For the third consecutive week, the Miami Hurricanes offense kept the team at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.
With a 52-45 road win over the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday afternoon, Miami moved to 3-0 in ACC play and 7-0 overall. Entering the game ranked sixth in the country in the latest Associated Press poll, the Hurricanes have now averaged 43.0 points over their last three contests. Every one of those points has been needed, however, as Miami's opponents have averaged 39.0 points over that same span.
Miami's 38 points posted in a tight 38-34 win over Virginia Tech on Sept. 27 is a season-low, showing just how potent the Hurricanes have been this season. Paced by quarterback Cam Ward, continuing to play his way into the conversation for the Heisman Trophy with his 20 touchdown passes on the year, the explosive potential of Miami's offense is expected to make the Hurricanes a favorite in every remaining regular-season game.
Ward went 21-of-32 with 319 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday in Louisville, pacing the Miami offense. However, it was the power running of Damien Martinez that provided what would eventually be the winning points, carrying Louisville defenders into the end zone at the end of a 30-yard run with 4:05 left in the contest.
#6 for 6
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) October 19, 2024
: ABC#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/ETsVfYNLeb
That run came after Louisville returned what was ruled on the field to be a Ward fumble for a touchdown to pull within 45-44. However, replay officials overturned the call, ruling it an incomplete pass and wiping out the Louisville defensive touchdown.
Entering this week, Miami joined Clemson as an ACC powerhouse ranked in the top 10 (with the Tigers coming in at No. 10). The two schools are not scheduled to meet in the regular season and could well be on a collision path to meet in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte. According to the odds at BetMGM as of Saturday, the schools are both listed at +150 to win the conference title.
If the Hurricanes do indeed reach the title game, it will be thanks in large part to an offense that is averaging 48.3 points per contest. With that firepower in place and Ward behind center, Miami can be a force to be reckoned with in their final five regular-season games and beyond.
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