The Miami Hurricanes have been winning, but the back end has been living dangerously.
Over the last three games, Miami’s secondary has had real trouble keeping explosive passes in front of it, even while the Hurricanes kept stacking wins. Florida State, Pitt, and UNC averaged 417.67 yards of total offense against Miami, and 78.2 percent of that production came through the air. The quarterbacks involved weren’t exactly known for elite arm talent, but they played like it.
That’s what has made the recent stretch so alarming. Hail Marys have even become part of the conversation around this group.
Florida State’s Ashton Daniels hit Duce Robinson on a 75-yard pass to force the first overtime. The next week, Pitt’s Holden Geriner connected with Cataurus Hicks on a 53-yard throw before halftime, nearly setting up a touchdown before Ethan O’Connor saved it with a clutch tackle.
The numbers behind the problem are hard to ignore. Miami’s secondary has given up 27 explosive passing plays over the last three games, and those plays have gone for 710 yards and eight touchdowns. With opposing quarterbacks getting the ball out quickly to beat pressure from the defensive front, the burden falls squarely on the cornerbacks and safeties to finish the play.
That challenge gets much tougher against Notre Dame and CJ Carr.
Carr has been sharp all season, completing 148 of 222 passes for 66.7 percent, 1,849 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just one interception. He’s also taken a clear step forward since last season’s opener at Hard Rock Stadium, which was his first collegiate start at 21 years old. This year, he has thrown at least 30 explosive passes, and Notre Dame’s offensive line has helped keep him comfortable by allowing only two sacks.
Miami’s defensive line will try to make life harder on Carr by getting pressure and sacks, but the secondary has to do its part too. That starts with eliminating the chunk plays that have been such a problem lately.
Jordan Faison and Micah Gilbert are the main receiving threats to watch. Faison has 497 receiving yards, Gilbert has 430, and the two have combined for seven touchdowns. They’ll almost certainly draw the attention of Miami’s defensive backs.
There are also individual issues Miami has to clean up. Nickelback Omar Thornton has been effective as a blitzer, piling up 12 pressures and three sacks in 47 pass-rushing snaps, but his coverage has been uneven. Safety Zechariah Poyser was ejected in the first quarter against Florida State for targeting, and Thornton, Dylan Day, Damari Brown, and Ryan Mack have all been underwhelming this season in rotational roles.
Veteran cornerback Xavier Lucas returned from injury against Florida State and has played in every game since.
Miami will need sharper execution and more consistency across the board to slow down a Notre Dame offense that ranks sixth in FBS in scoring at 40.4 points per game. It shapes up as the biggest regular-season test before the College Football Playoffs.
In Other News...
Miami Can Attack The One Notre Dame Flaw That Really Matters
Notre Dame comes into this matchup with the kind of overall defensive profile that usually makes an offense work for every inch, sitting first nationally in total defense. But the deeper dive shows where the Irish have been vulnerable, and it is the part of the field Miami is built to exploit. Notre Dames red-zone defense has been a problem all season, with opponents scoring on 88.9% of their trips inside the 20, a weakness that has shown up in losses and tight games alike.
Miami has been one of the most efficient offenses in the country when space shrinks and points matter most, turning 92.9% of its red-zone chances into points. That kind of finishing ability could loom even larger with Malachi Toney unavailable, because the Hurricanes may need to be more precise rather than more explosive to cash in against a defense that has otherwise been elite. If Miami can keep drives alive and make Notre Dame defend every snap near the goal line, that flaw could end up mattering more than the Irish would like. [Read more 🡒]
Miamis Notre Dame Plan Hinges On One Massive Malachi Toney Unknown
Marcus Freeman is leaving Notre Dame room to prepare for a Miami offense that may or may not have Malachi Toney in it. The Hurricanes wide receiver suffered a high ankle sprain, had surgery and has been widely viewed as unlikely to play, but the Irish are still treating his status as a live possibility heading into the matchup. For Miami, the uncertainty matters because Toney has been a key piece of the offense, and his availability would shape how the Hurricanes try to attack a defense that will be studying every scenario.
Notre Dame also expects a boost on its own side with All-American cornerback Leonard Moore set to return after missing recent games with a concussion. For Miami, the bigger concern may be planning beyond this one game, since the Hurricanes have to adjust their offensive approach without Toney for the rest of the regular season and possibly the College Football Playoffs. Even with the injury report pointing one way, the Irish are acting as if they could still see him on the field, which is exactly the kind of wrinkle that can complicate a game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Miamis Loaded 2027 Class Just Added Another Huge Piece
Miamis 2027 recruiting class got even deeper with the addition of Brysen Wright, a five-star wide receiver from Jacksonville who has committed to the Hurricanes after reclassifying from the 2028 cycle. It is another major win for a program that has made a point of stacking elite talent early, and it further reinforces how aggressively Miami is working to keep the states best prospects close to home.
Wright joins a class that already features several other five-star names, giving the Hurricanes a group that is starting to look as imposing on paper as any in the country. For Miami, the bigger picture is clear: keep landing premier Florida talent, keep building around it, and keep pushing the 2027 class toward something that can shape the program for years. [Read more 🡒]