No. 6 Miami heads into Saturday night’s matchup with Central Michigan carrying a few more questions than it did earlier this month, even if the betting line still screams mismatch.
The Hurricanes are 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the ACC, and they’re expected to be heavy favorites at 41.5 points when the Chippewas arrive in South Florida for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. The weather forecast calls for 83 degrees and a 34 percent chance of rain.
Miami’s offense, which had rolled through the first two and a half games, finally hit some resistance in the second half against Wake Forest. For the first time this season, a defense managed to slow the Hurricanes down, and UM still came away with a 13-point win.
The bigger concern this week is health. Mario Cristobal said two key offensive players, Marty Brown and Josh Moore, are out for the season. He also said several other important names were banged up, including Mark Fletcher Jr., Ahmad Moten Sr. and Malachi Toney.
Cristobal added that “everything looks favorable” for Fletcher and Toney to suit up against Central Michigan. Still, with Miami such a huge favorite, the Hurricanes may not need to lean on them for long.
Fletcher and Toney, both American Heritage alumni and central pieces of the offense, could see limited action if UM gets out fast and builds a comfortable cushion. Keeping them fresh matters, especially with a tougher stretch looming in October.
That also opens the door for some reshuffling. Brown’s absence leaves a noticeable hole at running back behind Fletcher, and Miami could look to freshman Javian Mallory to absorb that workload. Another option is Jordan Lyle, a junior running back who has not played yet this season.
At receiver, the Hurricanes will be searching for production from the group behind the top names. Transfer Vandrevius Jacobs, sophomore Daylyn Upshaw and freshman Somourian Wingo are all candidates to step into the third wideout role, and Miami will likely continue using all three in the near term.
Central Michigan comes in at 2-1 after winning back-to-back games over Colgate and Wyoming following an opening loss to New Mexico. This will be the Chippewas’ first trip to South Florida since Miami’s 17-12 win in 2019.
Matt Drinkall, now 9-7 at Central Michigan and 51-24 overall, spent seven years at Army before taking over ahead of the 2025 season. His team has gone with an option-style offense, and the numbers reflect it: Central Michigan has thrown only 44 passes in three games, the sixth-fewest attempts among FBS schools.
That puts a premium on discipline for Miami’s defense. The Hurricanes will have to stay sharp against an attack built around option looks, a style they won’t see again this season. For a Miami team still sorting through injuries and depth concerns, Saturday offers a chance to keep things moving - and to see how the next wave of contributors handles a different kind of test.
In Other News...
Louisville Faces A Real Test After That Statement Win
Louisville has spent the past couple of weeks showing both sides of its profile, with a double-digit win over SMU followed by a competitive showing against Ole Miss. Even with that momentum, the Cardinals are heading into a matchup that feels more revealing than routine, because their defense has given up plenty of points lately and now has to deal with a Wake Forest offense that has quietly improved as the season has gone on.
Gio Lopez has helped steady that side of the ball for the Demon Deacons, and Carlos Hernandez has been a reliable target as the passing game has found more rhythm. Put that together with Louisvilles recent issues on defense, and this looks like one of those games that can turn into a real test rather than just another conference date, with both sides carrying reasons to believe they can control it. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest's ACC Standing Looks Clearer Heading Into A Bigger Test
Wake Forests place in the ACC picture is getting a little easier to read after another round of conference power rankings from the editorial staff, which again sorted the league into tiered groupings based on recent play and votes from 10 writers. Miami stayed a unanimous No. 1, Louisville climbed to No. 2 after its latest win, and the Demon Deacons held steady at No. 8 even after the loss to Miami.
For Wake Forest, that kind of stability matters more than it might seem in late September. Sitting in the top half of the league keeps the Deacons in the conversation as the ACC season starts to separate into clearer layers, but the margin for moving up is still thin with a bigger test looming. The rankings suggest Wake Forest has earned enough respect to stay put for now, while still leaving plenty to prove against the teams ahead of it. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest Faces A Louisville Test Built On Pressure And Mistakes
Louisville arrives as a useful measuring stick for Wake Forest, with the conversation around the Cardinals centered on how they are trying to clean up the same things that tend to decide these kinds of games. In a recent Q&A, Louisville football writer Matt McGavic pointed to the importance of key offensive and defensive contributors, including running back Keyjuan Brown and quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, while also noting that the Cardinals have shown progress at tight end.
For Wake Forest, the bigger takeaway is familiar: pressure and mistakes can tilt a matchup quickly, and Louisvilles recent film has provided a clear list of areas that still need polishing. Limiting big plays and avoiding penalties remain priorities for a team trying to keep its footing, and the Deacons will have to sort through a Louisville group that looks capable of making them pay if those issues linger. [Read more 🡒]