No. 4 Miami didn’t just beat Clemson on Saturday night. The Hurricanes went into Death Valley and took control from the jump, rolling to a 41-13 win that snapped a drought at Clemson that had stretched nearly two decades.
The victory gave Mario Cristobal’s team its third straight 5-0 start, and it sends Miami into a needed bye week with plenty to feel good about. The game was decided by a defense that kept squeezing Clemson tighter and tighter until the whole thing broke open.
Damon Wilson was the headliner on that side of the ball. After managing just one sack and two total tackles over Miami’s first four games, the highly coveted transfer looked like the disruptor the Hurricanes had been waiting for. He chased Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds all night and finished with 11 pressures, 2.5 sacks and three total tackles.
Miami’s pass rush never let up. The Hurricanes piled up six sacks overall, and Clemson’s ground game never found a lane, finishing with 55 rushing yards on 31 attempts. Freshman defensive back JJ Dunnigan added the exclamation point with a late pick six under the two-minute warning.
The offense had plenty of help from the backfield, too. Mark Fletcher Jr., back in action after being inactive against Central Michigan as a precaution, turned in a big night for the Hurricanes and the fans who made the trip. The senior ran for 77 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Javian Mallory also kept building his case for a bigger role. The freshman finished with 14 carries for 63 yards, continuing to trend upward after Marty Brown’s season-ending knee injury.
Miami also had to deal with the kind of injury list that has followed it around far too often. Defensive lineman Marquise Lightfoot went down early and never returned from the locker room, with the extent of the injury still unclear.
Matthew McCoy also dealt with a shoulder injury, was seen in obvious pain on the field, put on a shoulder harness and later came back in. Ethan O’Connor and Max Buchanan also missed portions of the game before returning.
The win carried extra weight because of the history between these programs. Since Dabo Swinney took over at Clemson in 2009, the Tigers have been the dominant force, while Miami’s rise faded and Clemson’s dynasty surged. That stretch included a 58-0 Clemson blowout in 2015 that led to Al Golden’s firing, and a 38-3 ACC Championship game rout in 2017 that was followed by a viral video of Swinney and Clemson mocking Miami’s “turnover chain.”
Miami had not won at Memorial Stadium since 2010 before Saturday night. Cristobal’s team changed that in convincing style, and the 41-13 finish only intensified the spotlight on Clemson’s struggles.
Cristobal, who is rarely animated after games, made clear with his body language and demeanor how much this one meant. The Hurricanes now turn to the bye week, then to a rivalry game against Florida State at Hard Rock Stadium on Oct.
- Kickoff time has not been announced.
In Other News...
Former Miami Five-Star Is Suddenly Writing A Very Different Next Chapter
Hayden Lowes college path has already taken a sharp turn from the kind of trajectory that once made him one of Miamis most high-profile defensive commitments. The former five-star edge rusher began his career with the Hurricanes, but he is now at Long Beach City College after parting ways with Miami, a move that head coach Mario Cristobal confirmed without offering any details.
Lowe is now taking a hard look at what comes next, and a recent visit to Tennessee suggests he is keeping his options open. He came away sounding encouraged by the Volunteers defensive line rotation and the opportunities that could be available there, a notable development for a player whose next stop will be watched closely by Miami fans who remember just how much upside surrounded his arrival in Coral Gables. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Heads Into Bye Week With One New Concern After Clemson
Miami rolled past Clemson 41-13 to stay unbeaten at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the ACC, and the bye week now arrives with the kind of injury checkpoint every contender expects in October. The encouraging part for Mario Cristobals team is that several players who had been dealing with injuries were back in the mix, including running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and defensive lineman Ahmad Moten Sr., giving Miami a healthier look after a physical conference win.
The concern now is less about the record than the wear and tear that comes with it, especially after a game that featured strong all-around play and a defense that handled Clemson comfortably. With a week off to reset, Miami gets a chance to evaluate who came out of the matchup fully intact and who needs extra time before the next stretch of ACC play, a detail that could matter just as much as the standings later on. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Sent A Message But One Concern Wont Go Away
Miamis perfect start kept rolling in Week 5, and the win over Clemson was the kind of result that makes a real statement in the ACC. The Hurricanes are now 5-0, and with Pittsburgh also sitting unbeaten, the league picture is starting to take shape early as Florida State and Wake Forest added their own impressive performances to the mix.
Still, the celebration came with a reminder that a long season rarely stays simple. Marquise Lightfoot went down with an injury in the Clemson game, leaving Miami with one issue it cannot ignore as the stakes rise and the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]