Tag Archive for: Miami Hurricanes

Indiana Makes Program History, Ending Miami’s Improbable Run

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The 2026 National Championship game took place in the home of the Miami Hurricanes, Hard Rock Stadium, in a matchup between two unlikely candidates, two teams who had 100-1 odds at some point in their respective seasons and in an all-time National Title game, the Hurricanes fell short, and the Hoosiers secured their first ever National Championship.

The Canes run was improbable, and unforgettable, but they ran into the best team in the country, at the wrong time.

First Half

The game began just as many expected, with both defenses trading blows early and showcasing elite talent on each side of the ball. Indiana struck first, cashing in with a field goal to take a 3–0 lead, a score that held through the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter followed a similar script, as the Canes struggled to generate offense both on the ground and through the air. Indiana capitalized after another Miami three-and-out, as Fernando Mendoza led a calm, methodical drive that was aided by a costly offsides penalty from Rueben Bain Jr. The Hoosiers’ touchdown drive spanned 14 plays, the same number of total plays Miami had run to that point in the game.

Miami’s next possession again stalled, but a bold decision to go for it on fourth-and-one in their own territory kept the drive alive and resulted in the Hurricanes’ second first down of the game. A big completion to CJ Daniels put Miami in position to grab points before halftime, but Carter Davis doinked the field goal off the upright. Indiana had a chance to double-dip before the break, though they failed to capitalize.

Indiana led 10–0 at halftime, outgaining Miami 169 yards to 69.

Second Half

The second half was a different story.

The Canes defense did its job yet again out of the half to give Carson Beck and the offense a chance to get the game within reach and they did just that as Mark Fletcher Jr. went for 57 yards, bringing the Canes right back into the game. Fletcher has been Miami’s most important player of these playoffs, and he came up big yet again. While Rueben Bain, Ahkeem Mesidor, and the rest of the defense did their best to keep the Canes in the game, the special teams took the biggest hit, as they gave up a blocked punt for a touchdown. The Hurricanes responded with an 81-yard touchdown drive that was finished off by Mark Fletcher Jr. yet again.

But Indiana delivered the decisive moment on a gutsy drive that featured a fourth-and-five conversion deep in Miami territory. The Hoosiers finished the drive with Mendoza powering his way into the end zone on another fourth-down play, sealing his defining Heisman and championship moment.

Miami answered immediately, fueled by Malachi Toney, cutting the deficit to 24–21 with 6:37 remaining.

From there, Indiana closed the door. The Hoosiers controlled the final minutes, leaning on the run game and executing their signature money play, a back-shoulder fade to Becker, to move into Miami territory. After that, it was all on the ground, leading to a field goal to give the Hoosiers a 27-21 lead with a minute and 42 seconds left.

Carson Beck had one last chance to end his college career on a high note, as a Champion, and the Hoosiers defense slammed the door with an interception.

Miami gave Indiana everything it had, but it was not enough.

The Hurricanes went from the outside looking in alongside Notre Dame to navigating a ferocious playoff gauntlet, knocking off Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss along the way. Yet in the end, the nation’s best team stood tallest.

This is not a season for Miami to hang its head, but one to remember, and one to build upon. A culture-setting year in which Mario Cristobal gave everyone a reason to believe.

That the U is back.

Cover image via @CanesFootball on X/Twitter

The Bulls Come to Town for a Highly Anticipated Top 20 Showdown

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The University of South Florida Bulls have taken the college football world by storm, knocking off the 25th-ranked Boise State Broncos and marching into the Swamp to upset the 13th-ranked Florida Gators. Those wins vaulted the Bulls up to No. 18 in the AP Poll ahead of their showdown with your Miami Hurricanes.

The Canes are off to a hot start of their own, continuing their dominance over Notre Dame and handling business against Bethune Cookman. That strong start has kept Miami firmly in the top five, ranked No. 5 heading into this matchup at Hard Rock Stadium.

