Miami won Saturday 29-26 in OT against Virginia. On the surface that sounds like a pretty non-descript win to move the Canes to 6-2 (2-2), but I think there was some significance to it.
After the debacle of a finish against Georgia Tech, then a tough loss at North Carolina previous Miami teams would have crashed and burned.
Trailing in the 4th quarter of both games against Clemson and Virginia, Miami didn’t crack. They were able to get both games to OT where they ended up winning. Now neither win is all that noteworthy. Clemson and Virginia are bottom-tier ACC teams, and beating them doesn’t mean Miami is ready for the top 10. Are we really saying that about Clemson? Yes, that’s bad a football team, but they have talent in spots. Virginia is improving, but they aren’t great either. That doesn’t matter, Miami can and should be winning games against those types of teams. That’s what they did, in games, they could have easily lost.
That’s a good sign for Miami’s development.
Remember Miami is still just a kneel down from being 7-1, but at 6-2 they are bowl eligible and that’s progress.
I’m still not sure Mario Christobal is still pressing all the right buttons in the final 2 minutes of games, but he should be given credit for not letting the season fall apart.
We’ve seen QB Tyler Van Dyke play much better than he did Saturday, and if you can get a win when you’re QB isn’t playing well then that is another good sign.
Next week’s game against NC State will be another test of where Miami is. The Wolfpack have their own offensive issues but are a stout team on defense. Then it is the ACC’s two best teams Florida State and Louisville with a finish at Boston College.
You give Miami an 8-4 finish, and I think you are taking that as a Hurricane fan, especially after a 5-win 2022.
No Miami is not back, but there are some things to be encouraged by.
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