QB
CFinn at QB (82, senior, stamina 95). Top-3 of 72.0.
**Dynasty-start roster (CFB 26)**DC Rating 5.7 / 10
Miami (Ohio)
Architect Martin with rare A coach stability at 2-prestige and the Air Raid behind a B DB grade.
The Dynasty Verdict
If you want a Chuck Martin program where rare A coach stability meets the Air Raid offense and a B DB grade, Miami (Ohio) is the MAC team built on coordinator continuity at the FBS mid-floor. Blakey patrols deep at senior FS 85 with stamina 93 and pursuit 89. Walters reads at senior SS 84 with zone coverage 91. Finn runs the offense at senior QB 82 with stamina 95 and throw power 90. Dzioban handles the kicking duties at senior K 82 with kick accuracy 91 and kick power 90. Tracy and Brunson split the senior backfield at HB. The home pipeline is Ohio Tier-3 plus three Tier-2 regional reaches (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky), giving Miami (OH) a four-region above-Tier-1 cluster across the Midwest.
What makes Miami (Ohio) different from the other 2-prestige MAC programs is the A coach stability mark. Most 2-prestige MAC programs run C-or-D coach stability with churning coordinators. Miami (Ohio) asks you to ride the rare A coach stability mark, the highest stability tier available at 2-prestige in the editorial set, under Architect Chuck Martin running the Air Raid offense. Same conference, same prestige tier, different infrastructure: Miami (Ohio) is the staff continuity play in the MAC.
The 5.7 lands on the A coach stability, the rare Air Raid scheme combo, and the senior secondary (Blakey, Walters). The catch is the 67 overall, the F brand exposure, and the 7-of-10 senior cliff that drains the launch roster after Year 1, leaving Smith Jr. at sophomore LG, Yharbrough at junior SS, and Trick at junior REDG as the only multi-year top-10 bridges. Don't pick Miami (Ohio) for a Year 1 ceiling chase. Pick Miami (Ohio) for the staff continuity build where Martin's A stability holds the program together through the senior cliff while the Year 1 recruiting class develops in real reps under the same coordinators.
Head Coach
Chuck Martin
ArchitectMartin is an Architect archetype with B- coach prestige and A coach stability — the rare A stability mark at 2-prestige in the editorial set. The launch hands him Blakey at senior FS, Walters at senior SS, Finn at senior QB, the senior HB rotation (Tracy, Brunson), and Smith Jr. at sophomore LG plus Yharbrough and Trick at junior on defense. The A coach stability is the structural advantage Martin plays into; the catch is the 2-prestige floor and F brand exposure that hold the program below the higher MAC contenders despite the staff continuity.
Team at a Glance
| Conference | MAC |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Chuck Martin · Architect |
| Team Prestige | 2 stars |
| Team Overall (in-game) | 67 |
| Top Position Group | Defensive Back · B · top-3 avg 82.0 |
| Weakest Position Group | Tight End · C- · top-3 avg 66.3 |
| Stadium Atmosphere | D- |
| Brand Exposure | F |
| Coach Prestige | B- |
| Coach Stability | A |
| Top-10 Senior Departures After Year 1 | 7 of 10 |
Top 10 Players
By overall rating at dynasty start
| # | Player | Pos | Yr | OVR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Eli Blakey | FS | Sr | 85 | Stamina 93 |
| 02 | Silas Walters | SS | Sr | 84 | Stamina 91 |
| 03 | Dequan Finn | QB | Sr | 82 | Stamina 95 |
| 04 | Dom Dzioban | K | Sr | 82 | Kick Accuracy 91 |
| 05 | Kenny Tracy | HB | Sr | 81 | Acceleration 89 |
| 06 | Jordan Brunson | HB | Sr | 78 | Injury 91 |
| 07 | Gregory Smith Jr. | LG | So | 77 | Injury 92 |
| 08 | Mychal Yharbrough | SS | Jr | 77 | Acceleration 90 |
| 09 | Adam Trick | REDG | Jr | 76 | Toughness 92 |
| 10 | Corban Hondru | WILL | Sr | 76 | Toughness 91 |
Position Group Grades
RB
C+Tracy at HB (81, senior, acceleration 89) and Brunson at HB (78, senior, injury 91). Top-3 of 76.7.
WR
C+Top-3 of 74.7.
TE
C-Top-3 of 66.3.
OL
C+Smith Jr. at LG (77, sophomore, injury 92). Top-3 of 75.3.
DL
C+Trick at REDG (76, junior, toughness 92). Top-3 of 75.0.
LB
CHondru at WILL (76, senior, toughness 91). Top-3 of 73.0.
DB
BBlakey at FS (85, senior, stamina 93), Walters at SS (84, senior, zone coverage 91) and Yharbrough at SS (77, junior, acceleration 90). Top-3 of 82.0.
ST
CDzioban at K (82, senior, kick accuracy 91). Top-3 of 72.7.
Recommended Playbooks
Offense
Air Raid (Miami (Ohio) Default)
Run the Air Raid because Finn at senior QB plus the senior backfield matches the design's tempo split. Finn runs the show at senior QB with stamina 95 and toughness 92, durable enough to take every snap in a tempo system. Tracy breaks the line at senior HB with acceleration 89. Brunson rotates at senior HB with injury 91 and toughness 90. Smith Jr. anchors the left guard at sophomore with injury 92 and toughness 92.
Why this fits
A senior dual-threat QB plus a senior HB rotation gives the Air Raid the tempo identity the scheme demands. The C+ WR grade caps the passing game's ceiling at conference average. Smith Jr.'s sophomore eligibility carries the multi-year OL bridge into Year 2-3.
