‘The time is now:’ Miami Hurricanes know their potential as they host Louisville
It’s easy for the Miami Hurricanes to block out what others are saying about them even as UM finds itself in the national championship conversation near the midway point of the season.
Why?
“These same people that are telling you you’re the best and good were telling you that we were going to go 8-4, and we were gonna suck before the season,” quarterback Carson Beck said. “So you’re gonna listen to them now that they’re saying that you’re good, even though they were just telling you that you sucked before we went out and played Notre Dame Week 1?”
Yes, there were external doubts about this Hurricanes team even if was seen as a consensus Top 25 team to begin the season. There were questions about what the offense would do following a year in which it led the nation in yards per game, yards per play and points per game under eventual No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward and if the defense would improve under first-year UM defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman. Yet Miami was still projected to finish second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and seen as a potential College Football Playoff contender.
Now?
The Hurricanes enter their Friday night game against the Louisville Cardinals (7 p.m., ESPN) a perfect 5-0, ranked No. 2 nationally and look like one of the more complete teams in college football during a season filled with parity.
While that’s all well and good, it’s not the end goal. There’s more to this Miami team and it has its sights set accordingly.
“Just keep playing ball,” said Beck, whose 73.4% completion rate ranks tied for fourth nationally. “You’ve got to keep doing what got you here, right? Because a lot of teams at this time of the year, they start to tank, and they start to get tired. It just is what it is. The season is long, and you play a tough, physical style of ball. That can be difficult to continue and not get complacent. Everything in this program right now is focused on not becoming complacent, staying consistent, keep doing what got you here to this point, and continue to go out and execute.”
Miami (5-0, 1-0 ACC) will need to execute against a Louisville team that is off to a strong start and is still firmly in the ACC race.
The Cardinals (4-1, 1-1 ACC) have the ACC’s top defense, giving up an average of just 262 yards per game — about 15 yards per game less than the Hurricanes (276.4). They have allowed just 13 plays of 20 or more yards, tied for the fifth fewest nationally.
They have a dynamic receiver in Chris Bell, who ranks fifth nationally in receiving yards per game (100.4). They have one of the top return men in college football this season in Caullin Lacy, who already has two punt returns for touchdowns. And when healthy, running back Isaac Brown (a Homestead High alumnus) has a knack for breaking out big plays.
“It’s as complete of a team that we have faced, or will face, all year long, both in their play style and their talent levels,” said Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal, who on Wednesday was named to the watch list for the 2025 Bear Bryant Coach of the Year award.
But these Hurricanes have been battle tested already. They are one of eight Power 4 conference teams still undefeated entering this week and have won three games against ranked opponents. They have played from behind for just 9:12 all season, and all of that came in the first quarter of their road win over Florida State two weeks ago. They have played complementary football, with the Hurricanes one of four teams whose offense and defense are both rated among the top 11 nationally by Pro Football Focus (along with Ohio State, Indiana and Texas Tech).
That said, Miami is far from content with its efforts through five games. It let Notre Dame rally from a 14-point deficit to tie the score in the season opener. It let the Florida Gators hang around in the second half. And it let Florida State score 19 points in the fourth quarter to turn what looked like a rout into a one-score game.
“We don’t really settle for less,” edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. said. “Can’t get comfortable with just winning. We’ve got to be happy with dominating and playing the full game. That’s been a real focus all week, playing four quarters — not just three, not just two, and not just one — not settling for less. Playing football the way we’re supposed to play.”
This sets the Hurricanes up for their latest test as they attempt to win the ACC and make the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history.
Louisville has been a test for them as of late. Each of the past two matchups have been shootouts decided by one score — Louisville winning 38-31 in 2023, Miami winning 52-45 last year.
But UM understands the task at hand — and the target down the road — which has it prepared for Friday night.
“We have bigger goals,” running back Mark Fletcher Jr. said. “We know what we’re trying to do this season. The time is now.”
This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 10:54 AM.
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