No. 5 Miami Hurricanes make quick work of Bethune-Cookman in blowout win
The game went as expected.
The No. 5 Miami Hurricanes blew out an inferior opponent, thrashing FCS-level Bethune-Cookman 45-3 on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium to improve to 2-0 on the season after their season-opening upset over Notre Dame. Starters were out of the game by the midway mark of the third quarter after the offense scored on all five possessions orchestrated by quarterback Carson Beck. The Hurricanes’ reserves got valuable in-game reps.
Exactly how you draw it up in a game like this.
“Pretty solid job by our guys coming out and handling business,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said.
Beck completed 22 of 24 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to CJ Daniels in the first half, including a UM record 15 consecutive completions to begin the game. Ten different players caught passes from Beck, including Malachi Toney with six for 80 yards and Daniels with five for 73 yards (including the two touchdowns) before Emory Williams took over starting on Miami’s second drive of the third quarter.
Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar Brown combined for three rushing touchdowns while the starters were in the game, with Fletcher scoring from 16 yards out late in the first quarter and 1 yard to open the third quarter and Brown barreling in from 2 yards with 9:55 left in the second quarter.
“Every opportunity is an opportunity,” Beck said. “That’s what I try to stress to these guys so much every time you get the chance to take the field. We only have guaranteed 10 more games. It’s crazy to think that way, but it’s the truth.”
Williams completed 8 of 12 passes for 86 yards while leading UM’s second-string offense to scores on two of three drives. Freshman running back Girard Pringle Jr. had a 30-yard touchdown that pushed Miami’s lead to 42-3 early in the fourth quarter and then Bert Auburn drilled a 31-yard field goal to cap the Hurricanes’ scoring with 1:56 left to play.
The defense, despite playing without starting linebacker Wesley Bissainthe for essentially the whole game after he was charged with targeting three plays into the contest, held Bethune-Cookman (0-2) to just three points over six drives when the starters were on the field. The only points came on an 11-play, 60-yard drive late in the first half capped by a 32-yard field goal.
The Hurricanes forced a turnover on the final drive with starters on the field, with Rueben Bain Jr. strip sacking Bethune-Cookman quarterback Timmy Mclain after the Wildcats drove down to the UM 25 on their first drive of the third quarter, with Cam Smith recovering.
The reserves on defense held their own as well, with true freshman Bryce Fitzgerald intercepting a fourth-down pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter to highlight their efforts.
Overall, Miami’s defense logged 10 tackles for loss (including three by nickel corner Keionte Scott) and the two turnovers.
“We’re treating everybody the same,” Scott said. “Our main focus is just getting better each week. No week is different than any other week.”
Next up for the Hurricanes: The USF Bulls on Sept. 13 in UM’s third of four consecutive home games to begin the season in what should be a top-25 matchup. The Bulls are 2-0 to start the season after wins over then-No. 25 Boise State to start the season and an 18-16 win over the No. 13 Florida Gators on Saturday in Gainesville.
This story was originally published September 6, 2025 at 9:52 PM.
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