In an electrifying matchup on Sunday night, the Miami Hurricanes secured a narrow 27-24 victory against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Following the game, we delve into the snap counts and Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades by position, revealing insights into player performances that contributed to this hard-fought win.
The standout player at quarterback was Carson Beck, who received a PFF grade placing him fourth among all Hurricanes offensive players. Beck's accuracy on deep passes was notable; he completed 2 out of 6 attempts for 48 yards, achieving two touchdowns without any interceptions. Since the beginning of last season, Beck has thrown a remarkable 13 touchdowns on passes of at least 20 air yards, ranking him in the top 10 nationally during that timeframe. This season, he has significantly improved from last year’s 37 percent completion rate on deep throws, showcasing his growth as a quarterback.
The Hurricanes utilized a rotation in their backfield, with Mark Fletcher Jr. leading the way with 33 offensive snaps. CharMar Brown followed closely with 27 snaps, while Jordan Lyle contributed 10 snaps before leaving with an injury but was later cleared to return. In the PFF rankings, Fletcher was rated 8th, Lyle 10th, and Brown 17th among the 23 offensive players who participated in the game.
The Miami Hurricanes showcased a deep roster of talented wide receivers. CJ Daniels led the group with 58 snaps, highlighted by a spectacular leaping 20-yard touchdown catch just before halftime. Keelan Marion played 55 snaps, while Malachi Toney had 49 snaps and scored a touchdown in his first college game. The PFF rankings placed Toney first among all offensive players, followed by Daniels in third and Marion at 22nd out of 23, demonstrating the competitive nature of the receiver position.
The offensive line played a crucial role in the Hurricanes' success, with tackles Markel Bell and Francis Mauigoa logging all 70 snaps, along with center James Brockermeyer and right guard Anez Cooper. At left guard, Michael McCoy contributed 40 snaps. PFF graded Mauigoa as the second-best player on offense, with Brockermeyer, Cooper, and McCoy also receiving high marks for their performance in both pass protection and run blocking.
Elija Lofton played 43 snaps, earning a PFF rating of 18th among the 23 offensive players. Newcomer Alex Bauman, a transfer from Tulane, took 38 snaps, ranking 20th in the PFF evaluations. Notably, freshmen Brock Schott and Luka Gilbert did not see any offensive action during the game.
The defensive line was anchored by Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, each playing 48 of the 60 defensive snaps. Both were rated as UM’s top players on defense, with Bain also earning the title of best run defender. At defensive tackle, David Blay Jr., Ahmed Moten, and Justin Scott contributed significantly, with Scott achieving a sixth-place PFF rating among the defensive players.
New inside linebacker Mohamed Toure saw action in 41 defensive snaps and faced challenges in coverage, allowing four of six passes in his area to be completed for a total of 87 yards. Despite this, PFF rated him as the second-best run defender on the team. Fellow linebackers Wesley Bissainthe and Raul Aguirre also contributed, with Bissainthe rated sixth among the 22 defenders.
In the secondary, Zechariah Poyser played 56 snaps while Jakobe Thomas was on the field for 50 snaps. PFF rated Thomas 14th and Poyser 20th among the 22 defensive players. In the cornerback position, Keionte Scott was impressive, participating in 59 snaps and earning a high PFF rating. His performance included allowing only one completion for 12 yards, demonstrating his effectiveness in coverage.
This comprehensive analysis of snap counts and PFF grades provides a detailed look at how the Miami Hurricanes performed in their thrilling victory against Notre Dame. The insights highlight the contributions of key players across all positions, setting the stage for future matchups in the season.