Although the schools share the same state, this will be just the eighth meeting between the two programs. Miami holds a 6–1 edge in the series, with USF’s lone victory coming in 2010, a 23-20 overtime win in Miami. This matchup also carries some extra history, as it marks the first time the two schools have ever met as ranked opponents.

USF has been one of the biggest surprises in the nation this season. The Bulls are just the third unranked team since 2000 to start 2-0 with back-to-back wins over ranked opponents. Preseason rankings may not mean everything, but the feat still highlights how impressive their start has been.

This game also breaks a drought for both programs. It is the first time they have been ranked at the same time since Week 7 of the 2018 AP Poll, when USF came in at No. 23 and Miami sat at No. 18.

This year’s contest should be much closer than last season’s 50-15 Miami rout. The Bulls look like a different team, eager to back up their head coach’s words: “This ain’t the same old South Florida.”

For Miami, the challenge will be breaking through a stout, revamped USF defense. The Bulls held Boise State to a single touchdown and limited Florida to just 16 points. Built largely through transfers, the unit has quickly emerged as one of the nation’s best. For the Canes, controlling the football and keeping a balanced attack will be critical to avoiding predictability.

Quarterback Carson Beck has looked sharp so far, but he will need to test the Bulls secondary. Opposing quarterbacks have found completions against USF, but most have been kept short. To succeed, Beck must stretch the field and continue feeding CJ Daniels and Malachi Toney.

Defensively, Miami’s biggest task will be containing quarterback Byrum Brown and eliminating explosive plays. Against Florida, USF’s offense sputtered on third downs (6-for-16), but a 66-yard touchdown, a quick 60-yard scoring drive, and Brown’s ability to extend plays with his legs kept them alive.

Brown has yet to commit a turnover this season, so the Hurricanes must find a way to flip that script. Winning the turnover battle, pressuring Brown, and holding onto the football themselves will be the key to victory.

With the same energy Hard Rock Stadium brought for the Notre Dame game, Miami will look to ride its home-field advantage in what promises to be one of the most electric matchups of the season.

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Miami Hurricanes: Duke QB Riley Leonard will challenge ‘Canes

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The Miami Hurricanes are set to take on the Duke Blue Devils as they look to bounce back from Saturday’s loss to Virginia Tech. Miami will have their work cut out for them, as they will be faced with another challenging quarterback in Riley Leonard.

Leonard has 1,557 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions on the season. He played effectively in Duke’s loss to North Carolina last Saturday. He went 20-of-31 on the afternoon, throwing for 245 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

He is an accurate quarterback, as he has a 66% completion percentage on the season. That puts him third in the ACC behind Syracuse’s Garrett Schrader, and UNC’s Drake Maye.

Leonard is accurate with the football, and does not make mistakes. This certainly resembles another quarterback that the Hurricanes have already faced in Maye They did a decent job of containing him,  as they intercepted him twice.

A tough test for Miami Hurricanes

Leonard has several traits that make him a bit quarterback. He throws a very tight spiral, which allows for the ball to get to the receivers quickly. In addition to his throwing motion, he goes through progressions quickly, and identifies his reads before the pass rush can get into the backfield.

He can also run a little bit, as he has 420 rushing yards on the year. He had 130 yards against UNC last Saturday, and has rushed for at least 60 yards in four games this season.

The Miami Hurricanes defense is going to have to be ready on Saturday. Leonard is a multi-skilled quarterback who and beat you in many ways. It is going to be a bit of a challenge, particularly for the Miami pass rush. However, they have playmakers and athletes that can help contain Leonard. It won’t be easy however, and if they do not contain him, he will take advantage of that. Making him uncomfortable in the pocket is going to have to be their top priority.

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Miami Hurricanes: Colbie Young is viable big-play threat

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There were some positives to take away from the Miami Hurricanes‘ win over Virginia Tech on Saturday. One of them was the play of wide receiver Colbie Young. Young played a big part in Miami’s offensive successes, and he also established himself as a deep threat for the offense.

Young played at a high level on Saturday. He caught nine passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. A 37-yard catch was his longest of the afternoon. Many fans have been clamoring to see him play for quite a while now. They certainly got their wish, and he played at a high level.

