Miami just dropped a 77-7 bomb on Florida A&M Thursday night, smashing an ACC record with 856 total yards. Yeah, you read that right: 856 yards, even with the fourth quarter cut short to just ten minutes. This wasn’t just a win; it was a pure, unadulterated dismantling that makes you wonder why these Power Four vs. FCS games are even a thing in the player compensation era.
A 70-Point Game of Unfairness
The Hurricanes, ranked No. 7, were 59.5-point favorites, and boy, did they cover. They tied a school record for points, set a new school record with 42 first downs, and faced only three third downs the entire game. Florida A&M, on the other hand, ended up with a measly four first downs, marking the first time in the modern era an FBS team has finished with a first down advantage of 40-5 or better. Their only touchdown? A 72-yard fumble return with 6:40 left, just as Miami was about to hit 80-plus points. It’s hard not to feel for the Rattlers, who got a $720,000 check for showing up. They were coming off just three days’ rest after a loss to South Carolina State, and they went into this game without their top quarterback and starting center due to injuries. Talk about being set up for failure.
The Awkward Ending Nobody Saw Coming
Even with the game so utterly out of hand, Miami didn’t let up. With a 77-7 lead, less than a minute left, and the ball near midfield, the Hurricanes refused to take a knee. Instead, third-string quarterback Dereon Coleman handed off to reserve back Jack Whitehouse twice, gaining 26 more yards and shattering the previous ACC total yardage record of 845, set by Louisville in 2016. First-year Florida A&M coach Quinn Gray clearly had enough, calling a timeout with 14 seconds left in apparent frustration. But even after that, Miami still wouldn’t take a knee, with Whitehouse running for another 10 yards. The whole thing capped off with what looked like a terse postgame exchange between Gray and Miami coach Mario Cristobal. It felt less like a competitive game and more like a glorified scrimmage.
So, what did Miami gain from all this? Cristobal reportedly explained the “apparent value” afterward. Whatever that value is, Miami’s now rolling into their ACC opener at Wake Forest next Friday. The question is, does a beatdown like this actually prepare you for conference play, or does it just leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth?
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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