The Miami Hurricanes didn’t just win on Saturday - they dominated. With a 38-7 road rout over Pittsburgh, Miami closed out its regular season with one of its most complete performances of the year. And the accolades are rolling in.
Cornerback Xavier Lucas and wide receiver Malachi Toney both earned spots on the ACC Team of the Week, while Miami’s offensive line was named the Offensive Line of the Week by Pro Football Focus. All three recognitions were well-deserved, and they speak to how Miami controlled this game in all three phases.
Let’s start with Lucas, who turned in a performance that was as physical as it was efficient. PFF graded him at 83.1 overall - the second-highest mark on the team - and he backed it up with four tackles, including a momentum-shifting play on fourth-and-three. With Pitt threatening at the Miami 33-yard line, Lucas stepped up and forced a fumble that helped slam the door on any early comeback hopes.
In coverage, Lucas was even better. He allowed just two catches on two targets for a total of 10 yards, didn’t miss a single tackle, and earned an 83.4 coverage grade.
That’s lockdown corner production. For the season, Lucas finishes with 35 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, and six passes defended - a stat line that shows just how versatile and reliable he’s been in Miami’s secondary.
On the offensive side, Malachi Toney put together one of the most dynamic all-around performances in recent Miami memory. The freshman wideout caught 13 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown - tying the school’s single-game reception record set by Mike Harley in 2021.
But Toney wasn’t done there. He also completed a pass for a nine-yard touchdown and added 30 rushing yards on five carries.
That’s three different ways he impacted the scoreboard - as a receiver, passer, and runner.
It’s no surprise then that Toney was also named ACC Wide Receiver of the Week and earned a spot on PFF’s Team of the Week for Week 14. With postseason awards looming, Toney is firmly in the mix for All-ACC honors and looks like a strong candidate for both ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and overall Rookie of the Year.
Of course, none of this offensive explosion happens without the big men up front. Miami’s offensive line was dominant in pass protection and steady in the run game.
According to PFF, the unit allowed just one pressure on 38 pass-blocking snaps - a near-flawless effort that gave quarterback Carson Beck all the time he needed to operate. The line also helped pave the way for a rushing attack that averaged 4.4 yards per carry on 39 attempts.
Beck took full advantage of the clean pocket, completing 23 of 29 passes for 267 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Miami’s offense was in rhythm all night, and the O-line deserves a massive share of the credit for that.
Even though Miami wasn’t named a finalist for the Joe Moore Award - given to the best offensive line in college football - the numbers speak for themselves. The Hurricanes rank sixth nationally in fewest tackles for loss allowed (3.5 per game) and eighth in sacks allowed (0.92 per game). That’s elite-level protection.
Right tackle Francis Mauigoa added some hardware of his own this week, earning the 2025 Jacobs Blocking Award, which goes to the ACC’s top offensive lineman. Mauigoa has been a cornerstone for Miami’s front five all season, and this recognition cements his status as one of the best blockers in the conference.
With the regular season now in the books, Miami is surging at just the right time. The defense is forcing turnovers, the offense is firing on all cylinders, and the offensive line is playing its best ball of the year. If this performance against Pitt is any indication, the Hurricanes might just be peaking when it matters most.