(Photo: News@theu)
Over the last few years, the Miami Hurricanes have faced questions about their consistency. Even when they weren’t playing their best football, the recurring question remained: When will The U return? With a rich history and a legacy filled with legends—many of whom I’ve mentioned in past discussions—it’s no surprise that expectations are always high for this program. Last season, with Cam Ward under center, Miami boasted the most prolific offense in the country. They could score from anywhere on the field and averaged around 43 points per game. This year, they’ve gotten off to a strong start and are currently ranked second in the nation. I want to dive into what’s made them so good this season.
Offensively, they’re a different team from last year. In fact, this version of the Hurricanes is more methodical and balanced with Carson Beck now under center. That’s the perfect segue, because I want to focus on him—and how much he’s improved compared to last season. When I previewed their season opener against Notre Dame, my biggest question was: Which version of Carson Beck would we see? Would it be the quarterback who threw 24 touchdown passes and only six interceptions nearly two seasons ago, or last year’s version with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions? So far, I’ve seen a confident quarterback who trusts his receivers to make plays. Through this point in the season, Carson has thrown 11 touchdown passes with just three interceptions. The Hurricanes are also playing with great offensive balance. They can lean on Mark Fletcher Jr. out of the backfield, and they have reliable weapons on the perimeter in C.J. Daniels and Malachi Toney to stretch the field. The offensive line has been one of the best in the nation—no surprise, given Mario Cristobal’s emphasis on building through the trenches and his background coaching the offensive line.
I really like this Canes defense. They’re a fast, physical unit that plays cohesively and swarms to the ball. It’s the combination of an aggressive, athletic roster with improved communication, all within a well-crafted scheme under Defensive Coordinator Corey Hetherman. They’ve upgraded their secondary through the transfer portal, and their defensive line—led by Reuben Bain—has been dominant against the run and effective in generating pressure. For much of the year, they’ve also been stout against the pass. This defense reminds me of the intensity and aggression they played with during their glory days.
So far, this is the best team I’ve seen in the country. If they continue to play at this level, I could see them making a serious playoff run. To me, this is a legitimate title contender. They have everything: offensive balance, a dominant defense, and excellent coaching. I said this last week when previewing their game against the Florida State Seminoles—Mario Cristobal has my vote for Coach of the Year. It’s great to see The U relevant again.