Coming into the game, he had three receptions for 43 yards against UNC last Saturday. He more than doubled that production against Virginia Tech.

Not only did he perform well in terms of production, he looked extremely comfortable while doing it. A one-handed catch was one of the highlights of his afternoon. It really highlighted his athleticism and coordination, as well as his big-play ability.  The fact that quarterback Tyler Van Dyke targeted him often was certainly a good sign. Establishing that rapport between the two will allow the Miami offense to have a  receiver they can rely on.

If Young can establish himself as a downfield threat for the Hurricanes, this would be extremely good news. Miami has been looking for that big-play weapon this season. The departures of wide receivers Charleston Rambo and Mike Harley took away those playmakers. This season, it’s been about trying to find production at the wide receiver position. The injuries at the position have created a lack of big-play threats.

Hopefully, Young will continue to establish his role in this offense. His emergence could be huge for the wide receiver room. He has the ability to be an X-factor, and Miami should continue to use him that way.

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Miami Hurricanes need to focus on Virginia Tech WR Kaleb Smith

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The Miami Hurricanes will have their work cut out for them when they take on the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday. Virginia Tech is not exactly an offensive powerhouse. They rank 13th in the ACC in passing offense. They average 220.5 passing yards per game. They do however have a potent wide receiving weapon in Kaleb Smith.

Smith has 25 receptions for 402 yards and two touchdowns. He averages 16.1 yards per reception. He is coming off a game against Pittsburgh in which he really exploded. He caught nine passes for 152 yards, averaging 16.9 yards per reception. A 37-yard grab was his longest of the afternoon.

He was named the ACC’s Wide Receiver of the Week for his big day last Saturday.

He is somebody that the Hurricanes defense is going to have to watch out for. The secondary is going to have to play at a high level in particular. There were a couple of instances last Saturday where coverage completely broke down. To be fair, they improved in the second half. Missed assignments cannot happen against a receiver like Smith. He is a tremendous yards-after-catch receiver, and he can make defenders miss with ease.

He also is a deep threat. He is not the fastest wide receiver, but he is great at getting out of his breaks, and locating the football mid-route. Smith is somebody that Miami is definitely going to have to watch out for. He is the main playmaker of the Virginia Tech offense, and can be a game-changer.

I’ll be interested to see what kind of impact he has in Saturday’s game. The Miami corners are going to be in for a challenge. This Virginia Tech offense is not explosive, but Smith allows them to have some form of dynamic playmaking ability. He could present a challenge to Miami, especially as that secondary unit continues to find their footing.

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Miami Hurricanes: Tyler Van Dyke bounces back in loss

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I understand that people aren’t going to find much optimism from the Miami Hurricanes’ loss yesterday. A loss, is a loss. There is no sugar coating that. However, there was one particular positive I took away from Saturday’s game. That was the play of quarterback Tyler Van Dyke

Let’s face it, he didn’t look like himself against Middle Tennessee State. All throughout the bye week, we were wondering if he would be able to answer back and put together a solid game against a strong North Carolina team. Saturday, I believe he answered the question with a resounding yes.

He went 42-of-57 on the afternoon, throwing for 496 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He looked extremely sharp throughout the course of the day. One of the things that was noticeable was his ability to make quick reads. He was decisive in where he wanted to throw the football, and that resulted in a lot of players having big days.

Take for example Will Mallory. The tight end was a player that I highlighted earlier in the week as somebody that Miami needed to get the football to. The quarterback certainly did so, and the tight end recorded eight catches for 115 yards.

Van Dyke’s big day was also aided by the Miami Hurricanes’ stellar job at utilizing the running backs in the passing game. Henry Parrish caught seven passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. Jaylan Knighton caught two passes for 56 yards, including a 41-yard catch that showcased the quarterbacks in the arm.

Van Dyke looked like the quarterback that we saw last season. His reads were quick and sharp, and his throws were tight. He got the ball out quickly, and made others around him better. Just look at the statistics sheet. Breshard Smith caught five passes for 59 yards. Frank Ladson caught eight passes for 59 yards. Michael Redding caught four passes for 50 yards, while Colbie Young caught three passes for 43 yards.

