Game Day Notes: Miami Hurricanes at Georgia Tech … how to watch, start time, game notes & more

NO. 4 MIAMI (9-0, 5-0 ACC) AT GEORGIA TECH (5-4, 3-3 ACC)

GAMEDAY INFO

Date: Sat., Nov. 9, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. EDT
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Stadium: Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (55,000)
Television: ESPN
Talent: Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick, Kris Budden
Radio: 560 WQAM
Talent: Joe Zagacki, Don Bailey, Jr., Josh Darrow
Series History: Series tied, 14-14
Miami / Miami Gardens: Miami leads, 7-4
Atlanta: Georgia Tech leads, 10-6
Neutral Site: Miami leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Miami lost, 20-23 (October 7, 2023)

GAMEDAY NOTES

QUICK HITS

• The Miami Hurricanes continue their third season under the direction of head coach Mario Cristobal on Sat., Nov. 9 at Georgia Tech. Kickoff from Bobby Dodd Stadium is set for 12 p.m. on ESPN.

• Miami is off to a 9-0 start for the first time under Cristobal. Last time out, Miami put together a dominant second half to top Duke, 53-31.

• With three games remaining in the regular season, QB Cam Ward tied Miami’s single-season touchdown pass record (29) last week with five TDs vs. Duke.

• WR Xavier Restrepo took over first place in Miami’s all-time receiving yards list last time out in a win over the Blue Devils, passing Reggie Wayne (2,573).

• Miami is looking to start a season 10-0 for the first time since 2017, when it also started the season 10-0. The Hurricanes have not started 11-0 since the 2002 season as national runners-up (12-1 finish).

NOTABLE

• Miami is looking to continue its impressive 2024 campaign when it travels to play Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 9. The Hurricanes are looking to start 6-0 in ACC play for the first time since 2017, when it started 10-0 overall and 7-0 in ACC and finished with a 7-1 ACC record.

• Bolstered by the addition of several impressive newcomers and anchored by a talented group of returning veterans, Miami was ranked No. 19 in both preseason polls – and checked in at No. 4 in the LBM Coaches Poll and No. 4 in the Associated Press poll on Nov. 3.

• Among Miami’s top newcomers is QB Cam Ward, who was named ACC Preseason Player of the Year in a poll of media at the conference’s annual media day in Charlotte, N.C. Selected to nearly every major award watch list, Ward became the first quarterback in Hurricanes history throw for 300 yards in seven straight starts. He is considered a Heisman Trophy frontrunner.

THE MATCHUP

• #4/#4 Miami continues the 2024 season – its third under head coach Mario Cristobal – on Sat, Nov. 9 with its penultimate road contest of the season at Georgia Tech. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. from Bobby Dodd Stadium.

• The series is tied, 14-14, but the Hurricanes lost last year’s matchup, 23-20, at Hard Rock Stadium in 2023. Miami did top the Yellow Jackets, 35-14, in its last trip to Bobby Dodd Stadium in Year 1 under Cristobal in 2022.

• Miami is looking to start the season 10-0 for the first time under Cristobal and the first time since 2017 (10-0).

A LOOK BACK: HURRICANES BLAST PAST DEVILS

• The Miami Hurricanes used a dominant second half from both sides of the ball to cruise past Duke, 53-31, on Nov. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami remained undefeated at 9-0 and atop the ACC standings with a 5-0 mark.

• Miami outgained Duke, 198-51, in the fourth quarter and outscored the Blue Devils, 36-10, in the second half.

• With three regular season games remaining, QB Cam Ward managed to tie Miami’s single-season touchdown pass record set by Steve Walsh in 1988 (29) after throwing for five touchdowns in the win Saturday over Duke. Ward finished the game 25-for-41 with 400 passing yards, five scores and one interception.

• WR Xavier Restrepo was Ward’s favorite target on a historic day. Restrepo finished with a career-best three touchdown catches, moving into first place on Miami’s star-studded all-time receiving yards (2,573) with 146 on eight catches. He also moved into a first-place tie with Mike Harley for the most career receptions (182) at Miami.

• WR Jacolby George finished with four catches for 74 yards with a touchdown, while WR Isaiah Horton had six catches for 71 yards. RB Damien Martinez and RB Mark Fletcher, Jr. combined for 131 rushing yards.

• LB Francisco Mauigoa led Miami with nine tackles and added two tackles for loss. DB Jadais Richard, DB Meesh Powell & DB OJ Frederique finished with interceptions, and DL Booker Pickett had his first career sack.

MIAMI MOVES UP TO #4 IN BOTH MAJOR POLLS

• Following a 53-31 win over Duke last time out, Miami moved up to No. 4 in both the LBM Coaches Poll and Associated Press top 25 rankings released on Nov. 3. Miami had been No. 5 in both of last week’s polls.

