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Miami Pursues Championship, Hosts Struggling FSU
18 Oct
Summary
- No. 3 Miami seeks third consecutive win over rival Florida State.
- Florida State enters on a road losing streak and with coaching speculation.
- Both teams boast strong rushing offenses, critical for Saturday's game.
No. 3 Miami, fresh off a bye week, is set to host rival Florida State on Saturday night as they continue their pursuit of a national championship. The Hurricanes (5-0, 3-0) are looking for their third consecutive victory over the Seminoles (3-3, 1-2), who are coming off a significant 44-20 loss to Louisville.
Florida State has endured a difficult period, losing 11 consecutive road games since November 2023 and facing increased scrutiny regarding coach Mike Norvell's tenure. Despite this turmoil, Miami coach Mario Cristobal anticipates no overconfidence from his team in what he calls "the greatest rivalry in sports," acknowledging Florida State's potential.
A key battleground will be the run game, where both Miami and Florida State rank among the ACC's top offenses. Florida State's quarterback Ashton Daniels leads the conference with 10 rushing touchdowns, while Ousmane Kromah is second in rushing yards. However, their defense struggled against Louisville's ground attack.
Miami counters with a strong rushing backfield led by Mark Fletcher Jr. and Javian Mallory. Their defense, which leads the ACC in points allowed per game, is expected to be healthier with the potential return of cornerback Xavier Lucas and linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin.
Adding to Florida State's challenges, freshman cornerback Chuck Kennon was recently dismissed from the team for conduct detrimental to the program. The Seminoles' defense, however, has been effective at rushing the passer, ranking second in the ACC in sacks.