When Van Dyke is at his best, he makes quick reads and spreads the ball around. He did that on Sunday and he put on a show. Yes, he threw the interception on the final drive. However, that shouldn’t take away from an overall great performance on Saturday. He was at his best, during a week when he really needed to be. Here’s to hoping he can keep it up.

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Miami Hurricanes need to involve Will Mallory early and often Saturday

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The Miami Hurricanes take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday. There are many things Miami needs to do if they want to have success in this game. One of them is to feed the ball to Will Mallory at a higher rate.

It’s not as if Mallory isn’t performing. Statistics and the eye test say otherwise. Mallory currently has 12 catches for 127 yards, and is averaging 10.6 yards per reception. He is coming off a four-catch 50-yard performance against middle Tennessee State last time out. The tight end also had a very solid game against Texas A&M on September 17. He caught six passes for 56 yards. if nothing else, he’s been solid.

Mallory has produced for Miami Hurricanes

Mallory is producing when he has been given opportunities. It just seems like there hasn’t been enough opportunities for him. This is something that needs to change, especially as the Miami Hurricanes try to find a consistent and reliable weapon on the outside.  The tight end is a quarterback’s best friend, and allowing Mallory to really showcase his skill set can make life much easier for the offense.

As far as Saturday is concerned, Miami can take advantage of the North Carolina defense. The Tar Heels give up 238 passing yards per game . That puts them seventh overall in the ACC. That is certainly not the best number, but it’s also not the worst number. There will be opportunities for Miami to move the ball down the field.

This defense is one that I feel like quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and a player like Mallory can really take advantage of. The Miami offense needs to move the ball down the field and score points. Getting the ball to Mallory will help them accomplish that.  Mallory is very good after the catch, and this is a game where if you can just feed him the ball, he can make things happen.

It’s not just enough to get him the ball either. The Miami Hurricanes have to do it early and they have to do it often. Establishing him as a weapon early on will only do good things for the offense. He has the ability to be a key part of the game. He just hasn’t been able to do it for an entire game this season.

If the Miami Hurricanes want to keep pace with Carolina on Saturday, all their weapons need to be involved. That includes Mallory. I’ll be intrigued to see how he is utilized on Saturday.

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Miami Hurricanes: Pass rush needs to be key focus against UNC

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The Miami Hurricanes will have their hands full with the North Carolina Tar Heels this weekend. The Tar Heels have a potent offense, and it starts with their quarterback, Drake Maye.

Maye has thrown for 1,594 yards, 19 touchdowns, and an interception so far this season. He is coming off a game against Virginia Tech that saw the Tar Heels win by a 41-10 margin.  The quarterback was a huge reason why they were able to come away with the resounding victory. He went 26-of-36 on the afternoon, throwing for 363 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 10.1 yards per pass.

Maye will certainly present a challenge to the Miami Hurricanes’ defense. The Miami passing defense has struggled a bit. They rank at the bottom of the ACC in yards allowed per game at 251. They rank in the middle of the ACC with 10 sacks, tied with Virginia Tech and Boston College in that number.

Miami Hurricanes pass rush has been quiet

Miami needs to establish more of a pass-rushing presence on Saturday. Jafari Harvey is the leading pass rusher with two sacks on the season. That certainly needs to change. Pass-rushing has been a bit quiet over the past couple of games. They did have two sacks against middle Tennessee State. One came from Corey Flagg, and the other came from Daryl Porter Jr.

More weapons than Maye

Maye is not the only reason why the pass-rush needs to be effective on Saturday. UNC also has several capable playmakers. They don’t necessarily have a top wide receiver. They have multiple players that can make big plays. Take for example their tight end, Bryson Nesbit. He leads the team with 287 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the season. He averages 16.9 yards per catch.

Josh Downs is the team’s leader in receiving touchdowns with four. He has 230 yards on the season, and averages 10.5 yards per reception.

