If Miami University’s football team wants to avoid its second straight losing campaign, the time to win is now.

The RedHawks travel to Central Michigan on Saturday, then host Ball State in the regular-season finale Nov. 23. They are 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the Mid-American Conference East Division.

“This one’s going to sink in,” MU outside linebacker Chris Wade said after last weekend’s 48-32 loss to visiting Kent State. “It’s gonna hurt, and we’re going to take it on the chin and come back together (today) and get ready for our next game.”

“We don’t talk about two left or whatever. We say, ‘Who’s next?’ ” Miami coach Don Treadwell said. “From a practice standpoint, it’s been upbeat, they’ve been locked in, because of the kind of young men we have. I know it will be that way again.”

The RedHawks have lost four of their last five games and are giving up 486.3 yards per contest. They allowed 546 against Kent State, though Treadwell liked the way his troops rallied after falling behind 35-7.

“That talks to your leadership,” the MU coach said. “It doesn’t happen overnight. We’re playing about 10 freshmen, and a lot of them are getting their feet wet because we’ve got four or five starters out. But at the same time, our kids have been playing hard.”

Miami holds a 12-10-1 advantage in the series with Central Michigan and defeated the Chippewas 27-20 in their last meeting. Zac Dysert connected with Andy Cruse for a 71-yard TD with 19 seconds left in that 2010 contest.

CMU, 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the MAC West Division, won 34-31 at Eastern Michigan last weekend.

Quarterback Ryan Radcliff has completed 200-of-336 passes for 2,621 yards and 18 touchdowns with seven interceptions for Central Michigan. Teammate Zurlon Tipton has carried the ball 180 times for 1,093 yards and 13 TDs.