The annual clash between Florida State and Miami doesn’t have the national impact it once had, but nobody at either school is downplaying the importance of Saturday’s game between the two rivals.
“This is a huge deal,” FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel said. “Even if both of us were 0-and-whatever, I think this would still be a big game because it’s always a huge rivalry.”
The Seminoles (6-3, 4-2 ACC) have won seven of the past nine games against the Hurricanes (5-4, 3-3) and have appeared to turn their season around with a four-game winning streak in which they’ve outscored their opponents 154-39.
Miami has won three of its past four games, but has been inconsistent on offense and defense, especially in a 28-21 home loss to Virginia on Oct. 27, in which they rushed for only 85 yards. That’s despite the fact that running back Lamar Miller, who has 1,016 yards rushing, is the first Hurricane to top the 1,000-yard mark since Willis McGahee in 2002.
He might not find many holes against Florida State, which has allowed only 78.9 yards per game and is tied with Stanford for third in the country behind Alabama and LSU.
Defensive tackles Cameron Erving (Colquitt County), Anthony McCloud (Thomas County Central), Everett Dawkins and Timmy Jernigan, and ends Bjoern Werner, Brandon Jenkins and Cornelius Carradine have helped hold opponents to 2.2 yards per carry this season.
McCloud was the ACC defensive lineman of the week with five tackles, one for loss and a forced fumble against Boston College.
In focus
Mike London, who led Richmond to the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) national championship in 2008, has Virginia on the rise in only his second season.
The Cavaliers (6-3, 3-2) have won four of their past five games to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 and defeated Maryland on Saturday to end a 13-game November losing streak that started four years ago.
“The sky’s the limit for us,” safety Rodney McLeod, who had three interceptions against the Terrapins, told the Charlottesville (Va.) Daily Progress. “It’s just about how we play each and every week. It’s all about preparation throughout the week.”
The Cavaliers can still win the Coastal Division, but Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech are ahead of them, and they finish the season with games at Florida State and against the Hokies. Virginia hasn’t defeated the Seminoles since 2005 and Virginia Tech since 2003.
That’s looking too far ahead, though.
The Cavaliers play Duke on Saturday. They have lost three consecutive to the Blue Devils.
“This team has changed its mentality,” quarterback Michael Rocco told the paper. “We call it a fighter’s mentality, a winning mentality.”
Burning question
Can Clemson bounce back from its loss at Georgia Tech?
The ninth-ranked Tigers were off Saturday and say they’re ready to handle the final stretch, which includes games against Wake Forest and at North Carolina State and South Carolina.
The Tigers can clinch the Atlantic Division title with a victory over the Demon Deacons.
“This is the biggest game of the year. It’s the only game we can control at this point,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “We have a chance to play for the division title, and that’s the goal we’ve been working toward. It’s our next goal.”
Running back Andre Ellington likely will return after missing the loss with a left ankle sprain, and Swinney has vowed to cut out the turnovers that destroyed their chances against Tech.
“We have to take care of the ball,” he said. “In our last outing, we did a poor job of that. We have to get back to doing what we do. Tempo is something that we have to use. We have to finish. We’ve had a good year, but if we’re going to have a great year, we have to finish.”
Etc.
Cornerback Rashard Smith (Dublin) had three tackles, end Art Norman (Chamblee) and linebacker Michael Peek (Grayson) had two each, and tackle T.Y. McGill (Wayne County) and safety Dean Haynes (Northwest Whitfield) added a tackle each in North Carolina State’s 13-0 victory over North Carolina. ... Virginia freshman linebacker D.J. Hill (Newton) has played in seven games, but doesn’t have a tackle. ... Clemson’s Sammy Watkins needs 113 yards to break the school’s single-season receiving record held by Rod Gardner, who had 1,084 yards in 1999.
Quotable
“When you’re installing a program, there’s more than just wins and losses. I just feel it’s the total program that we’re installing, that just has to be developed. We’re winning in a lot of areas. We’re just not winning on the field right now, but that’ll happen. I’m confident of that.” — Maryland coach Randy Edsall on the Terrapins’ struggles this season
“I don’t know about intimidation. This team doesn’t really get too intimidated by anything. It’s definitely going to be eye-opening for the freshmen and sophomores [who] haven’t been there before. ” — Wake Forest linebacker Scott Betros on playing at Clemson
By the numbers
5 North Carolina State's victories against North Carolina the past five years after its 13-0 victory Saturday.
30 Florida State has played in a bowl game for 29 consecutive years and is bowl eligible this season to extend the nation's longest streak.
Schedule
Today
Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday
Wake Forest at Clemson, noon (ESPNU)
North Carolina State at Boston College, 12:30 p.m. (WUPA)
Duke at Virginia, 3 p.m. (FSSO)
Miami at Florida State, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Maryland vs. Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)*
* at Landover, Md.
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