CHALLENGE AWAITS
Defending national champion Clemson poses biggest test yet for Hurricanes under Richt.
CORAL GABLES — In several ways, Miami and Clemson are similar.
Both have first-year, dual-threat quarterbacks who have made their share of mistakes throwing the ball. Both have talented playmakers and inconsistent offensive lines. Both have top-flight defenses with rugged fronts and loads of speed.
But Clemson has more depth. More talent. More experience.
Because of that, the Tigers present more of a challenge than Miami has seen in the Mark Richt era, and that is why the Tigers opened as a 71/2-point favorite for Saturday night’s ACC Championship game in Charlotte, N.C.
As the second-ranked (last week’s College Football Playoff rankings) Hurricanes (10-1, 7-1 ACC) watched from South Florida, licking their wounds after Friday’s 24-14 upset loss at Pittsburgh, third-ranked Clemson (11-1, 7-1) dominated its rivalry game at 24th-ranked South Carolina, winning 34-10.
Miami fell from No. 2 to No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 released Sunday. Clemson jumped from No. 4 to No. 1, replacing Alabama at the top after the Crimson
Tide’s loss to Auburn. The latest CFP rankings will come out Tuesday.
Despite the loss to Pitt, Miami’s road ahead is simple: If Miami wins the ACC title, it will be in the playoff. If not, it will be in the Orange Bowl, as the best nonplayoff team from the ACC.
The league’s best team overall, as of this week, is the defending national champion.
Miami will try to force Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant to throw under pressure, which South Carolina mostly failed to do.
Bryant (23 of 34, 272 yards) fit a 4-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow into a tight window, then let Renfrow make a dazzling play on a 61-yard screen for another score.
Tee Higgins, a 6-foot-4 true freshman, was a major threat (three catches, 84 yards).
Miami should be worried about stopping Clemson, but not about summoning the emotion needed to play for the ACC title.
Players were asked standard questions Friday about rebounding — “We can’t lose two games because we lost one,” Braxton Berrios said.
This is the biggest game of the year. Expect Miami’s best in Charlotte.
Being flat, as they were in Pittsburgh, should not be a concern. Clemson chief among them, Miami has more than enough of those already.
The run blocking and pass protection are concerns, especially against Clemson’s large and mobile front.
Malik Rosier’s inaccuracy is a concern.
The Hurricanes’ lack of depth at running back is a concern; Travis Homer, phenomenal against Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Virginia, never got going against Pitt.
The Hurricanes also will be without standout tight end Chris Herndon, who will have season-ending surgery on his left knee.
Without Herndon, UM’s only experienced tight end would be Michael Irvin II, who has five catches this season.
For a team missing star running back Mark Walton and several contributors on defense, the loss of Herndon could be too much for the Canes to withstand, unless Ahmmon Richards overcomes his various injuries, every- one blocks better and Rosier recaptures his game. The defense can only get so many stops.
“We can’t worry about what may happen,” linebacker Shaq Quarterman said Friday, when asked about what the Pitt loss did for UM’s playoff standing.
“We make it happen.” Clemson has a few injury concerns of its own. Star tackle Dexter Lawrence has been dealing with a foot issue, though he played Saturday. Starting middle linebacker Tre Lamar missed the game with a back injury, and backup Chad Smith (calf ) couldn’t go.
But those were mere footnotes. The Tigers were so much better than South Carolina they didn’t need them.
The Canes have hope of making the playoffs — “Obviously,” Berrios said Friday — and a win over Clemson should get them there. A one-loss ACC champion is a sure shot.
It won’t be the Canes if they help Clemson with turnovers and mental mistakes.
It won’t be the Canes if Rosier misfires as often as he did Friday.
It won’t be the Canes if there’s no running game.
Probably won’t be the Canes without a few appearances by the Turnover Chain.
“We believe the Lord’s going to help us,” defensive tackle RJ McIntosh said, commenting on UM’s well-earned belief in its ability to come back in games.
Divine intervention? Sure couldn’t hurt.