Oct 253 min read

Hurricanes Surging, Enter Rivalry Game With ACC In Reach

On Oct. 26, the Florida State Seminoles (1-6, 1-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) travel south to take on their in-state rivals, the No. 6-ranked Miami Hurricanes (7-0, 3-0 ACC), at 7 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. In the 69th meeting between both programs, the Hurricanes lead the all-time series 35-33. However, the Seminoles have won the last three meetings. Although the two teams enter the game on different tracks, rivalry games always bring out the best in players on both teams. Will this Hurricanes rivalry derail the season?

What's on the Line?

The Hurricanes welcome Florida State a week after a huge win against the Louisville Cardinals (4-3, 2-2 ACC). Miami and head coach Mario Cristobal have a chance to move closer to the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. They can make a statement with wins against both the Florida Gators (4-3, 2-2 SEC) and the Seminoles in the same season for the first time since 2019. With Heisman Trophy hopeful Cam Ward leading the country in passing yards with 2,538 yards, this offense is running away from competition.

The Seminoles' season has not gone as planned. Now in the underdog role, staging an upset and potentially derailing the season of Miami would give the Seminoles a much-needed boost.

Head coach Mike Norvell and Florida State will look to quarterback Brock Glenn to lead the offense again. The Seminoles' youth movement will pay dividends in the future. Will that future start on Oct. 26 with a surprise win against Miami?

Which Hurricanes to Watch

The familiarity that Ward and his receivers have usually takes years, not months, to form. Coupling that with his ability to deliver the ball to any area of the field and to make or extend plays with his legs, it's no wonder he is a Heisman hopeful. Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo has benefitted the most, currently leading the ACC in receiving yards with 686.

An underappreciated aspect of the offense has been the effectiveness of Miami's running back committee. While Damien Martinez has been the leader with 381 yards and 6 touchdowns, Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle have been equally effective with all three averaging at least 5 yards per carry. Defensively, the heartbeat has been linebacker Francisco Mauigoa who leads the team in tackles. His ability to cover the field and attack the ball carrier has been key to the Hurricanes' success. Defensive linemen Tyler Baron and Simeon Barrow Jr. have tormented opposing offenses all season. The trio has a combined 81 tackles, 11 sacks, an interception and 2 forced fumbles.

Which Seminoles to Watch

Offensively, there was an energy to the team when Glenn started against the ninth-ranked Clemson Tigers (6-1, 5-0 ACC) that there hadn't been in previous games. His continued development will be key for the Seminoles and Norvell moving forward. Glenn has completed 50 percent of his pass attempts to his playmakers at receiver. Ja'Khi Douglas leads the way among receivers with 354 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season. Tight end Landon Thomas has been a mismatch for opposing defenses, averaging 12.5 yards per reception. Defensively, safety Shyheim Brown leads the team with 49 tackles. Despite the slow start, edge rushers Patrick Payton and Marvin Jones Jr. have stepped up and currently have 7 sacks between them.

Hurricanes Rivalry — © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Key Matchup

Rivalry games take typical trends and throw them out of the window. With that being said, the matchup to watch will be the Hurricanes' running backs against the Seminoles' defensive line. Can Payton, Jones and Joshua Farmer neutralize the rushing attack of the Hurricanes? Will that potential pressure lead to Ward making mistakes?