Defense
Base 3-4 (Miami (Ohio) Default)
Run the Base 3-4 because the senior FS-SS pair plus Trick at junior REDG anchors the design. Blakey patrols deep at senior FS with stamina 93 and pursuit 89. Walters reads at senior SS with zone coverage 91. Trick sets the edge at junior REDG with toughness 92. Yharbrough rotates at junior SS with acceleration 90. Hondru reads at senior WILL with toughness 91.
Why this fits
A B DB grade led by Blakey, Walters, and Yharbrough gives the Base 3-4 a strong back end. Trick's junior eligibility plus Yharbrough's junior eligibility carries the multi-year defensive bridge into Year 2-3.
Recruiting Outlook
Pipeline regions
- OhioTier 3
- IllinoisTier 2
- IndianaTier 2
- KentuckyTier 2
- North CarolinaTier 1
- MichiganTier 1
- MissouriTier 1
- TennesseeTier 1
- PennsylvaniaTier 1
- Metro AtlantaTier 1
You'll recruit a four-region Midwest cluster. Ohio at Tier-3 is the home anchor; Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky at Tier-2 form the surrounding regional reach — premium recruiting infrastructure for a 2-prestige MAC program. Below that, six Tier-1 long-distance reaches aren't worth the spend. Martin at B- coach prestige plus A coach stability gives Miami (Ohio) a recruiting story (staff continuity + Tier-3 home) that most 2-prestige peers can't match.
Position priorities for Year 1 are dictated by the 7-senior cliff at FS, SS, QB, K, both HBs, and WILL. Quarterback is critical because Finn graduates after Year 1 with no top-10 QB behind him. After QB, replacement HB depth behind Tracy and Brunson, replacement FS behind Blakey, replacement SS behind Walters, replacement WR depth.
Avoid the long-distance Tier-1 cluster (North Carolina, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Metro Atlanta) entirely beyond a single targeted player. Lock the Ohio Tier-3 plus Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky Tier-2 plan and let Martin's A stability close position-replacement classes year over year.
Your Year-by-Year Path with Miami (Ohio)
Year 1
The Senior MAC Year
You're inheriting a 2-prestige roster with a 67 overall and seven top-10 seniors. Don't experiment. Run the Air Raid, ride Finn at senior QB with the senior backfield, let Blakey and Walters anchor the defense behind Trick at junior REDG. Year 1 is MAC bowl eligibility at 6-7 wins on the senior class. While you're winning, sign the QB-and-WR Year 1 class that Martin's A stability closes from Ohio Tier-3 plus the three Tier-2 reaches.
Goal
MAC bowl eligibility, 6-7 wins, top-150 recruiting class with QB and WR at the top.
Years 2-3
The Smith-Yharbrough-Trick Window
Seven senior anchors graduate. Smith Jr. becomes the junior LG; Yharbrough becomes the senior SS; Trick becomes the senior REDG. The Year 1 QB recruit becomes Year 2 starter under the same coordinators that A coach stability protects. Martin's Architect archetype turns the multi-year cluster into a MAC contention window.
Goal
7-8 wins, Yharbrough at 82+ as a senior, Ohio Tier-3 class held.
Year 4+
The Stability Compound
By Year 4, the dynasty depends on whether the A coach stability plus Ohio Tier-3 plus three Tier-2 reaches compounded into a multi-year talent base. The A stability is the structural advantage that lets Miami (Ohio) hold the program together where most 2-prestige MAC peers churn coordinators. Realistically, sustained 7-8 wins in the MAC with the staff continuity intact.
Goal
Stable 7-8 win MAC program with the A coach stability and Ohio Tier-3 pipeline intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Miami (Ohio) good for dynasty mode in CFB 26?
Yes for an Architect Martin patient build with rare A coach stability and the Air Raid offense, with caveats. Miami (Ohio) enters CFB 26 with a 67-overall roster, B- coach prestige and A coach stability under Architect Chuck Martin, and a B DB grade led by Blakey at senior FS 85 and Walters at senior SS 84. The 2-prestige floor and F brand exposure are the structural caps.
What's Miami (Ohio)'s prestige in CFB 26?
Miami (Ohio) enters CFB 26 with a 2-star prestige rating, paired with B- coach prestige and A coach stability — the rare A stability mark at 2-prestige in CFB 26. The Ohio Tier-3 home plus three Tier-2 reaches (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky) form a four-region Midwest recruiting cluster.
What playbook does Miami (Ohio) use in CFB 26?
Chuck Martin's Miami (Ohio) runs the Air Raid offense and the Base 3-4 defense. The Air Raid fits Finn at senior QB plus the senior backfield (Tracy, Brunson). The Base 3-4 deploys Blakey at FS (85, senior, stamina 93), Walters at SS (84, senior, zone coverage 91), and Trick at REDG (76, junior, toughness 92).
Who is Miami (Ohio)'s best player in College Football 26?
Eli Blakey at 85 OVR, senior free safety, with stamina 93, injury 92, and acceleration 89. Blakey is the highest-rated player on the roster and the back-end identity of Martin's Base 3-4. Silas Walters at SS (84, senior, zone coverage 91) and Dequan Finn at QB (82, senior, stamina 95) round out a senior top three.
Should I rebuild Miami (Ohio) or take an easier team?
Miami (Ohio) is a staff continuity MAC build, not a Year 1 contender. The Year 1 ceiling is bowl eligibility on the senior class; the Year 2-3 floor depends on Smith Jr., Yharbrough, and Trick maturing into the multi-year cluster as Martin's A stability holds the coordinators. Take Miami (Ohio) if you want the rare A coach stability mark at 2-prestige in the MAC. If you want a similar prestige tier with a different scheme advantage, look at Toledo or Bowling Green.