When Miami needed somebody to steady the defense against Clemson, Chase Smith was the one who stepped in and set the tone.
The No. 4 Hurricanes rolled to a 41-13 win last Saturday, and while the unit as a whole turned in what was arguably its best outing of the season, the most important early plays belonged to the sixth-year linebacker. Smith, not edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot or defensive tackle Ahamd Moten Sr., helped define the day with timely stops and a huge fourth-down denial.
Miami’s first statement came right out of the gate. On Clemson’s opening possession, Smith made back-to-back tackles - first on senior wide receiver Tyler Brown, then on freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds - to help force a three-and-out. The Hurricanes immediately made the Tigers pay, with quarterback Darian Mensah hitting wide receiver Cooper Barkate on a 61-yard tunnel screen for the game’s first touchdown.
Smith delivered again when Clemson was threatening to reach the red zone. On a fourth-and-one, Tigers offensive coordinator and play-caller Chad Morris went to a fake snap to sophomore running back Gideon Davidson as Reynolds looked toward the sidelines.
Miami’s defensive line was slow to react, with the exception of Moten Sr., but Smith read it and shut it down, forcing a turnover on downs. The Hurricanes cashed in again with another touchdown.
By the end of the night, Smith had a season-high six tackles, including five solo stops, an assist and a tackle for loss. For Miami, it was exactly the kind of performance needed in its first real test against a highly respected opponent.
Smith’s rise has been a long time coming. The 23-year-old has been one of the key returners from last season’s National Championship run after Miami lost star edge rushers Akheem Mesidor and All-American Rueben Bain Jr. to the NFL in this year’s draft. The Palm Bay, Fla. native stuck with the Coral Gables program even without any guarantee of a turnaround, and injuries limited him during the 2022 and 2023 college football seasons.
He kept working anyway. Last season, Smith finally started to break through behind former Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, appearing in all 16 games and finishing with 31 total tackles, 15 solos, 16 assists, two passes broken up on two passes defended, and two fumbles recovered.
Now, with Smith settling into a starting role, Miami may have found a player whose impact goes beyond the box score. The Hurricanes are off this week before returning to Hard Rock Stadium for next Saturday’s in-state rivalry game against the Florida State Seminoles.
Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. E.T. on ESPN.
In Other News...
Miami Bye Week Becomes Crucial Push To Protect Loaded Commit Class
The bye week has turned into a full-court recruiting push for Miami, with the staff using the down time to get back on the road and reinforce a commit class the program wants to keep intact. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, running backs coach Favian Upshaw, wide receivers coach Kevin Beard, defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, defensive line coach Damione Lewis, defensive ends coach Jason Taylor, safeties coach Will Harris and cornerbacks coach Terry Jefferson are all scheduled to visit committed players at their high schools.
For a class that already has plenty of attention on it, these in-school visits matter because they let Miami's coaches make one more personal pitch before the season moves back into full speed. The Hurricanes are treating the bye as an opportunity to stay visible with the prospects they have already secured, and to remind them why they chose Miami in the first place, even as the rest of the sport keeps trying to pry committed talent loose. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Bye Week Could Shape The Next Big Recruiting Push
The bye week has given Miamis staff a chance to keep its attention on more than just the field, with coaches spending time on the road to evaluate top prospects around the country. The Hurricanes are still firmly in the mix for several high-profile targets, including five-star names Brysen Wright and Asher Ghioto, while also staying connected to other recruits such as DJ Jacobs and Za'Kari Johnson.
For a program trying to build out the 2027 and 2028 classes, these in-season trips matter because they help Miami sharpen its board before the next wave of visits and game-day evaluations. The staff is expected to keep showing up at games and on campuses, and the next few weeks could go a long way toward defining which relationships turn into real momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Basketball Just Got The Kind Of Respect Fans Wanted
Jai Lucas is already getting the sort of preseason respect Miami fans have been waiting for, with the Hurricanes landing at No. 12 in the NCAAs Power 44 rankings ahead of the 2026-27 season. After a 26-9 turnaround, the program heads into Lucas next year with a roster that mixes proven returners, freshmen and a transfer class built to give the offense more balance, especially from the perimeter.
Malik Reneau, Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson give Miami a familiar core, while the newcomers are expected to help solve one of the bigger offseason needs by improving outside shooting. There is still plenty of work before the opener against Florida, but the ranking suggests the Hurricanes are no longer being treated like a feel-good surprise - they are being viewed as a team with a chance to back up last years rise. [Read more 🡒]