Where Carson Beck finished in different areas and what it says. And UM tidbits
A Hurricanes six-pack heading into UM’s playoff quarterfinal game against Ohio State on Wednesday in Dallas (7:30 p.m., ESPN):
▪ This game presents a quarterback battle between a first-year starter (Ohio State’s Julian Sayin) and a senior (Carson Beck) who has made 40 starts and won 35 of them (including 11 of 13 at Miami, since transferring from Georgia).
In his only year as a Cane, Beck won’t face a better defense than Ohio State’s, which leads the nation in scoring defense (8.2 points per game), fewest yards allowed per game (213.5), fewest passing yards allowed per game (129.1) and is second behind Texas Tech in fewest rushing yards relinquished per game (77.3) and also second behind Indiana in fewest first downs allowed (166).
“Holistically, everything they do combined with their level of talent, it’s been very difficult for teams to move the ball, let alone score points,” Mario Cristobal said of a unit led by former Patriots defensive coordinator and Lions coach Matt Patricia. “They’re two or three deep at just about every position.”
Beck avoided the big error in UM’s 10-3 playoff win at Texas A&M and deserves credit for making a few timely throws and suggesting to offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson that UM run the ball up the middle more in the second half.
But he will need to produce more than the 103 passing yards he threw for against Texas A&M.
Here’s where Beck ranked among FBS quarterbacks in various categories this season:
1). Completion percentage: This game matches the top two QBs in this area.
Sayin completed 78.4% of his passes, which ranked first in the country. Beck was at 74.5, which was second nationally.
2). Passing yards: Beck was 19th in the country with 3,175. Sayin was 14th with 3,223.
3). Touchdowns thrown: Beck was 15th with 26. Sayin tied with Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson for second most at 31, just behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (33).
4). Interceptions: Beck’s 10 were 20th most in the country. Sayin threw only six.
5). Passer rating (using the NFL formula): Beck was 10th in the country at 111.5. Sayin was first at 127.6, followed by Mendoza at 126.7.
6). Passes that travel at least 20 air yards: Beck was 34th in the country on yards on such passes (756) and sixth in TDs with 12. But he threw six interceptions on 20-plus yard passes, which was tied for second in the country.
7). Passing with a clean pocket: Among FBS quarterbacks who threw at least 200 such passes, Beck was 15th in passer rating at 117.6. Sayin was fifth at 128.8.
8). Passing in the face of a heavy pass rush: This is Beck’s Achilles heel, dating back to last season at Georgia.
Among QBs with at least 40 such throws this season, Beck was just 80th in passer rating when under pressure at a poor 58.8. He wasn’t under pressure a lot because of the quality of UM’s offensive line; he threw just 40 passes under pressure and completed 21 for 264 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Conversely, Sayin had a 109.8 passer rating under pressure and Mendoza was at 103.9.
Beck must be kept protected, a challenge considering that Ohio State has — according to ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. — the seventh- and eighth-best draft prospects among defensive linemen (Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr.) and the No. 1 defensive tackle (Kayden McDonald).
Kiper says Ohio State has the two best draft-eligible “off-ball linebackers” — Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles — as well as the No. 1 safety (Caleb Downs) and No. 9 cornerback (Davison Igbinosun).
▪ UM right tackle Francis Mauigoa, a projected top-10 NFL draft pick, this week called UM’s Alex Mirabal “one of the best coaches to ever coach offensive line. I’m a byproduct of it. He’s old school and that’s the way I like it. He pushed me very hard to be who I am.”
Mauigoa said Mirabal is “always up at 4 in the morning and texting us pointers and messages in a group chat at 4 in the morning. That’s something we make fun of.”
Credit Mirabal with the work he has done not only with Mauigoa, but with left tackle Markel Bell and right guard Anez Cooper, who have both become pro prospects.
▪ Cornerback Keionte Scott, who has been as impactful as any UM portal pickup after transferring from Auburn in May, said he will “happily speak to transfers coming in” to tell them the positives about the program. He said the fact UM coaches are honest with transfers is particularly appreciated.
“Coaches tell you one thing, and it’s happening,” he said. “It’s something that should be put on full display for all players who want to consider Miami.”
▪ Former ESPN analyst David Pollack, the ex-Georgia defensive lineman, said on his podcast: “Miami is better [than Ohio State] on both sides of the line of scrimmage. And that’s saying something because I think Ohio State is crazy. Miami’s offensive line is better than Ohio State’s. Miami’s defensive line is better than Ohio State’s.”
▪ After a slow start to what was expected to be a breakout season, UM tight end Elija Lofton has become more of a factor recently, including three touchdown receptions in his past four games. For the first time all season, he played significantly more than senior Alex Bauman against Texas A&M.
“He’s always been talented,” Beck said. “We knew that from the jump. When I came in, I said, ‘Who is this guy?’ The way he’s able to move and get open and make separation [stands out].
“Early on, the way [Dawson was] calling it, it didn’t call a lot for the tight ends. There weren’t a lot of opportunities to make plays. Later in the season, as we’ve mixed and matched and done different things to move people around, he’s had more opportunities to make plays and has done huge things for us.
“He does a lot of little things in the run game, blocking in the screen game, that go unnoticed. He’s a great kid, one of my best friends on the team. Super proud of him the way he’s been able to develop.”
▪ Quick stuff: Ohio State coach Ryan Day has taken play-calling duties away from new USF coach Brian Hartline and will call the plays Wednesday. Hartline will focus on coaching the Ohio State wide receivers...
“We wanted to take [play-calling] off of Brian’s plate because he’s got so much going on with what he’s trying to do,” Day said. “It’s such a strange calendar and the timing is brutal. But he’s handled it great, as you can imagine. It’s a lot on his plate.”...
ESPN assigned its de facto No. 4 college football announcing team, Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek, to UM-Ohio State. ESPN’s designated top three college play-by-play men — Chris Fowler, Sean McDonough and Joe Tessitore — are calling the playoff quarterfinal games on Thursday.
Pat McAfee will have an alternate presentation of the game, from the sidelines, on ESPN2.
Here’s another Canes 6-pack, including a look at how Akheem Mesidor has blossomed.
Here’s Jordan McPherson’s look at Ohio State Buckeyes from South Florida.
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 1:38 PM.
