DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — Two of Miami's three team captains apparently won't play in Saturday afternoon's home opener at Yager Stadium against the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Senior tailback Brandon Murphy is out for Saturday's game, and junior middle linebacker Joey Hudson is listed as doubtful.

Both players suffered knee injuries in Saturday's 41-35 triple-overtime loss at Minnesota, and both players' status for the remainder of the season will be determined at a later date, according to Mike Pearson, Miami assistant director of athletics communications and technology.

Sophomore Andre Bratton is expected to start in place of Murphy, who was off to a strong start before the fourth-quarter injury, rushing for 201 yards and two touchdowns with a 6.5-yard-per-carry average.

Bratton has 74 yards rushing with a touchdown and a 4.6 average in two games. Last season, Bratton led the RedHawks with 285 yards rushing and a 4.5 average while filling in for Murphy, who was trying to recover from an ankle injury.

"If you've seen Andre in the last two weeks, you feel really good about him," Miami coach Shane Montgomery said. "He's very capable of being the guy right now."

Both Murphy and Bratton rely on quickness and sharp cuts. Senior Austin Sykes, who is more of a power runner, is likely to back up Bratton on Saturday.

"Now we need to look for a third guy," Montgomery said.

Candidates he mentioned are senior Cory Jones, sophomore Jamel Miller and true freshman Thomas Merriweather, an explosive runner who Montgomery was hoping to redshirt this fall.

"If we decide to move him up," Montgomery said of Merriweather, "we've got to feel good about playing him the rest of the year."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.