CORAL GABLES — In 1965, the transfer portal did not exist. The idea of paying college football players — at least openly — was a horrifying prospect.

That was the last time Southern Methodist and Miami played. SMU was in the Southwest Conference, and Miami was an independent program. Since then, the Hurricanes have gone to the Big East and then the ACC, winning five national titles along the way. The Mustangs became a top program, earned the “Death Penalty” from the NCAA due to numerous scandals and wandered from the late Southwest Conference to Western Athletic Conference to Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference and then finally to the ACC.

Although it has been 60 years since No. 10 Miami (6-1, 2-1 ACC) and SMU (5-3, 3-1 ACC) have played — a streak that ends when the teams play at Gerald J. Ford Stadium at noon (11 a.m. in Dallas) on Saturday — the seismic changes in college football have linked these programs. Since former UM offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee took over the Mustangs in 2022, 11 Miami players have left the Hurricanes to transfer to SMU.

“I think it’s part of football,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “I think you see that on a weekly basis nowadays. Maybe 10 years ago, that wasn’t the case, but now it is, and at the end of the day, the 22 guys on the field are the ones that are going to have to execute on both sides of the ball. So I’m sure both sides are equally excited for the opportunity on Saturday.”

Some of the ex-Hurricanes have become solid players at SMU. Brashard Smith, Jared Harrison-Hunte and Elijah Roberts were key players for the Mustangs, but they have all departed now. SMU currently has four former Miami players on the roster. Wide receiver and Miami Northwestern alum Romello Brinson has played the most among those four players, leading the Mustangs with 515 receiving yards and three touchdown catches.

Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. said there are no hard feelings toward the players who left. After all, the Hurricanes have taken in dozens of transfers the last few years, as well.

“No trash talking,” Bain said. “I’m kind of a quiet person. But it’s going to be nice seeing them. It’s kind of like the days of college football now because … you’re going to have some former teammate on some other side. It’s kind of the same way with Louisville. … So right now, it kind of is like another game because everywhere you go, you’re almost guaranteed to play somebody you formerly played with.”

Regardless of whether the players lining up for the Mustangs previously played at Miami, SMU offers several challenges for the Hurricanes this week — particularly in the trenches. SMU is the No. 2 pass-blocking team in the nation, and it is also the No. 3 run-defending team, according to Pro Football Focus. The Mustangs are also tied for ninth in the nation with 25 sacks.

Under Lashlee, an offensive-minded coach, SMU is averaging more than 30 points per game. But the blueprint for how to stop Lashlee’s offense may be out. Last week, Wake Forest held the Mustangs to 12 points in an upset win.

“I thought they did a really good job of keeping the ball in front of them,” Hetherman said. “I thought they did a really good job of tackling. They gave them some different pictures, and I thought that defense just played really hard and did a good job.”

It will be interesting to see how the Hurricanes attack the Mustangs’ defense. While Miami likes to run the ball, SMU has the No. 15 run defense by yards allowed per game this season. The Mustangs’ pass defense struggles, though, and is the second-worst in passing yards allowed per game. But even though SMU gives up a lot of yards in the air, the Mustangs are tied for fourth in the nation with 12 interceptions.

“It’s odd,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said of the discrepancy between SMU’s passing yards allowed and turnovers. “But I do think the way that their games have unfolded, it’s been kind of shootouts in a way, and other teams are trying to get back in the game. And when you try to get back in the game, you’re going to have to throw to try to score.”

Miami will have to be careful with the ball, as SMU is 13th in the nation in turnover margin.

“They do a really good job,” Miami quarterback Carson Beck said. “In my opinion, it’s one of the best defenses in the conference, if not the best, and definitely one of the best defenses in the nation if you watch it from an aspect of turnovers. And you look at their D line and what they’re able to do and creating havoc in the run game and just, honestly, being able to be physical and kind of push people around is one of their strong suits.

“I feel like (that is) what we do well, so, that’s going to be the key of the game: Who’s able to kind of win that battle?”

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/30/hurricanes-smu-advance/