• Following a 56-9 win over Florida A&M on Sept. 7, Miami cracked the AP top 10 for the first time since Dec. 6, 2020 (No. 9). Following Miami’s win over FSU on Oct. 26, UM cracked the AP top 5 for the first time since 2017.

• Bolstered by the addition of several impressive newcomers and anchored by a talented group of returning veterans, the Hurricanes were ranked in the top 25 of both preseason polls – checking in at No. 19 in both polls.

• Mario Cristobal’s highest-ranked team as head coach came in the final 2019 polls, when Oregon was No. 5/5.

• The Hurricanes were not ranked in the 2023 preseason polls, but were ranked in the 2022 preseason polls in Cristobal’s first year as head coach, checking in at No. 16 in that year’s coaches poll and No. 17 in the AP top 25.

• Miami spent four weeks in the top 25 of 2022 (preseason, Sept. 6, Sept. 11, Sept. 18 polls) and also cracked the top 25 rankings of both polls for four weeks in 2023 (Sept. 10, Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1). It has been in the rankings of both polls for the first four weeks of 2024.

RESTREPO MAKES HISTORY AS UM YARDS LEADER

• With an eight-catch, 146-yard performance last time out on Nov. 2, WR Xavier Restrepo passed Reggie Wayne (2,510) and Santana Moss (2,547) for the most receiving yards in Miami history. He now has 2,573 career yards.

• Restrepo, who is tied with Mike Harley for the most catches in UM history (182), has 11 career 100-yard games.

• With four catches in Miami’s win over Florida State on Oct. 26, Restrepo moved into second place in career catches, passing Reggie Wayne (173). He moved into a tie with Harley with eight catches last time out vs. Duke.

• With a six-catch, 99-yard performance vs. USF on Sept. 21, Restrepo became the 10th Hurricane in program history to eclipse 2,000 career receiving yards. Restrepo has more 100-yard games than any UM receiver ever.

• In 2024, Restrepo has soared past Mike Harley (No. 8), Leonard Hankerson (No. 7), Stacy Coley (No. 6), Lamar Thomas (No. 5), No. 4 Michael Irvin (2,423), No. 3 Reggie Wayne (2,510) and No. 2 Santana Moss (2,547).

• Earlier in October during Homecoming weekend, Restrepo was tapped into the Iron Arrow Honor Society – the highest achievable honor for a member of the University of Miami community.

EXCEPT FOR ONE: HEISMAN CANDIDATE CAM WARD

• Miami added one of the top quarterbacks in the country in the January transfer window, signing QB Cam Ward after two dominant years at Washington State. Ward, who began his career at FCS program Incarnate Word in 2020, started all 25 games of his Washington State career across 2022 and 2023. He finished his time at Wazzu with 6,963 passing yards and 48 passing touchdowns compared to 16 interceptions, and also added 13 rushing touchdowns in his two years with the Cougars. He is now among the favorites to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy.

• At the FBS level, Ward has 19 career performances of 300-or-more passing yards (including seven straight to start this season, the first UM quarterback to ever have seven consecutive 300-yard games). 19 is fourth-most among active FBS players, trailing only Dillon Gabriel (25), Will Rogers (23) and Seth Henigan (22).

• Ward threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns vs. Duke last time out. Ward (29) is now tied for the most passing touchdowns in a season at Miami, matching Steve Walsh (1988). A fifth-year senior, Ward (17,022) moved past Landry Fields (16,646) for fifth on the NCAA’s all-time, all-division passing yards list last time out vs. Duke.

• In a win over USF on Sept. 21, Ward became the 13th player to surpass 15,000 career passing yards in college. He became the first ACC player since Miami joined (2004) with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in each of their first five games and the first Miami quarterback to ever do so. Miami’s offense is No. 1 in FBS.

• Ward’s 1,035 yards through the air in his first three games were the second-most in program history over a three game start to the season, trailing only Craig Erickson’s 1,126 in 1990. He passed Gino Torretta’s 1991 start (989) with 346 in a 62-0 win over Ball State. Ward exited the first four games early with UM sporting substantial leads.

• In his first start as a Hurricane, Ward threw for 385 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 26-for-35 passing in a road win over Florida. The 385 yards were the most by a Hurricane quarterback in the first start of his Miami career in the modern era of Hurricanes Football (since 1979). He added 33 rushing yards on three carries.

• He was the first Miami quarterback to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns in a season opener since Ken Dorsey did so at Penn State in 2001. Ward was named ACC Quarterback of the Week and Maxwell Award National Player of the Week for his performance against the Gators. He was also named Davey O’Brien Quarterback of the Week, a member of the Davey O’Brien Award “Great Eight” and a Manning Award Star of the Week.

• He passed for 2,260 yards and an FCS-leading 24 touchdowns against four interceptions with two rushing touchdowns in six games during the shortened 2020–21 FCS season, which was played in spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He won the Jerry Rice Award as the most outstanding freshman in Division I FCS.

