The No. 2 Miami Hurricanes faced a disappointing defeat against the Louisville Cardinals on Friday night, ending the game with a score of 24-21. With this loss, Miami's record now stands at 5-1 overall and 1-1 in their conference play. The Hurricanes never managed to secure a lead during the match as the Cardinals surged ahead with an impressive 14-0 advantage in the first quarter and maintained control throughout the contest.
Miami's offense struggled significantly, with quarterback Carson Beck throwing four interceptions, which severely undermined their efforts. The team also incurred several untimely penalties that disrupted their offensive rhythm, making it difficult to establish a consistent attack. Despite these setbacks, the Hurricanes' defense performed adequately enough to win; however, they struggled to contain the run and allowed two explosive touchdown receptions to Louisville’s standout wide receiver, Chris Bell, who scored from 35 and 36 yards out.
In terms of overall yardage, the Hurricanes managed to gain 334 yards while the Cardinals recorded 367 yards. Miami averaged 5.7 yards per play, slightly edging out Louisville’s 5.4 yards per play. On third downs, both teams had comparable success, with Louisville converting 5-of-14 opportunities and Miami converting 5-of-12. Although the game appeared close on paper, the turnovers were a decisive factor, allowing Louisville to control the pace of the game, except for a late surge by the Hurricanes.
As the game neared its conclusion, Miami pushed into the red zone, positioning themselves for a potential game-tying field goal. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, Beck’s fourth interception ended their hopes of a comeback. While Louisville did not capitalize on Miami’s turnovers, the disruption they caused prevented the Hurricanes from gaining any real momentum.
Despite the loss, several Miami players stood out during the game. Below is a detailed look at the top ten player grades from the match, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Note: Players must have participated in a minimum of 20 snaps to qualify for this list.
Frederique played 47 snaps, recording three tackles and three pass break-ups while primarily covering Louisville's Chris Bell. He faced nine targets, allowing five receptions for 76 yards, including one touchdown.
Cooper took part in 63 snaps, allowing just one pressure. He received a pass-blocking grade of 60.9 and a run-blocking grade of 64.0, maintaining discipline by avoiding penalties.
Daniels caught 7-of-12 targets for 74 yards over 61 snaps. He was effective in the intermediate game, particularly on passes traveling 10-19 yards past the line of scrimmage.
With 22 snaps, Aguirre recorded one tackle and was notable for not missing any tackles. He achieved a tackling grade of 76.1 and a run defense grade of 73.7.
Brown had a modest outing with three carries for nine yards and one reception for five yards across 21 snaps, averaging 3.33 yards per carry after contact.
Bain led the defense in snaps with 68, finishing with one tackle, two pressures, and two missed tackles. His overall tracking grade was 29.3, with a pass rush grade of 75.5.
Toney had a standout performance, catching 9-of-11 targets for 135 yards and scoring a touchdown. He also made a two-point conversion and excelled with 100 yards after the catch.
Scott was a defensive standout with nine tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble over 66 snaps. He led the team in pressures and missed tackles.
Mauigoa excelled in his 63 snaps, achieving a pass-blocking grade of 74.1 and a run-blocking grade of 83.6, despite allowing one quarterback pressure and incurring a penalty.
Moten finished with three tackles and one tackle for loss across 51 snaps, earning three quarterback pressures. His run defense grade was 72.0, contributing significantly to the Hurricanes’ efforts.
As the Hurricanes regroup from this tough loss, fans will be looking forward to seeing how the team bounces back in their upcoming games.
