Miami’s offense has been rolling, but it hasn’t exactly been recklessly flying. That balance has helped explain why the No. 1 Hurricanes are sitting at 6-0 and 4-0 in the ACC, even while still leaving a few points on the field.
The numbers are loud. Miami is 1.5 points shy of averaging 50 a game.
The bigger picture is a little more nuanced: the offense has had stretches where it cools off, and those lulls nearly turned into a problem against Florida State. In a rivalry game, chaos is always part of the deal, but the Hurricanes have also made a habit of attacking with purpose.
That approach starts with offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, whose group has leaned into aggression without turning careless. Through six games, Miami has only turned it over twice. One of those giveaways came against Florida A&M after the result was already decided, and the other came against the Seminoles when Darian Mensah left a pass hanging too long while targeting Cooper Barkate in the end zone.
Mensah sees that edge in the offense’s identity, and he knows the line between aggressive and reckless matters.
"I'd say we're just cautiously aggressive," Mensah said. "Like, we understand.
I mean, we we're throwing passes where it's a true one on one, while we're running up running a ball when it's, you know, blocked up. And so we're aggressive, but we're not too aggressive to where we lose points."
Pittsburgh presents a different kind of test. Miami plans to attack on the ground and through the air, but it can’t let the Panthers dictate a one-dimensional game. Mensah pointed to Pitt’s front as the first thing that jumps out.
"I think they're run defense is number one in the country for rush defense," Mensah said on what stands out for the Panthers. "So the physical, good, really good third-down package.
And so, yeah, we got to come prepared for it. I think that's what stands out."
For Mensah, the rankings and the outside noise don’t move the needle much. He’s more interested in the points Miami still hasn’t banked and the work ahead of it.
"I'm kind of so focused on what we got to do right now," Mensah said. "I've just put the blinders on.
I've, you know, had people text me. 'Congrats on being number one.'
I haven't seen it. So I'm really just blocking out all the noise and, you know, trying to be focused on going 1-0."
In Other News...
Miami Just Got A Huge Recruiting Chance It Couldnt Afford To Lose
A prized recruiting visit is headed to Hard Rock Stadium this weekend, and Miami has plenty at stake with it. DJ Jacobs, the five-star edge rusher in the 2027 class who is committed to Ohio State, is expected to be on hand for the Hurricanes' home game along with his younger brother Dawson Jacobs, a four-star defensive line prospect. Mario Cristobal and his staff have kept the door open with DJ, and the timing gives Miami another chance to make its case in front of two defensive prospects who could matter a lot to the programs future.
The visit comes at a useful moment for the Hurricanes, whose 2027 class has room for more movement after a recent decommitment. Miami has been trying to stay involved with DJ Jacobs while also working on the broader picture with the brothers, but their recruitment remains unsettled for now. For a program looking to turn visits into traction, getting both Jacobs brothers on campus gives the Hurricanes a chance they could not really afford to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Mourns A Former Hurricane Who Meant Far More Than Football
Miamis football family is grieving the loss of Bailey, a former Hurricanes standout whose impact stretched well beyond the field. Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs after his time in Coral Gables, he was remembered by former teammates for both the player he was and the person he became, with tributes underscoring how much he meant to the program long after his playing days ended.
The timing adds another layer to a week already full of emotion and accomplishment around the Hurricanes, with Malachi Toney earning the Paul Hornung Award for National Player of the Week after his performance against Florida State. Even in the middle of that recognition, the focus in Miami also remains on honoring a former Hurricane whose legacy carried real weight in the locker room and around the program. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Rivalry Win Took A Dark Turn For Damon Wilson II
Miamis win over Florida State should have been remembered as another sharp-edged chapter in the rivalry, but it quickly carried into a much uglier space for Damon Wilson II. After the game, Wilson revealed that he had received alleged racist messages on Instagram from Kade McLendon, an employee of The Florida Bar, turning a celebratory night for the Hurricanes into one with an immediate off-field fallout.
The Florida Bar responded by placing McLendon on administrative leave and opening an internal investigation into the messages, which are said to violate the organizations social media policy. The inquiry is ongoing, and the Bar has said it intends to enforce its policies while also protecting due process rights, leaving the situation still unfolding even as the football result itself is long settled. [Read more 🡒]