They also have explosive weapons that have not gotten involved in the passing game as much. Antoine Greene is one of them. He only has seven receptions, but has 209 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Pressure on the quarterback will need to be a priority for Saturday. Guys like Harvey and Flagg, among others, will need to step up once again. If they do not, the Miami Hurricanes could be in for a long day. Allowing Maye to sit in the pocket and have time to make his reads is a recipe for disaster.

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Miami Hurricanes need RBs to move chains in passing game

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Much ado has been made about the struggles surrounding the Miami Hurricanes’ offense. Perhaps the most mystifying part of the offense is the lack of involvement by running backs in the passing game.

The running backs have been a key part of the team, as the running game has been a source of strength for Miami.  However, there is a lack of utilizing be running backs as pass-catchers within this offense.

Henry Parrish Jr. is the leader for the running backs in terms of receiving. He has six catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Thad Franklin has three catches for 27 yards, while Jaylan Knighton has two catches for three yards.

That’s not to say this offense is bad. They are not bad at all. Sure, the playcalling is mystifying at times. However, the Hurricanes are averaging 448.8 yards per game. That is sixth in the ACC.  That’s pretty good, if you ask me.

Getting running backs involved would benefit Miami Hurricanes

Miami needs to get the running backs more involved in the passing game. Quarterback play is struggling right now, and the wide receiver position is still trying to find that top wideout. Throwing more balls to the running backs could be ideal, as it would give Tyler Van Dyke and Jake Garcia safe throws, and help move an offense that is struggling.

The problem is, running backs as receiving options aren’t prevalent in a Josh Gattis-led offense. Take last year’s Michigan team for example. Running back Hassan Haskins had 18 catches for 131 yards. That averages out to 7.3 yards per reception. Blake Corum had  24 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown. That averages out to 5.9 yards per reception.

Those numbers are not bad by any means. However, the lack of volume in terms of receptions certainly signals that running backs are the fourth or fifth  passing option in a Gattis-led offense. Gattis preferred to use his running backs primarily as just that at Michigan last year, and he’s doing the same with Miami right now.

This, in my opinion, needs to change. Miami does not have a top wide receiver right now. Miami also has issues at the quarterback position. Involving the running backs more would allow the quarterbacks to get safe throws and move the chains.

Simply put, it’s something Josh Gattis should look into sooner rather than later.

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Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes rushing attack is undoubtedly here to stay

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Yes, Saturday night’s loss was a tough one for the Miami Hurricanes. However, there were some good things despite the loss. The play of running backs Henry Parrish Jr.  and Jaylan Knighton stood out.

Parrish carried the football 16 times for 85 yards, and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. Miami’s game plan may have been a bit too conservative at times, but production out of Parrish Saturday night was a guarantee.

It’s been that way for the entire season to this point. He has 53 carries for 300 yards and four touchdowns on the year.

He ran with conviction. He ran physically, and was quick and decisive through the holes. It’s interesting to watch and see just how physically he can run, as well as his speed when he initially hits the holes.  He is the definition of a workhorse, and he showed that on Saturday night.

Knighton helps pace Miami Hurricanes ground game

Jaylan Knighton had a great night on the ground as well. He was able to carry the ball 14 times for 77 yards, and averaged 5.5 yards per carry. This was a game where we weren’t sure if he was going to get a ton of carries on Saturday.

He certainly did, running the football 14 times for 77 yards, and averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He looked comfortable when he had the football, and gave Miami a nice complementary running back on a night when the offense struggled a bit.

It’s always good to have multiple running backs who you can count on over the course of the game. A productive night for Knighton was important for him to get back into the swing of things.

Overall, we learned a lot about the running game on Saturday night despite the loss. For one, Parrish is an X-factor type of running back.  Secondly, the Miami Hurricanes have reliable depth at the position. It was encouraging to see them play well against a tough opponent, and hopefully this is something they can build off of.

This is similar to the type of strategy Josh Gattis employed at Michigan. The use of the running back was prevalent in his offense. A formidable ground game could do wonders for Miami, as they look to run a balanced offense.

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