The Miami Hurricanes blew through Raymond James Stadium and delivered the kind of total-package, hit-on-all-cylinders type of game that fans dream of and rivals fear.
Pundits, critics, haters—and even some nervy Canes fans—were trying to slap the ‘trap game’ label on this one; the notion that Miami would be lethargic after feasting on cupcakes like Florida A&M and Ball State, before kicking off ACC season this Friday night at HardRock against former Big East rival Virginia Tech.
South Florida—like neighboring Central Florida—is another ‘little brother’ type program always trying to claw their way into The Big Three regarding Sunshine State power and like the Knights, the Bulls try to squeeze out an above average season here or there to improve their status; even better if they can make some noise in a year the Canes, Noles or Gators are down.
Most-known for playing Alabama tough the past two years, South Florida knew a win over No. 8 Miami would be a program-starter for second year head coach Alex Golesh—hence why it was a packed house and night game for their upset attempt.
Of course always lost in the emotion of fandom and the mental gymnastics, best-case scenarios when dreaming big about an upset—the reality that games are won in the trenches, Xs and Os always trump feelings and that these Hurricanes are no fluke year three of the Mario Cristobal era, while quarterback transfer Cam Ward is putting his massive stamp on the 2024 season before we’re even out of September.
The biggest issue with Miami’s newfound success; the fact that muscle memory from two decades of incompetence isn’t just seeping through a segment of the fan base—the national media is playing their standard are-they-or-aren’t-they cat and mouse game with the tired, “back” narrative.
For years we’ve seen the media overhype the Hurricanes out the gate—where stringing together a few early wins gets the simpleton commentators and writers posing the is-Miami-back narrative, knowing it’s good for business and clicks.
Much like shock-jock Howard Stern or comedian Andrew “Dice” Clay back in the nineties, the Hurricanes have forever been a polarizing brand where college football fans have one take, or another—but few are indifferent. You were born and bred to either love Miami and the attitude, swagger and energy of this program—or raised on a steady diet of hate; that these Hurricanes were nothing but a bunch of classless thugs who were bad for the sport.
Because of that, there have been too many seasons over the past couple of decades that nobody should’ve been talking up anything Miami was doing—but because the Hurricanes move the needle one way or the other, there were more nationally televised games than the average, future 7-6 team deserved—knowing one-third tuned into see UM win, while the other two-thirds were there to see “The U” get handled.
The one good thing about mediocrity and years of irrelevance; the nostalgia and longing for a comeback that some eventually feel—especially in an era of college football where it’s been the same big teams up top for so long; Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and Clemson—which eventually puts a program like Miami, Nebraska, Notre Dame or Texas in that, “it’s good for the game of college football when these guys are playing well” conversation.
For a while, at least—win big and the hate will return—but until then the ride back to the top can be enjoyable; especially with a talent like Ward stealing early headlines, playing out of his mind and raising the level of his teammates to something the Hurricanes haven’t seen in years.
Some pundits clearly not ready for Miami’s return to the top have been quick to mention a 12-13 run at Washington State over the past two years—two seasons where Ward was often running for his life behind an inferior line, throwing to lesser receivers, not experiencing a bevy of talented receivers or a defensive unit that could fast get the ball back and put him in position to do what he does best.
But he also showed up big in road games at Washington and Oregon last year, while also leading the Cougars to victory at Wisconsin—doing the most with the least, which obviously fueled his transfer to Miami, which was only officially after spending two weeks flirting with the premise of declaring for last spring’s NFL Draft.
Ward’s change of heart is changing the course of college football early into this new season—and sky’s the limit where this thing goes if the next few months are anything like what’s been on display thus far.
Rolling into ’The Swamp’ for the season opener; all chatter was about the venue, the magnitude of the rivalry and how one of these two in-state powers were due for a big step forward year three under each respective coach—many believing that slight-underdog had the advantage, with a more-experienced Graham Mertz being the difference-maker while Ward would struggled and improve as the year rolled on.
