No. 7 Miami is leaning into a familiar defensive identity as it gets ready for the biggest ground threat it has seen all season.
The Hurricanes have had their issues getting to the quarterback, but stopping the run has become a strength they can trust. With Ahmad Moten Jr. and Justin Scott anchoring the middle, Miami has climbed to the top of the country in rushing defense, allowing just 64.3 yards per game.
That sets up a heavyweight test on Nov. 14 at Noon at Hard Rock Stadium, when Duke brings in Nate Sheppard. He enters the matchup as the nation’s second-leading rusher with 1,189 yards and the top-scoring running back with 17 rushing touchdowns. Miami knows exactly what kind of challenge that is.
Scott said the Hurricanes have already faced backs with that kind of burst.
“I mean, with those good backs, especially like, you know, we played like Jeremiah Love in the past, and those types of guys, like that, you give them any type of little room, and they could turn into 50, maybe a touchdown," Scott said, highlighting how good Sheppard is.
"So kind of just eliminating those little seams and those little holes in the run defense. Looking at the film on that guy, he takes one, and he's gone, and there's no catching them. So yeah, we just got to play with real good detail and really just seal off gaps in the run game.”
For Miami, the answer sounds simple enough: take away the slivers of daylight and don’t let Sheppard build momentum. Mohamed Toure said the approach has to be immediate and collective.
“Just swarm. Swarm.
Just keep swarming them like a pack of piranhas,” Toure said. “Like you smell blood in the water.
Just go. Everybody.”
That mentality fits the way Corey Hetherman wants his defense to play. Swarming has been a defining theme under the defensive coordinator, and while the pass rush remains a concern, the Hurricanes’ run defense has become the part of the unit that travels.
Now it gets its toughest exam yet. Sheppard is averaging 132 yards a game, and Miami’s defense has spent the season making runners work for every inch. One side will have to give, and the Hurricanes are trying to make sure it isn’t them as they push to secure a spot in the ACC Championship game.
In Other News...
Duke Heads Into Regionals With Both NCAA Hopes On The Line
The Duke cross country teams head to the 2026 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships on Friday at the University of South Carolina Upstate with a familiar kind of pressure, as both the men and women are still chasing spots in the NCAA Championships. The womens 6k race is set for 10 a.m., followed by the mens 10k at 11, and the meet will serve as the final gatekeeper before the national stage in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Nov. 21.
For Duke, the regional is about more than just one good day on the course. The article lays out the key athletes on both squads and the path each team must navigate to keep its season alive, with qualification hinging on how they stack up against a deep Southeast field. By the end of Friday, the Blue Devils should know whether both programs have done enough to extend their postseason run. [Read more 🡒]
Daniel Jones Sounds Frustrated As His NFL Comeback Takes Another Turn
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Even so, Jones is not sounding like a quarterback ready to wave off the season before it starts. He still believes the roster can compete, which matters with his two-year extension already in place and his long-term future in Indianapolis still unsettled beyond this year. For now, though, the comeback story is being shaped by a changing supporting cast as much as by Jones own rehab. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Recruiting Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Expected
Dukes early work on the recruiting trail is already starting to take shape for the 2027 class, with three commitments in hand and a familiar mix of high-end talent and long-term upside. The Blue Devils have landed five-star forwards Kager Knueppel and Asa Montgomery, along with Australian point guard Luke Paul, giving the staff a strong foundation before the cycle has even fully opened up.
But the next wave is where things get interesting, because Duke has been active with several top 2028 prospects as well, including five-star point guard Josiah Rose, who has drawn attention from multiple programs and already taken unofficial visits to SMU. The Blue Devils have also offered Colton Hiller, Yann Kamagate, Mason Collins and Brady Pettigrew, and with some of those names potentially moving up to 2027, the board could shift quickly in ways that make this recruiting picture a lot less settled than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]