Miami finally got a Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium, and the Hurricanes made the most of it.
The sixth-ranked team in the country shook off a slow opening series and then rolled, scoring on its next six possessions on the way to a 52-3 win over Central Michigan. Miami improved to 4-0 in a game that also showed how much depth this roster has had to lean on after last week’s injury issues at Wake Forest.
Freshman Javian Mallory got the first start of his college career with Mark Fletcher Jr. sidelined, and he answered right away. Mallory punched in Miami’s first touchdown on a 4-yard run. With Joshua Moore out at receiver, the Hurricanes kept finding answers through the air, as Cooper Barkate, Vandrevius Jacobs, Somourian Wingo and others helped make it 11 different Miami players with catches.
Darian Mensah kept the offense humming, too. One week after his record-setting outing at Wake Forest, the quarterback backed up an FBS-leading 89.9 completion percentage by going 23 of 27 for 338 yards and three touchdowns. He added a 5-yard rushing score as well, finishing off a 9-play, 97-yard drive just before halftime when he slipped into the end zone to make it 35-3.
Central Michigan opened with a field goal, but that was about as comfortable as things got for the Chippewas. Miami’s defense settled in and never let them find any real rhythm, holding them to 158 total yards and just 21 rushing yards.
Marquise Lightfoot was everywhere for the Hurricanes, piling up four tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Cam Pruitt led Miami with six tackles.
Next up for the Hurricanes: another ACC road test, with Clemson waiting next Saturday.
In Other News...
Miamis Explosive Win Came With One Clemson Warning
Miamis first Saturday game of the season looked every bit like the kind of blowout a ranked team wants to put on tape, with a 52-3 rout of Central Michigan that showcased both the offenses ceiling and the defenses ability to take over a game. Darian Mensah topped 300 passing yards and threw four touchdowns, while Malachi Toney kept the pressure on the Chippewas with 120 receiving yards and a score. Miami also forced three turnovers and held Central Michigan to just three points, a reminder that the Hurricanes can win in more than one way.
The one thing that kept the afternoon from feeling fully polished was the flag count. Miami was penalized 13 times for 112 yards, a stretch of sloppiness that can get exposed much faster once the schedule turns to stronger opposition. For a team that spent the day overwhelming an overmatched opponent, the next challenge is obvious: clean up the details before those mistakes become costly against Clemson. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Fans Have Every Right To Be Mad About Darian Mensah Snub
Desmond Howards hypothetical Heisman vote on ESPNs College GameDay has already sparked plenty of debate, and it is easy to see why Miami fans would have an issue with how the quarterback conversation shook out. Howard put Trinidad Chambliss first and Kamario Taylor second while running through a wide group of passers who have put together eye-catching seasons, including Darian Mensah, Lincoln Kienholz, Michael Hawkins Jr., Faizon Brandon and Keelon Russell.
For Miami supporters, the frustration comes from seeing Mensah left outside the top two after being included in the discussion at all. The piece walks through the production and big-game moments from several quarterbacks, but Mensah stands out as the name that feels most likely to linger in the debate, especially with so much attention on how national voters sort through a crowded field of standouts. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Faces One Big Test Beyond The Central Michigan Spread
No. 6 Miami comes back to Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night with a 3-0 record and the kind of early-season numbers that have made the Hurricanes look every bit like a national contender. Central Michigan arrives at 2-1, and on paper this is the sort of nonconference matchup Miami is expected to handle while continuing to stack clean performances on both sides of the ball.
Still, the bigger question for Miami is not just whether it can win, but whether it can leave the night healthy and on schedule with the rest of the season ahead. The game comes with injury updates to monitor for both teams, along with broadcast details for fans who want to follow along, and those peripheral details may matter nearly as much as the spread once the ball is kicked off. [Read more 🡒]