Miami Hurricanes Dominate Pitt Panthers to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
The No. 12 Miami Hurricanes knew they had to deliver a strong performance against the No. 22 Pitt Panthers if they wanted to maintain their aspirations for the ACC title and the College Football Playoff. They really needed this.
And they did it. The Hurricanes controlled the game, winning decisively with a score of 38-7, improving their record to 10-2 for the season. In conference play, they now stand at 6-2, which ties them with the Panthers, although Miami boasts a better overall record.
Even with their current ranking in the playoff picture, Miami has more games ahead, and it’s crucial to keep their momentum. Next week’s ACC championship, set to take place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, could automatically secure a playoff spot for the champion. Miami entered this week sitting at No. 6 in the ACC standings.
Having achieved this initial goal against the Panthers, the Hurricanes are now turning their focus to the rest of the conference. Several potential outcomes could land them a spot in the ACC title game, especially if key teams like Virginia, SMU, and Duke stumble in their upcoming games.
The rivalry game between North Carolina and North Carolina State is also on their radar, as its outcome could affect the standings significantly.
If Miami hopes for an at-large bid in the playoffs, they’ll need some teams to falter on Saturday. For instance, No. 10 Alabama, who recently fell to Oklahoma, will need to lose to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Additionally, No. 11 BYU must lose at home to UCF.
On a positive note, Miami got some assistance from the nation’s top-ranked team. The Ohio State Buckeyes secured a victory over No. 15 Michigan, effectively eliminating Michigan from playoff contention.
So, how did the Hurricanes execute their plans against the Panthers? Quarterback Carson Beck was impressive, throwing three touchdowns and completing 23 of 29 passes for 267 yards, though he did have one interception.
Beck wasn’t alone in the spotlight, as Malachi Toney, the team’s leading receiver, made significant contributions. He caught the Hurricanes’ first touchdown of the game with a 9-yard pass from Beck in the second quarter. Toney followed that up with a 22-yard touchdown catch, helping Miami to a comfortable lead.
Touchdowns also came from CJ Daniels and Chalmar Brown, along with a rushing touchdown from Mark Fletcher Jr.
Head coach Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes have maintained all season that they deserve a higher ranking in the playoff evaluation. It’s worth noting that Notre Dame, despite being ranked above them, has the same record as Miami, having kicked off their season with a win against the Fighting Irish.
Miami is now eyeing the rest of the season with cautious optimism as they look to solidify their playoff dreams.