• Ward was named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year in a poll of conference media at the league’s annual “ACC Kickoff” event in Charlotte. Before transferring to Washington State, Ward was named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year in his final year at UIW (2021), totaling 4,648 passing yards and 47 touchdowns.

UM STARTS 9-0 FOR 2ND TIME SINCE JOINING ACC

• With a 52-31 victory over Duke last time out, the Hurricanes improved to 9-0 to start the season for only the second time since joining the ACC prior to 2004 and first time since 2017, when Miami started the year 10-0.

OFFENSE RANKS #1 IN EXPLOSIVES, 500+ GAMES

• Miami is ranked No. 1 in FBS in plays of 20-or-more yards (74) and No. 1 in plays of 10-or-more yards (185). Of the 74 plays of 20-or-more yards, 59 are passing – most in FBS. Of the 185 plays of 10-or-more yards, 130 are passing. The Canes had only 48 passing plays of 20-or-more yards and 129 of 10-or-more pass yards in 2023.

• Miami is No. 1 in FBS in games of 500-or-more yards (8), ahead of North Texas (6), Clemson (5) & Ole Miss (5).

GUIDRY’S CAUSING MAYHEM IN YEAR 2 AT MIAMI

• Entering Week 11, the Hurricanes rank No. 12 in the nation in “defensive mayhem” – plays on defense featuring a a tackle for loss, an interception or a gained fumble. Miami has a 13.84% mayhem rate on defense; the Hurricanes have racked up a 7.99% sack rate, a 11.11% tackle-for-loss rate and a 4.18% interception rate in their 9-0 start.

• UM ranks No. 11 in FBS in team sacks (3.00), No. 21 in tackles for loss (6.8) & No. 7 in passes intercepted (13).

MACKEY CANDIDATE ARROYO, TE GROUP SHINING

• A season after the entire group finished with 154 receiving yards and one touchdown in 2023, Miami’s tight ends have emerged as go-to options for QB Cam Ward in 2024. In the season opener vs. Florida, Elijah Arroyo had a career-best 89 yards on four catches, Cam McCormick opened the game’s scoring with his first touchdown as a Hurricane, and freshman Elija Lofton had two catches for 38 yards vs. the host Gators in a lopsided win.

• Through nine games, Miami’s tight ends have totaled 597 yards on 36 catches with eight touchdown catches. Last time out, Arroyo threw the first touchdown pass of his career on a trick play to Ward. Arroyo ranks fifth on Miami with 17 catches for 321 yards with four touchdowns, which is tied for third-most touchdowns on Miami.

OFFENSE HAS FEWEST “3-&-OUTs” IN ALL OF FBS

• Against FBS competition, Miami’s offense has gone three-and-out on just 5.26% of drives this season, which ranks as the best mark in the country. Only three teams in the nation have a three-and-out percentage of less than 10% on offense – No. 1 Miami (5.26), No. 2 LSU (8.54) and No. 3 Illinois (9.76%).

MIAMI LEADS FBS IN TOTAL OFFENSE, TOP 20 IN D

• Miami is one of just six teams to rank in the top 20 of both total offense (#1) and total defense (#19) entering Week 11 of college football. The Canes rank first in the ACC in both categories – total offense and total defense.

CONTROLLING THE CLOCK: CANES IN TOP 5 IN FBS

• While Miami’s offense has been among the most prolific in the country through the first nine games of the season, the Hurricanes have also methodically controlled the clock this year. Miami is one of just four teams whose average time of possession is more than 34 minutes per game – 34:02, the third-highest mark in all of FBS. Team Average TOP 1) Oregon State 34:31 2) Tulane 34:21 3) Miami 34:02 4) Army 34:01 5) Syracuse 33:46

• The Hurricanes average more than 11 more offensive plays per game than their opponents (72.22 / 61.0).

UM RANKS AMONG BEST IN FBS IN “MIDDLE EIGHT”

• In the “middle eight” rankings – which tracks the scoring in the final four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half, considered a critical juncture – UM was No. 16 under Mario Cristobal in 2022-2023.

• The Hurricanes have remained strong this year; Miami is ranked No. 29 in FBS in middle eight this year (+2.6). From 2014-2019, teams that won the “middle eight” minutes of the game at the FBS level won 74% of the time.

50-BURGER: CANES MAKE IT FIVE GAMES OF 50+

• Miami scored 50 points for the third straight game on Sept. 21, topping USF 50-15. The last time Miami had a season featuring three offensive outputs of at least 50 points was 2001 – when it won the national title. Miami had never scored 50 points in three consecutive games prior to this season. UM is No. 1 in FBS in scoring offense.

• The Hurricanes eclipsed the 50 point mark for the fourth time at Louisville – the first year Miami has ever posted four game performances in a single season in Miami history. They made it five games with a 52-31 win over Duke.