Way Too Early Predictions: A Look at the Miami RedHawks' 2015 Football Schedule

After a 2014 campaign that saw two more wins than the 2013 season and numerous close games, the Miami RedHawks will be looking to close the gap between them and the rest of the league in 2015 as they bring in one of the top recruiting classes in the MAC. However, the departures of quarterback Andrew Hendrix and cornerback Quinten Rollins, combined with a number of holdovers from the Treadwell error era, left the team with a number of personnel issues heading into fall.

With this in mind, let's take a look at the 2015 schedule.

September 5, vs. Presbyterian Blue Hose

There's worse ways to open up a season than hosting an FCS team that got blown out each time it played a FBS opponent last season (Northern Illinois 55-3, NC State 42-0, and Ole Miss 48-0). Although Presbyterian beat #12 Furman and Miami had its problems with Eastern Kentucky in 2014, this should be a win for the RedHawks. 1-0 (0-0 MAC)

September 12, at Wisconsin Badgers

While one might be inclined to say that things point to Miami in this game (Badgers losing running back Melvin Gordon, probably losing to Alabama Week 1, Wisky quarterbacks continuing the tradition of being horrible post-Russell Wilson), the 'Hawks just don't have the size or the physicality to match up with Power 5 teams yet. They might be able to keep it close (like at Michigan last season), winning this game is too tall a task for them at this point. 1-1 (0-0 MAC)

September 19, vs. Cincinnati Bearcats

After falling 31-24 in last year's edition of the Battle of the Victory Bell, Miami has to be able to find a way to score points in Oxford this year as the Gunner Kiel-led Bearcat attack is going to get theirs. With the lack of a dynamic running game along with the questions at quarterback, it's hard to see how the RedHawks can keep up with the 'Cats. 1-2 (0-0 MAC)

September 26, at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Miami makes the short trip to Bowling Green, Ky. to take on a Western Kentucky team that was highly competitive in 13 of its 14 games last season, including a 49-48 win over Central Michigan in the Popeye's Bahamas Bowl. With an offense that averaged 44.4 points per game, the Hilltoppers will put the young offensive unit of the RedHawks in a bind as they are forced into a shootout with a lack of weapons. 1-3 (0-0 MAC)

October 3, at Kent State Golden Flashes

Following a 10-3 defensive struggle in Oxford in 2014, the same should be expected in the MAC opener for the Red and White. With Miami returning a number of starters on defense as well as a couple of outside playmakers in Rokeem Williams and Jared Murphy, the edge goes to the RedHawks on the road. 2-3 (1-0 MAC)

October 10, at Ohio Bobcats

After blowing a 21-0 lead against Ohio in last season's finale, Miami heads to Athens to take on a Bobcat squad that has talent on both sides of the ball and is hoping for big things in 2015. The advantage goes to the 'Cats, who can get production through the air with Derrius Vick and on the ground with AJ Oullette while no one can confidently say that the 'Hawks can do either at this point. 2-4 (1-1 MAC)

October 17, vs. Northern Illinois Huskies

Northern Illinois will be looking to continue their offensive success against Miami after hanging 51 points on the team last season, despite the loss of Cameron Stingily. It's difficult to see the 'Hawks outscoring the Huskies with dual threat Drew Hare behind center, so the edge goes to NIU. 2-5 (1-2 MAC)

October 24, at Western Michigan Broncos

Miami will try to snap its two-game skid against perhaps the best team in the MAC in 2015, but the one-two punch of Zach Terrell and Jarvion Franklin will be hard to stop, especially with the RedHawks' lack of girth up front. The aggressive defense of the Broncos will frustrate whoever's behind center in what seems to be a rehash of the 41-10 beating in Oxford. 2-6 (1-3 MAC)

October 29, vs. Buffalo Bulls

The RedHawks' lone mid-week game of 2015 will be against the new-look Buffalo team that returns Joe Licata and Anthone Taylor on the offensive side of the ball. This game will look to be more of a low-scoring affair than the 35-27 loss last season, with Miami having the advantage in the passing game on both sides of the ball with Williams and Murphy on offense, with Heath Harding and Marshall Taylor contributing on defense. 3-6, (2-3 MAC)

November 7, vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles

Hosting an Eastern Michigan team that lost its last six games in 2014, the Red and White will continue to make a push for bowl eligibility. With the Eagles averaging 15.2 points on offense while allowing 40.9 points on defense, all signs point to a Miami victory. 4-6 (3-3 MAC)

November 14, vs. Akron Zips

Miami continues its home stand with an Akron team that won last year's meeting 29-19 despite an injury late in the first half to Kyle Pohl. The game will be fairly close again this year with the strengths of both teams matching up against each other (the passing game of the Zips vs. the pass defense of the 'Hawks), but the offense of the RedHawks needs to score points to win this game and this is not much of a given with the quarterback situation. 4-7 (3-4 MAC)

November 21, at UMass Minutemen

With last season's 42-41 classic in the books, Miami will be shooting for another win over the Minutemen, this time in a low-scoring defensive slugfest. UMass will once again be one-dimensional with a huge focus on the passing game with Blake Frohnapfel, giving the Red and White multiple chances at stops and scores as the RedHawks will finish .500 in MAC play for the first time in the Chuck Martin era. 5-7 (4-4 MAC)

Miami's 2015 campaign largely comes down to getting production from the quarterback position whether it's Drew Kummer or Gus Ragland making throws, as well as the defense keeping the team in games so that the young offense has multiple chances to score in games. If both of these things happen, RedHawk fans can expect the team to continue its ascension up the MAC standings.