The Miami Hurricanes will take the field against the Florida State Seminoles, another extraordinary in-state rival. This will be the first time this season that the South Florida program will play on the road. This could be a season-defining matchup for both sides.
Here are some takeaways for tonight's exciting Florida Rivalry.
Hurricanes; establish the run game:
The Hurricanes were able to pull through with a victory against the Florida Gators in week four, despite a sloppy performance by quarterback Carson Beck. The main reason was the running game by Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar Brown. They rushed for a combined 42 times for 249 yards, and scored all of the team's touchdowns.
The Seminoles are coming off an upsetting loss against the Virginia Cavaliers, who ran them over. They rushed 36 times between J'Mari Taylor and Xavier Brown, who combined for 190 yards, and each scored a touchdown.
The Hurricanes can open an old wound and cause the same bleeding to the Seminoles.
Hurricanes; protect the quarterback:
One of the main contributors to the Hurricanes' success so far this season is the high-quality protection provided by the offensive linemen. Beck has only been sacked three times and has performed excellently in operating from the pocket.
The Seminoles have a total of 10 sacks so far this season. In each game, they've generated multiple. This will be a similar test for the Hurricanes' offensive line as when they faced the Gators, whose defense was able to cause some chaos, especially in the third quarter.
If the Hurricanes want to generate clean offense and open up the field, then protecting Beck and having the time to operate will be crucial.
Hurricanes; stay locked in defensively:
The Hurricanes not only have the ability to score in different ways, but can wreak havoc defensively. They also have 10 sacks on the season, but have also done an excellent job in pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
The Hurricanes are among the best at stopping the run, currently eighth in rushing yards allowed per game, 76.25. They're also fifth in touchdowns allowed, only five.
Finally for the Hurricanes; end the Tallahassee drought:
The Hurricanes haven't won on the Seminoles' home field since the 2019 season. The program has traveled to Tallahassee twice since then and lost both matchups.
It would be another establishing victory for the Hurricanes if they manage to come out on top. The team would rise in the AP polls, and depending on Beck's performance, he could make up ground in the Heisman Trophy race.
How to watch:
Tonight's game will air on ABC at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.