READY FOR SHOWDOWN
Throughout the preseason, the Miami Hurricaneshavemaintainedthattheirnationally broadcast (ABC) season opener against Alabama on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is “just another game.”
But No. 14 Miami knows its matchup against the Crimson Tide, the defending national champion and top-ranked team in the nation, carries a higher level of magnitude and will present an opportunity for the Hurricanes that doesn’t come very often.
Not simply the opportunity to make a “statement” or prove “The U is Back” — but the chance to test themselves against the nation’s best team and see where they stand as they look to take the next step under coach Manny Diaz.
“It’s good for our program to get into these type of games — against teams that have had runs of recent success,” said Diaz.
UM dropped its last two matchups against top-ranked teams, with both losses coming against Clemson (2017 ACC championship game and in Week 6 in 2020).
Miami is a huge underdog, with Alabama being favored by 19 ½ points.
The Hurricanes haven’t opened the season against the No. 1 team in the Associated Press Poll since beating rival Florida State 31-0 to kick off the 1988 campaign, so UM is eager for the opportunity.
“You learn a lot about where you’re at and where you’re lacking,” Diaz said. “The Clemson game taught us a lot. I think our guys have learned from that. I think that helps in a way getting into preparation for Alabama.”
The Crimson Tide team the Hurricanes will play won’t resemble the high-powered Alabama squad that dominated Ohio State in the College Football Playoff national championship game earlier this year — at least on one side of the ball.
Alabama lost several key offensive players to the NFL, including quarterback Mac Jones (New England Patriots), running back Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers), wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) and reigning Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles).
Stepping into Jones’ place at starting quarterback is sophomore Bryce Young, a former fivestar prospect who was nationally ranked as the No. 2 player in the 2020 recruiting class.
Young didn’t get many opportunities to showcase his abilities last season while backing up Jones, but the Hurricanes know the 20-yearold signal-caller can do damage with his arm and legs.
“We won’t have a whole lot of film on him, but we have a good idea of the kind of ability he has and [he’s] a strong point for that team,” defensive end Zach McCloud said. “He’s a really athletic quarterback. I know he can pick teams apart with his arm. He’s two-dimensional. He’s his own animal.”
The Hurricanes will have their own dual-threat quarterback in D’Eriq King, who will be playing his first game since tearing the ACL and meniscus in his right knee at the end of last season.
The Crimson Tide have returned almost every defensive starter from last year’s team, with playmakers who will look to slow down King.
“They had a young defense last year,” King said. “You sit back there and let them tee off — they’re going to get to the quarterback. They don’t make many mistakes. We know we just got to keep pushing forward.”
After mostly playing in front of limited-capacity crowds last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hurricanes will be opening their season in a 71,000seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium that will be operating at full capacity. Alabama fans are expected to fill the stadium, with Atlanta only a three-hour drive from Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Crimson Tide have won 14 straight games in Atlanta.
“When you’re mentally focused and locked in on what’s on the grass and you have crowd noise, then it’s pretty much in one ear and out the other.” UM striker Amari Carter said,
What would a win do for a UM program looking to get back to the heights of its glory days?
“Being No. 14, a win like this, it’d probably do a whole lot for recruiting,” McCloud said. “But also mainly for the confidence of the team and guys we have here. Got to win big games to be a big team.”