No. 4 Miami’s trip to Clemson comes with a weather watch attached.
Clemson beat reporter Chapel Fowler of The State Newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, said Friday that the Tigers are “monitoring potential inclement weather” for Saturday’s matchup with the Hurricanes. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast for the scheduled 7:30 p.m. EST kickoff, and while no change to the start time is expected, Fowler reported that Clemson will announce any updates if needed.
The game is set to air on ABC in the network’s featured prime-time slot, and Clemson has already dealt with this kind of disruption at home. The Tigers’ last two games in Memorial Stadium both came with lightning delays.
If Miami-Clemson does get pushed back, ESPN has other windows nearby on the schedule. No.
10 BYU is at TCU on ESPN, Arkansas visits Texas A&M on ESPN2 with a 7 p.m. EST kickoff, and Temple is at South Florida at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Fowler noted that if Miami at Clemson is delayed, Arkansas at Texas A&M would be expected to move to ABC.
The forecast in Clemson is not subtle. According to AccuWeather, there is a 96 percent chance of precipitation Saturday night, along with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms and about half an inch of rain expected over nine hours.
That could tilt the game toward Miami’s ground attack. The Hurricanes rank 20th nationally at 225.75 rushing yards per game, 10th with 6.32 yards per carry, and are tied for 18th with 11 rushing touchdowns. If the field gets sloppy, Miami should have a clear path to lean on the run.
Clemson’s run defense has not been nearly as sturdy. The Tigers are tied for 97th nationally with Rutgers in rushing yards allowed per game at 157.75, sit 102nd in yards allowed per carry at 4.44, and rank 68th with five rushing touchdowns allowed.
Even without the weather, Miami looks positioned to attack Clemson on the ground. And if the rain really starts coming down, that edge only gets bigger.
Miami is also no stranger to playing through messy conditions. Thunderstorms are part of life in South Florida, and the Hurricanes’ offensive balance through their first four games in 2026 gives them room to adjust. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson should be ready if Saturday night turns into a wet one in Clemson.
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Miami Looked Like A Title Contender But One Concern Is Growing
Miamis win over Clemson did a lot more than add another quality result to the rsum. The Hurricanes backed it up with a defense that held Clemson to 13 points and just one touchdown, while the offense found enough explosive plays to keep control of the game. Cooper Barkate delivered the kind of breakout performance that can change the feel of a season, highlighted by a 61-yard touchdown catch, and Darian Mensah added scoring through both the air and on the ground.
The problem for Miami was everything that happened around the win. The Hurricanes were dealing with multiple injuries by the end of the game, including to key offensive linemen and cornerbacks, and while some players were able to return after leaving, the list of in-game issues kept growing. For a team that just looked every bit like a title contender, the concern now is less about whether Miami can beat top competition and more about how long it can keep doing it with so many bodies being asked to hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Miamis Biggest Worry After Clemson Has Nothing To Do With The Score
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The bigger concern now is less about the scoreboard and more about how Miami comes out of it physically as the calendar turns to Florida State. A rivalry game of that size demands depth and health, and the Hurricanes have already seen how quickly their margin can shrink when the injuries start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Gave The ACC No Real Case Against No. 1
Miamis win over Clemson did more than add another eye-catching result to the ledger. It gave the Hurricanes a weekend built on both style and substance, the kind of showing that tends to linger in the ACC pecking order. With Miami stacking up as the leagues benchmark in scoring and defense, the argument around the top spot is starting to look less like a debate and more like an acknowledgment of what has already happened on the field.
Around the conference, a few teams flashed enough to keep the race interesting, from Pitt and Duke to SMU and Louisville, while others like Florida State, Virginia Tech and Clemson continue sorting out where they really fit. But Miamis combination of a statement win and season-long consistency leaves the ACC with a familiar problem: if the No. 1 team keeps handling its biggest tests, there may not be much left to argue about. The next stretch will show whether anyone can make that case anyway. [Read more 🡒]