Saturday night, one of college football’s greatest rivalries explodes at Hard Rock Stadium, but it’s more than just an October clash this time. We’re talking about No. 3 Miami, coming off a national runner-up season, taking on a floundering Florida State squad, and the stakes could not be higher for a certain Hurricanes quarterback.
Miami Is Rolling, FSU’s Coach Is On The Brink
Miami has been on an absolute tear, establishing themselves as the heavy favorite to win the ACC this season. They’ve been “rock stars” in the ACC and the sport as a whole, just crushing teams with “eye-popping scores and stat-stuffing performances.” Seriously, their momentum from last season’s College Football Playoff run is undeniable. Hard Rock Stadium has become an impenetrable fortress for them, too, with Miami boasting an insane 15-1 home record since the start of the 2024 season. Remember that 36-14 beatdown they laid on the Seminoles two years ago? Yeah, that was at home. Coach Mario Cristobal is looking to make it three straight wins in this rivalry, a huge statement for the program.
Meanwhile, things are looking grim for Florida State. Coach Mike Norvell is facing serious job pressure, and if they lose this one, the Seminoles fall to a dismal 3-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play. Yikes. While Norvell had some crucial wins against Miami back in 2021, 2022, and 2023 that built to his ACC Championship run, those days feel like a distant memory. This team is clearly “struggling against top teams,” and now they face arguably the “most potent national title contender” in the league. It’s not looking good, folks.
The Heisman Race Just Got Real For Darian Mensah
Alright, let’s talk about Miami’s quarterback, Darian Mensah. This dude has been playing at an elite level all season, absolutely balling out. But with so many lopsided wins and predicted blowouts, he hasn’t had the kind of national spotlight that Hard Rock Stadium is gonna provide on Saturday night. This iconic rivalry game is going to bring all the Heisman Trophy voters’ attention directly to him.
And Mensah is ready for it. He’s one of only two FBS quarterbacks with 15-plus passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. Let that sink in: zero picks! On top of that, he’s got the best completion percentage in all of FBS at an unbelievable 84.2%, and his passer rating is a ridiculous 212.2. These are video game numbers, plain and simple. Mensah still has a tough road trip to Notre Dame and other opportunities to shine, but this Saturday night could be the moment. This is the “launching point” for him to truly push Jeremiah Smith in the Heisman conversation. Don’t miss this, because Mensah is about to make a huge statement.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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