Happy Monday, errrrrrrrbody.
Miami’s win at Clemson on Saturday night did more than add another result to the ledger. It brought back a familiar kind of football in the second half - the kind built on a punishing run game, a physical front, and drives that wear a defense down until it cracks.
That felt especially notable after the 2025 season closed. The Hurricanes’ offensive line from that year was described as maybe the best in program history, the kind of group that carried Miami all the way to the national championship game.
With that unit gone, there was a real question about whether the Hurricanes would need to reinvent themselves in 2026. The 2024 offense had already looked different from what Miami showed in 2025 and last year, and the front was not as dominant.
Against Clemson, though, Miami found a version of that old bully-ball identity again. The Hurricanes ran for 192 yards, but the bigger story was how they did it late. Two second-half touchdown drives felt like a throwback, with Miami lining up and imposing its will as Clemson’s defense started to wear down.
Ryan Rodriguez was a big part of that. Ben Congdon also delivered in his first start, and the interior trio turned in its best game of the season by a wide margin.
That happened even after Max Buchanan went down, returned, and battled through the rest of the night. Matthew McCoy also kept fighting through injury at right tackle, showing real toughness.
The sense from the sideline was that Clemson’s defense was getting tired as the game went on. That kind of finish is exactly what Miami wants more of in 2026, even with an offense that will still throw the ball and find plenty of success doing it. There’s just something about finishing a game by running over people in the fourth quarter that brings a different level of confidence.
Javian Mallory also keeps looking like a real weapon. Behind Fletcher, he’s settled into the RB2 role and is playing like the guy who turned heads in the offseason and fall camp. The upside is obvious, and he’s going to matter a lot to this team.
On defense, Damon Wilson II finally looked like a difference-maker. He finished with 11 QB pressures and 2.5 sacks, and he was a problem snap after snap. The former Mizzou product looked every bit like the portal target Miami expected him to be, and he’s shaping up as a major X-factor for this defense.
The secondary had its moments too, even with Tait Reynolds throwing for 295 yards. Miami’s front shut down Clemson’s ground game to 1.8 yards per carry and forced the Tigers into the air.
There were mistakes, including Omar Thorton’s well-publicized whiff that led to a huge gain down the sideline, but the overall showing from the defensive backfield was encouraging. That group should only get healthier, better, and more experienced as the season goes on.
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 🡒]