Ward threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns—fast bouncing back from an early interceptions—and Miami stomped out Florida, 41-17—bonus points as the Canes defense limited Mertz to 91 yards and one pick, before sending him out with a late game concussion.
Business a usual in routs over Florida A&M and Ball State; Ward throwing for 650 yards and eight touchdowns against the Rattlers and Cardinals—both days ending early and yielding to back-ups while the Canes put both away by a combined score of 121-9 before shifting the focus to a feisty South Florida squad, who as mentioned was in a 21-16 dogfight in Tuscaloosa a week prior, before Alabama rolled to a 42-16 win in the game’s final minutes.
Much like the Bulls’ recent showdown with the Crimson Tide, Golesh’s squad showed up prepared for battle—to the point where the second-year head coach threw the kitchen sink at the Hurricanes, trying to put South Florida in position to hang onto momentum for as long as physically possible.
Things almost got super-interesting on the game’s first play; Ward’s attempt to get Sam Brown the ball in a tight window was inches away from a Brent Austin house-call and a mood-setting 25-yard pick-six. Instead, the Canes moved it 75 yards on seven plays and took the 7-0 early lead as Damien Martinez punched in the two-yarder; the transfer running back also with 14-yard reception on a third down to keep the drive alive.
Miami’s defense clamped down on the ensuing possession, holding South Florida to a field goal—which would be the theme of the first half—before a pass to Jacolby George popped out of the receiver’s hands; Austin getting his revenge for the earlier whiff and putting the Bulls in position from the Canes’ 30-yard line, where Golesh went into his bag of tricks after an 18-yard hook-up between Byrum Brown and Sean Atkins—a reverse to Atkins who hit Brown for the 12-yard score; a 9-7 game after the blocked PAT.
The Canes again got it done, going 90 yards over eight plays—a sense of calm kicking in for fans as Ward was dumping the ball off to Martinez for some big gains, while Isaiah Horton came alive in monster fashion; coming down with any ball that went his way and finishing the night with eight grabs for 108 yards and a touchdown.
14-9 after the score and 14-12 after forcing another South Florida field goal—Miami’s fourth drive finally resulted in a punt, but not before a would-be Heisman-caliber play was wiped off the books; Ward doing his best Houdini, before dishing it off to Jordan Lyle—who appeared to convert as heads-up a 3rd-and-15 as one would want, before it was determined the quarterback’s knee was down pre-pitch.
The Bulls would get as far as the Canes’ eight yard line on their next possession, but a first down sack of Brown by Jaden Harris pushed it back six yards and it was Simeon Barrow with an eight-yard sack on third down—South Florida punching through the 45-yard field goal after a false start on fourth down.
With just over two minutes remaining and Miami trailing, 15-14—one of those momentum-stealing drives as the Canes weren’t going into the locker room trailing; Ward hitting a streaking Sam Brown for a 76-yard strike down the left sideline on second down—the Canes with the two-point conversion to go ahead 22-14.
South Florida had one more sign of life after Brown found Ta’Ron Keith for a 64-yard pick-up on a 3rd-and-16, but the running back was stuffed on a 3rd-and-2 setting up a demoralizing missed 31-yard field goal.
The Canes shut down the Bulls opening second-half drive—four plays going 19 yards—before the Miami offense was back in action and matching 80 yards on 12 plays; Martinez punching in his second of the night, while fresh-legs running back Ajay Allen had a big 16-yard pass and tight end Elijah Arroyo picked up 11 and Horton continued his dominance with a 17-yard first down haul-in.
South Florida went punt, interception, punt interception—shut out the entire second half, while the Canes put up 36 unanswered after the Bulls early 15-14 lead—Ward with a few brilliant strokes to Horton and finally targeting Xavier Restrepo for a few monster grabs; Horton with the touchdown grab, while X got his on the next possession.
