Miami can ensure winning season in home finale and hurt Louisville’s ACC title chances
The last University of Miami home game of 2023 is almost here, and chances are it will be just as stress-inducing as the previous six overall — that’s three home, three away and two victories among them (both in overtime).
The Hurricanes (6-4, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) face the No. 9 Louisville Cardinals (9-1, 6-1) at noon Saturday (ABC) at Hard Rock Stadium, with fourth-year junior quarterback Tyler Van Dyke back starting for UM after being replaced by true freshman Emory Williams last week at FSU.
“Definitely learned a lot from the last five weeks, six weeks, and gonna be better from it,’’ Van Dyke, who has thrown 11 interceptions in his past five games, said Wednesday. “We’ve got to all take ownership. I’ve got to take ownership for my mistakes, which I have. We know what we’re capable of. We’ve done it before. It’s not like it’s going to be something new. We’ve just got to trust ourselves, believe in ourselves and have fun.’’
Williams sustained a compound fracture of his left arm late in UM’s 27-20 loss at No. 4 Florida State, and UM coach Mario Cristobal announced early this week that Van Dyke is back as starter. Miami and Van Dyke intend to finish strong, which could mean an 8-4 regular-season record if the Canes can beat the Cardinals and Boston College the day after Thanksgiving in their regular-season finale.
But the Cardinals, ranked 10th in the College Football Playoff standings, have more pressing goals. A win Saturday would propel Louisville to the ACC Football Championship Game on Dec. 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
As of Thursday, the Canes were an intriguing one-point favorite. A victory would ensure a winning season after UM’s 5-7 in 2022.
“We’re excited to go down to Miami and in our opinion play a really good football team [with] a ton of talent,’’ Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said. “They’re athletic, they’ve played some football this year. Took Florida State to the wire so we’ll have our hands full.
“The most important scenario is if we win we definitely help our cause,’’ Brohm said. “You need to play your best football at the end of the year.’’
Louisville last played on Thursday, Nov. 9, and had to rally for 17 fourth-quarter points to beat Virginia 31-24 and keep its ACC hopes alive.
Lone loss
The Cardinals’ lone loss this season was a 38-21 upset by Pittsburgh on Oct. 14. The Panthers are now 2-8 and 1-5. Louisville’s best win was 33-20 over then-No. 10 Notre Dame on Oct. 7.
Louisville’s strength, at least statistically, is considered its defense, though there are multiple threats offensively. Senior quarterback Jack Plummer has completed 173 of 264 passes (65.5 percent) for 2,402 yards and 16 touchdowns, with nine interceptions. Plummer’s 13.8 yards per completion is 16th best in the country. Top receiver Jamari Thrash has 734 receiving yards and six touchdowns and is 27th nationally with 81.6 receiving yards a game.
And running back Jawhar Jordan, a Syracuse transfer, is 24 yards shy of a career 1,000-yard season and has five 100-yard games in 2023.
The Louisville defense is 12th nationally in scoring defense (17.1 points allowed per game) and 16th in total defense (300.1 yards allowed per game). The Cards are ninth in rushing defense (91.9), third in red-zone defense, 19th in passes intercepted (11) and 22nd in team passing efficiency defense.
The Canes, in large part because of Van Dyke’s quarterback struggles, have regressed in their passing game from what was one of the nation’s best. Defensively, however, UM is sixth in rushing defense, allowing only 86 ground yards a game. The Canes are seventh in sacks, 10th in tackles for loss and 19th in total defense (312.5).
Van Dyke’s teammates have rallied around him.
“He’s good,’’ center Matt Lee said, admitting that last week’s situation was “tough.’’
“Last week, with what happened, he responded extremely well — mature, never wavered in his confidence, a great teammate the whole time, still maintained the leadership he had. He wasn’t a different guy. This week we’re leaning on him and we trust him.”
Cristobal said Van Dyke has “thick skin’’ and “handled last week like a pro.’’
“That’s what your job as a coach is, to provide clarity, remove the clutter and make people better. And he has done really, really well.’’
Cristobal was asked if he feels like the season has flown by quickly.
“I don’t know if I’ve thought that far, that deep and advanced, man,’’ the coach said. “Right now, it’s like we’re on third down and red zone, chopping away at stuff, formational stuff, and really studying [Louisville’s] personnel.
“You know how much I love ball. I mean, I live and die with this stuff. So for me, it’s just everything is geared toward, ‘How can we help our team be successful? How can we help make Miami better?’ That just doesn’t stop.’’
This story was originally published November 16, 2023 at 2:56 PM.
