Wagner cupcakes BTW, Rutgers is losing some key players as well.
I'd say there's a MAJOR difference between US losing starters and those 2 teams losing starters. Particularly starting QB's. Don't get me wrong, we've GOT to be ready opening day, but these should be "W's" without too much stress.
There was some stress during the 2023 Va. Tech game. Listen, I predict a win in both games. But this won't be easy.
I did a quick look at the starters for Ohio and Miami and what they lose going into next year:
Ohio U.
They lose 7 starters on offense: QB, RB, RT, RG, C, LT, & WR
They lose 3 starters on defense: DE (JACK), WLB, & SS
Miami (Ohio)
They lose 6 starters on offense: QB, RB, TE, RT, RG, & LG
They lose 5 starters on offense: both DEs, DT, WLB, & MLB
Programs like Ohio and Miami don't reload and struggle to build and maintain depth. And I'm sure they might lose a few underclassmen to the transfer portal. Throw in the fact Ohio's coach is leaving for a new school. Ohio is a rebuild as we speak.
They might lose a bunch of players too now that the coach has left, might end up going to Charlotte with him.
Are we really still at the point that MAC schools are a concern as OOC games?
If that’s the case, the program is nearly as far along as people are making it seem.
If that’s the case, the program is nearly as far along as people are making it seem.
We lose three on offense: Pierce, Monangai, and Miller.
Defense is difficult because several seniors missed significant time, allowing underclassmen to start multiple games and, in some cases, never giving the position back to the original starter. Lewis missed a few games and rotated more often than usual when he returned. Lewis allowed Walker to shine and have a breakout season as DE. Powell is leaving, but Toure returns next to DJ. Rogers was hurt most of the year, and it allowed Mascoe to come into his own in replace of him. Also, it pushed Salaam into seeing major snaps as the dime back, with Mascoe moving to Rogers' position and then CB when Longerbeam missed time. Sanders took one safety spot, allowing Loyal to move close to the line as the extra DB. On paper, it appears as if Rutgers is losing 8 starters on defense, but with all the movement, it's more like 5, and even that's debatable. Thompson started in place of Bailey, who missed the season. Bailey is back, and so is Thompson. The bottom line is that there are many moving parts on defense to know exactly what is what.
Both are much better than MEAC type teams, but not as tough as VT on the road. Both lost to all of the P4 teams they played, mostly handily. So we should absolutely win both games, but we need to play well to have comfortable wins.
If we are worried about these 2 teams should RU even show up for the OSU, PSU, Oregon and Iowa games?
ND fans were bitching a year ahead of time? We are either a B1G team or we are not. These 2 out of conference teams are not LSU or Arkansas. They are a lower level and RU needs to be able to handle them. If not, this is a best a 2 win team at best.
Miami and Ohio are a better combo than something like VT and Akron. RU has a better chance of going 2-0 and both teams will be a better test than Akron.
Miami was in it to the end against Northwestern and Cincinnati this year. Down by 1 TD in each game and driving late in Q4 only to suffer an interception in one and an incomplete 4th down pass in the end zone in the other. The way they and RU were playing mid-season this year they would have put up a real challenge if we’d played then. They’ve got a roster full of 3* but graduation will hit them harder than it will RU.
Miami was in it to the end against Northwestern and Cincinnati this year. Down by 1 TD in each game and driving late in Q4 only to suffer an interception in one and an incomplete 4th down pass in the end zone in the other. The way they and RU were playing mid-season this year they would have put up a real challenge if we’d played then. They’ve got a roster full of 3* but graduation will hit them harder than it will RU.
This is the point the OP is missing. You can't project missing pieces from the '24 team to the '25 squad. Rutgers returns more key personnel than either Ohio or Miami.
Yes .. at the VT Level.
Do you realize that Ohio has won 10 games or more for the last 3 consecutive seasons?
Yes they lose their QB Navarro. Their Defense only loses 3 starters.
This game will be very difficult. Especially with a new DC and we are losing 7 starters on D. And this assumes Bailey is coming back ( TBD ? I think he was listed on the Senior Walk on our final home game).
Ohio loses 7 starters on offense, including the QB and their HC. Also, they lack depth and don't recruit as well as Rutgers. They have to develop players more than Rutgers. Let's be fair when comparing. You can't cherry the info that is most useful to the argument. 😉
Seems like the days of Rutgers fans complaining about weak OCC opponents are over and now they live in fear of MAC
People are acting like this is a slam dunk victory vs. a typical MAC Team.
This is anything but. Play like we did against Wisconsin, UCLA, etc. we could lose.
Here's some fun trivia. Which B1G team is the only B1G team with a losing record against MAC Teams?
Answer: Rutgers!!! 1-2 all time. But the two losses were under Ash.
B1G is 327-56-2 against the MAC, 85.2% win percentage.
B1G is 18-0 against the MAC the last 2 years, and 34-2 in the last 4 years.