Insult to injury; the longest run from scrimmage in Miami history when the true freshman Lyle tore off a 91-yarder with 3:09 remaining, pushing the lead to 50-15, before the second consecutive Bulls’ possession ended with an interception.
In the end, any upset rumblings were fast replaced by not just a rout; Miami with 592 total yards, as Ward put up 404 through the air and the Canes pounded out 188 on ground—there was a universal acceptance that what this team is doing is for real.
Miami could’ve merely escaped South Florida and pointed to Alabama in a 17-3 daytime battle in Tampa last year as evidence that the Bulls are a scrappy little squad. Instead, the Canes absolutely smothered them in all facets of the game—right down to a rushing attack that is Golesh’s bread and butter being held to 1.9 yards-per-carry on 32 attempts.
For context, South Florida churned out 206 yards and 4.5 yards-per-carry in Tuscaloosa—while Miami’s efforts to shut down the run proved to be the lowest rushing average any Golesh team had been held to since Georgia rolled Tennessee in 2021 and held the ground game to a 1.5-yard average; the future Bulls head coach the Vols offensive coordinator at the time.
Another subplot to this dominant win; Miami’s defense took a massive step forward—which only gives this entire squad more confidence. Ward with that offensive line, a stable of running backs and a who’s who of receivers—this was already proving to be one of the more electric offenses in the country, but could the defense keep up?
Outside of keeping a mobile quarterback in check all night—something that has given lesser Miami teams fits, as average defensive play had turned the most pedestrian rival quarterback into the second coming of Michael Vick or Donavan McNabb over the years—these Canes held their ground against an up-tempo and fast offense, which deserves highlighting.
South Florida’s offense did all it could to keep the pace of the game lighting fast in the first half; to the point Miami wasn’t able to substitute, communicate or throw any different looks at the Bulls—and while the Canes gave up yard here or there, again, a three-field goal afternoon for the home team, whose only touchdown came after an interception and on a gimmick play.
That 19-play, 66-yard drive early second quarter started at the 11:05 mark and ended at 2:36 with the Bulls’ third and final field goal of the night.
A drive that theoretically should’ve put Miami’s defense on the ropes—South Florida aware of the defensive scheme unless the Canes wanted to call a timeout to reset—it was a real man-up, grow-up moment as coaches left the road team out there to keep scrapping and to get the stop—the Bulls ultimately the ones broken, as they threw everything the had out there the first half, before a second half shutout.
Credit to Golesh for the up-tempo, the pass to his quarterback and even an out-of-nowhere onside kick early-on that was an off-sides call away from being perfectly executed. South Florida needed one magical half to stay in the game with Miami and a less-prepared Canes squad could’ve fast been on its heels—making for a much different second half than the one that played out.
4-0 with Virginia Tech on deck, much like Georgia Tech rolled down to Miami to take on last year’s 4-0 Hurricanes—yet everything else is different and nothing the same.
Cristobal and his Canes went into the off-season well aware it was put-up-or-shut-up time and Miami grew up fast by way of some brilliant recruiting and transfer portal wizardry.
Four tests to date; all passed with flying colors—and even some extra credit for good measure.
Lots of football left to play, but with the first-third of this 2024 season in the books, fans of ‘The U’ can exhale for the simple fact that Miami has a football team again and sky’s the limit if this close-knit, chemistry-fueled squad stays healthy and maximizes their potential.
Christian Bello has been covering University of Miami athletics since the mid-nineties. Getting his start with CanesTime, he eventually launched allCanesBlog—which led to a featured columnist stint with BleacherReport. He’s since rolled out the unfiltered, ItsAUThing.com where he’ll use his spare time to put decades of U-related knowledge to use for those who care to read. When he’s not writing about ‘The U’, Bello is a storyteller for some exciting brands and individuals—as well as a guitarist and songwriter for his Miami-bred band Company Jones, who released their debut album “The Glow” in 2021. Hit him on Twitter for all things U-related @ItsAUThingBLOG.
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