Miami Redskins football, 1888–1899

The Miami Redskins football (now known as Miami RedHawks football) teams from 1888 to 1899 represented Miami University in American football. These were the earliest years of intercollegiate football at the school. Highlights include the following:

On December 8, 1888, Miami played its first intercollegiate football game against Cincinnati, ending in a scoreless tie. The 1888 game between Cincinnati and Miami was the first in what later became the Victory Bell series that has been contested more than 110 games and is one of the oldest rivalries in college football. It was also the first college football game played in the State of Ohio.
On November 9, 1889, Miami won its first game, defeating Dayton High School by a 44–0 score. On December 14, 1889, the team also defeated Cincinnati, 34–0, for its first victory in the Victory Bell rivalry. The 1889 team also compiled the first undefeated record in school history with four wins and no losses.
On November 26, 1891, the team lost to Ohio Wesleyan by a 104–0 score. It was the most one-sided defeat in Miami school history.
In 1893 and 1895, the team compiled perfect 3–0 records. These were the second and third undefeated seasons in school history.

The team did not have a paid coach from 1888 to 1894. C. K. Fauver became the first head coach in 1895. He was succeeded by Ernest Merrill in 1896, Herbert J. McIntire in 1897, and George Greenleaf in 1899.

The team's most common opponents during this period were the University of Cincinnati (11 games), Earlham College (seven games), and Centre College (three games).