The Hurricanes pulled off the biggest win in Mario Cristobal’s coaching tenure — so far — with a home victory over then-No. 6 Notre Dame on Sunday.
It was Miami’s first win against a top-10 opponent since 2017 — when the Hurricanes also beat Notre Dame at Hard Rock Stadium.
The victory bodes well for the season ahead, as the Hurricanes began the year with a win over the team that may be their toughest opponent and moved up to No. 5 in the AP Top 25. Here is what we learned from the big win and what it means for the season ahead:
Carson Beck is good to go
Carson Beck and Miami’s coaches said all through fall camp that the veteran quarterback was settling in at UM impressively well. They were right, and Beck proved it against a tough Fighting Irish defense. Beck was not perfect, completing 20 of 31 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He did not have a turnover, but the throw that CJ Daniels reeled in for a highlight-reel touchdown appeared ticketed for Notre Dame safety Adon Shuler’s hands.
Pro Football Focus gave Beck a decent 64.6 offensive grade with a 65 passing grade. That was up against arguably the best defense the Hurricanes will face all year. Beck can be more than the stereotypical “game manager,” and he likely will put up even bigger numbers as the season goes on. But if that performance is how Beck does against a high-level defense, it is more than enough for UM to be successful.
The Hurricanes have receivers
One of the biggest questions of the offseason was how the Hurricanes would replace the numerous receivers who left the program in the offseason. That question is answered. Miami has receivers who will catch passes from Beck and do it well.
Daniels made the play of the night — perhaps the play of the season. But Miami’s receiving leader was freshman Malachi Toney. Still 17 years old, the freshman American Heritage alum caught the game’s first touchdown and ran impressive routes all night.
“We were trying to keep him a secret,” Cristobal said.
Transfer Keelan Marion and freshman Josh Moore also had catches, and sophomore Jojo Trader played without making a catch.
“You got people questioning the receiver corps,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “That’s all I heard for about a month there was like, ‘Who’s going to throw the ball to?’ Well, I had a pretty good idea that we had some people that he could throw the ball to but they haven’t really done it here for the Miami Hurricanes yet. So it was good to go out there and and put that on display.”
The O-line is as good as expected
Miami’s offensive line was expected to be a strength of the team. Up against a strong Notre Dame defensive front, the Hurricanes won in the trenches.
Miami allowed 11 total pressures but only one sack. Beck typically had plenty of time to go through his progressions and find the best option to throw to.
When the Hurricanes needed to plow the road ahead of them, the offensive line pushed the Fighting Irish out of the way.
“I tell those guys all the time, ‘Man, I really appreciate y’all. Really love y’all,’ ” running back Mark Fletcher Jr. said. “You don’t have no great running back without a great line. So it always starts up front, and those guys, they make me look good.”
Rueben Bain Jr., Akheem Mesidor pave the way for the defense
The Hurricanes’ defense showed it was vastly improved from the unit that walked off the field at the Pop-Tarts Bowl last year. But the highlight on defense was the stellar play from the two defensive ends, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor.
Bain, who was named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, had six tackles, half a sack and a tip-drill interception — the first of his career. Mesidor had five tackles and 1.5 sacks. They met at the quarterback to tag-team sacks on the last two plays of the game.
The two have rarely been fully healthy at the same time over the last two years. If they can stay healthy, they will terrorize offensive lines all season.
Miami is a title contender
The Hurricanes did not play a perfect game. Beck was good but not great. The defense blew a coverage that set up a touchdown. There are still things they can improve on.
But even without playing their best game, they beat the national runner-up. Of course, the Fighting Irish do not have the same team as last year’s title-game team, but they are still expected to be one of the nation’s top teams (as evidenced by their preseason No. 6 ranking).
Miami won what is likely the toughest game on its schedule. All of the Hurricanes’ goals are reachable.
