Miami didn’t just beat Florida A&M on Thursday night. It turned Hard Rock Stadium into a record-book exercise.
The Hurricanes rolled to a 77-7 win and stacked up numbers that reached far beyond the final margin. Miami produced 856 total yards, breaking the previous program mark of 750, and finished with 42 first downs to set an ACC record. That was also the most by an FBS team since 2019.
The scoring barrage matched a school standard. Miami’s 77 points tied the program’s single-game record, and nine different Hurricanes found the end zone on rushing or passing plays, tying the most by an ACC team in the last 30 years.
What made it even more overwhelming was how evenly the offense ran. Miami finished with 430 rushing yards and 426 passing yards, and touchdowns came on each of the team’s first 11 drives. The Hurricanes also became the first FBS team since 2021 to go an entire half without facing a third down.
Darian Mensah was close to flawless in his time on the field, going 14 of 15 for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Luke Nickel took over in the second half and kept the pressure on, completing all eight of his passes for 144 yards and three more scores.
Together, Mensah and Nickel made a bit of unusual history. They became the first power-conference quarterback teammates since 2016 to each throw three touchdowns in the same game. It also marked the first time Miami had two quarterbacks with multiple touchdown passes since Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman combined for five touchdowns in 2005.
The defense was just as suffocating. Miami held FAMU to 107 total yards and limited the Rattlers to 1-for-14 on third down.
The game got out of hand so quickly that both teams agreed to shorten the fourth quarter from 15 minutes to 10. Mario Cristobal then rested his starters for the entire second half and used the lopsided score to give Miami’s backups extended run.
Miami is back in action Friday, Sept. 18, on the road against Wake Forest at 7:30 p.m.
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For Miami, the spotlight is squarely on the offensive line and the kind of communication that tends to get tested most when the opponent can win up front without needing much help. Cristobal and Dawson both pointed to Wake Forests early-season defensive work as a reminder that this wont be another dress rehearsal, and the Hurricanes will need cleaner timing and sharper coordination to handle a much tougher assignment. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Hurricanes, this is the kind of game that can sharpen the conversation around where they stand and how far they have to go. Road games always bring a different level of scrutiny, and with standings and perception both still in flux, Miami has a chance to make an early statement while the season is still young and the margin for error is thin. [Read more 🡒]