Miami’s defense will have its hands full tonight against Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels, and the Seminoles’ starter brings a very specific kind of danger into Hard Rock Stadium at approximately 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Daniels has been one of Florida State’s biggest weapons on the ground. He has 323 rushing yards on 70 carries this season, and he has already set an FSU quarterback rushing record with over 10 rushing touchdowns, the most by any FSU quarterback.
His biggest day came against Virginia, when he piled up 136 yards on 17 carries and scored five times. That gives Miami a clear warning sign: Daniels can turn a broken play into a problem in a hurry.
The passing game has not been nearly as clean. Daniels has thrown eight touchdown passes, but he has also been intercepted seven times, which is tied for the second-most in the country.
That’s why the Hurricanes’ front seven will matter so much here; if they can get into the backfield and force him into uncomfortable spots, Daniels has shown he can get loose. The source material says he does not play well under pressure.
This isn’t an inexperienced quarterback trying to find his footing, either. Daniels is a fifth-year senior who has been around the block, appearing in 43 career games since arriving in 2022.
He came out of high school as a three-star recruit and originally signed with Stanford. After two seasons there, he transferred to Auburn, played in four games, and was eventually benched before moving on to Florida State.
Accuracy has also been an issue. Daniels is completing just 59.1 percent of his passes this season, and in the ACC opener against SMU, he hit a season-low 52%.
That stands in contrast to Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, who owns the best completion percentage in the country. Daniels had similar trouble at Auburn, where he posted a career-low 57 percent completion rate.
In Other News...
Miami Faces One Huge O-Line Decision Before Florida State
Miamis offensive line has a major vacancy to sort out, and the timing is about as delicate as it gets with Florida State coming up. Max Buchanan, the Hurricanes starting right guard, is out for an extended stretch after surgery, leaving Mario Cristobal and his staff to reshuffle a group that has to be ready for one of the biggest games on the schedule.
Seuseu Alofaituli, Jackson Cantwell and Jamal Meriweather are all in the mix to handle the job, with each bringing a different level of experience and fit to the competition. Miami still has time to settle on its next starter, but the decision will be made before the rivalry matchup, and the choice could shape how stable the offense feels going into that week. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Faces One Rivalry Trap Despite Its Perfect Start
Miami heads into Week 7 with plenty going right, unbeaten and alone atop the ACC at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play. A bye week gave the Hurricanes extra time to heal, and several injured players are expected back as they prepare to host Florida State at Hard Rock Stadium. On paper, it looks like the kind of setup that should favor a team that has spent the first half of the season stacking wins and building momentum.
But rivalry games rarely care about records, and Florida State arrives with nothing to lose and a need for a signature victory. The Seminoles have struggled, yet that can make them dangerous in a matchup like this, especially with thunderstorms in the forecast and the kind of unpredictable atmosphere that can turn a clean-looking Saturday into a grind. Miami has handled everything so far, but this is the sort of game that can test a perfect start in ways the standings never show. [Read more 🡒]
Miami FSU Showdown Just Became A Massive Recruiting Stage
Saturdays meeting with Florida State is already one of the biggest dates on Miamis schedule, and it is also turning into a major recruiting showcase. The Hurricanes are set to host a loaded group of prospects for the home game, with several highly touted 2028 visitors expected on campus for the showdown. For a program that has made recruiting a central part of its push, the timing could hardly be better.
Among the names expected to be in Coral Gables are five-star wide receiver Brysen Wright, safety Casey Barner, offensive linemen Maui Tonata and Jamarios Canton, edge rusher Asher Ghioto, defensive tackle Prince Che, receiver Jaylen Addai, cornerback Nasir Richardson and athlete-tight end Grant Bowen. A game like this gives Miami a chance to sell more than just the atmosphere, and the stakes on the trail make this weekend feel especially important for the Hurricanes. [Read more 🡒]