Miami is off to its best start in nine years, but poll voters aren’t yet completely sold on the Hurricanes.
After another blowout victory, this time a 49-21 win at USF, Miami (4-0) moved up one spot to No. 14 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches’ polls released Sunday.
UM’s resume includes three wins over less-than-sturdy competition. Miami beat FAU, USF and Savannah State, an FCS team, by a combined 160-37. The Hurricanes’ most impressive win was a 21-16 victory over then-No. 12 Florida on Sept. 7.
Beating their next opponent, visiting Georgia Tech, would likely boost the ’Canes in the polls. The ACC announced that the game, which is the first conference matchup for Miami, will kick off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday and be televised on ESPNU.
The Yellow Jackets (3-1, 2-1 ACC) are coming off their first loss, 17-10 to Virginia Tech on Thursday night, but are strong contenders in the ACC Coastal. In addition to their trademark triple-option offense, which has averaged more than 30 points per game in each of coach Paul Johnson’s five seasons, they are ranked ninth in the nation in total defense (275.5 ypg). After finishing fifth worst in that category last year, Miami is 10th (283.5 ypg).
If the defenses play anywhere close to their best, it will be a much different game than last year. Last Sept. 22 in Atlanta, Stephen Morris threw for 436 yards and two TDs to help Miami win 42-36 in overtime. UM was up 19-0 before surrendering 36 points in a row to Georgia Tech. UM scored the final 23, earning its fourth straight win over the Jackets.
“They had a lot of explosive plays against us last year,” Miami coach Al Golden said. “We were fortunate to win.”
On Sunday, Golden said his team emerged from its game against USF “pretty clean” in the health department, aside from running back Eduardo Clements, who suffered a hamstring injury, and linebacker Jermaine Grace (oblique).
Golden said center Shane McDermott (foot) was available but wasn’t needed against USF. He added that Morris, who played through a bruised ankle against USF and left in the first half, looked fine Sunday.
After four weeks in a row of sliding in the rankings, the Florida Gators finally moved up in the AP poll. They jumped from No. 20 to 18 by winning 24-7 at Kentucky.
New starting quarterback Tyler Murphy completed 15 of 18 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 41 yards and a TD. His only major mistake was an interception in the third quarter. The victory was UF’s 27th straight over Kentucky, extending the nation’s longest active winning streak against one opponent in an annual series.
The Gators (3-1, 2-0 SEC) have had a solid run against the next team on the schedule, too. Arkansas (3-2, 0-1) beat Florida when they met for the first time in 1982 but has lost eight straight times. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
Florida State remained at No. 8 in both polls after quarterback Jameis Winston passed for 330 yards and four TDs to lead a 48-34 win at Boston College. The Seminoles will host No. 25 Maryland (4-0), which on Sunday made the AP poll for the first time since 2008, at noon Saturday. The game will be shown on ESPN.
Also this past weekend, Florida Atlantic fell to 1-4 and 0-3 in Conference USA with an 18-14 loss at Rice late Saturday night. FAU went up 14-6 with six minutes to go, but Rice scored two touchdowns in less than a minute to steal a win.
