ACC releases final availability report for Miami-Syracuse game. Who’s in? Who’s out?
The No. 18 Miami Hurricanes entered their Saturday home game against the Syracuse Orange with the status of two starters up in the air.
One has a chance to play. The other is missing his second game.
Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, who was listed as questionable on Friday and a game-time decision on Saturday afternoon, went through pregame warmups and suited up for the Hurricanes but did not start. Defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr., who had the same designations as Bissainthe, will miss his second consecutive game after also sitting out UM’s overtime loss to SMU last weekend.
Miami already previously ruled out three starters — running back Mark Fletcher Jr., wide receiver CJ Daniels and cornerback OJ Frederique Jr. — in addition to wide receiver Tony Johnson. Frederique has a cast on his left arm.
Tight ends Brock Schott and Jack Nickel, wide receiver Chance Robinson, linebacker Malik Bryant and defensive lineman Hayden Lowe are also listed as out.
Bissainthe entered Saturday fourth on the team with 32 tackles and also has 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and an interception. However, Raul “Popo” Aguirre” took Bissainthe’s normal starting spot alongside Mohamaed Toure on Saturday.
Moten, who like Daniels did not play against SMU, has 16 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack this season. When he was sidelined last week against SMU, Justin Scott, Donta Simpson Jr. and Armondo Blount split reps alongside starter David Blay. Scott started opposite Blay on Saturday for a second consecutive week.
With Fletcher sidelined, sophomore Jordan Lyle started his second game of the season at running back. Lyle also started against Notre Dame in the season opener.
At wide receiver, sophomore Joshisa Trader started for a second consecutive week with Daniels out. He was in the starting lineup alongside Malachi Toney and Keelan Marion, who have started every game this season.
And Xavier Lucas and Damari Brown were Miami’s starting outside cornerbacks with Frederique sidelined.
Three Hurricanes named semifinalists for national awards
A handful of Hurricanes are semifinalists for national awards.
Wide receiver Malachi Toney is one of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. is one of 13 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award, given annually to college football’s top lineman. Nickel cornerback Keionte Scott is one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to college football’s top defensive back. Quarterback Carson Beck is one of 22 players on the midseason watch list for the 2025 Manning Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback. And coach Mario Cristobal is one of 24 on the midseason watch list for the 2025 Dodd Trophy, given to college football’s coach of the year.
Toney enters Saturday leading the Hurricanes with 52 catches for 632 receiving yards and has also shown his prowess as a punt returner, averaging 20.38 yards per return.
Bain has 30 tackles, including five tackles for loss and two sacks along with a forced fumble and an interception. Bain’s 44 total pressures generated entering Saturday according to Pro Football Focus ranks fourth nationally and behind only Texas Tech’s David Bailey (58) among players from power conference schools.
Scott, meanwhile, has done a little bit of everything for the Hurricanes. Entering the game against Syracuse, Scott paces Miami with 42 tackles and nine tackles for loss while also recording four pass breakups and a forced fumble.
As for Beck, he enters Saturday with the third-best completion percentage nationally at 72.5 percent while throwing for 1,947 yards and 14 touchdowns against nine interceptions.
This story was originally published November 8, 2025 at 1:32 PM.
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