Oct 183 min read

Hurricanes Challenge: Will Cardinals Weather Miami's Storm?

On Oct. 19, the sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) will travel to Louisville, Ky., to take on the Cardinals (4-2, 2-1 ACC) in a high noon ACC clash. The two schools meet for the 16th time overall. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 11-4-1, but the Cardinals won last season 38-31 in Miami. The matchup is poised to determine a frontrunner for the ACC Championship game this season. How will the Hurricanes fare in this challenge?

What's up in the Hurricanes Challenge?

For the Cardinals, the game is a must-win situation. Already with a conference loss, the Cardinals and head coach Jeff Brohm are on the outside looking in. Earning a win against Miami can be a much-needed statement and reinsert the Cardinals into the discussion for the ACC Championship. It will be an exciting clash between high-powered offenses and stingy defenses. The Cardinals rank fifth in the ACC in scoring offense and defense.

For the Hurricanes, after thrilling victories in their past two games, head coach Mario Cristobal and his team will be looking to make a statement. They want to continue their climb toward the ACC title and the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Cam Ward has established himself as a contender for the Heisman Trophy. He has this offense operating on all cylinders. Miami leads the conference in offense with 47.7 points per game and is the top team on defense, only surrendering 18.8 points a game.

Key Player: Cardinals

The Cardinals' offense goes through quarterback Tyler Shough. He's shown to fit the offense well and can make throws in the pocket and on the run. He's on pace to have his best season already with highs in yardage with 1,674 and touchdowns with 14. His top playmaker has been receiver Ja'Corey Brooks, who is averaging 19 yards per reception and has shown a great ability to make acrobatic catches look routine. Running back Isaac Brown has taken the reins for the run game and has done well with 508 yards and three touchdowns in his first season as the lead back. Defensively, the line led by Tramel Logan, Jared Dawson and Ashton Gillotte has tormented opposing quarterbacks. The trio has 7 sacks and 43 tackles between them.

Key Players: Hurricanes

The Hurricanes' offense has been electric. They currently lead the ACC in total yardage, averaging 584 yards per game. Ward and wide receiver Xavier Restrepo play like they have been teammates for years. Restrepo leads the team in receiving yards with 585 and touchdown receptions with 5. Most impressively, the three-headed monster in the backfield of running backs Damien Martinez, Jordan Lyle and Mark Fletcher has been tough for teams to stop. The trio has a combined 754 yards and 12 touchdowns. Defensively, linebacker Francisco Mauigoa has been the heartbeat of the team. He currently leads Miami in tackles with 32 and has 2 sacks and 3 pass breakups

Key Matchup in the Game

Isaac Brown vs. Francisco Mauigoa

In Brown, the Cardinals have a sure-handed runner who can gain chunks of yardage with relative ease. He's currently averaging 8.6 yards per carry and shows the vision to find the opening to run through and the patience to let his blockers create the opening. Brown has the speed needed to separate from defenders and the agility to make people miss. Mauigoa will be his toughest challenge yet. He's a linebacker who can match Brown in his agility and speed. Mauigoa can react to make the tackle for minimal gains. Success in the run game for the Cardinals would open up the passing attack and could put the Hurricanes on their heels.