The Miami Hurricanes' potent running back trio unleashes a ground attack the Indiana Hoosiers haven't faced, promising a decisive edge in the championship.
There's an aspect to the Miami Hurricanes that could be the biggest difference-maker in the National Championship against the Indiana Hoosiers. It's what has been their best quality all year, the run game. The team has an outstanding running back rotation with junior Mark Fletcher Jr., redshirt sophomore CharMar Brown, and freshman Girard Pringle Jr. They've been key for the Hurricanes up to this point in the College Football Playoffs and that trend is likely to continue.
Each of them is unlike any running back the Hoosiers have faced.
Fletcher Jr. finished the regular season with outstanding numbers, rushing 141 times for 685 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns in 10 regular-season games. Fast forward to when the Hurricanes faced the Texas A&M Aggies in the first round, the offense struggled, battling a tough opponent, a hostile environment with the infamous "12th man", and windy outdoor conditions. However, Fletcher Jr. carried the program on his shoulders and legs, rushing 17 times for 172 yards, which set a new College Football Playoff record in the first round, and 10.1 yards per carry.
The Miami native continued leaving a tremendous impact in the following matchups, against the Ohio State Buckeyes and Ole Miss Rebels, rushing 41 times for 223 yards. The 21-year-old has converted on multiple critical and explosive plays, setting the Hurricanes' offense up for success. However, it's not only Fletcher Jr. running the ball with strength and speed.
Brown saw limited time on the football field towards the end of the regular season, even during the four-game winning streak finale, which helped the Hurricanes crack the 12-team bracket in the first place. However, instead of taking the easy route and entering the transfer portal, the 20-year-old waited for his opportunity and made the most of it.
In the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals against the Buckeyes, Brown rushed five times for 26 yards, including the dagger touchdown for the Hurricanes to secure the victory, with a final score of 24-14. It's a perfect example of staying ready until it's your time to shine. Brown followed up with another strong performance against the Rebels, rushing 14 times for 54 yards and scoring a touchdown.
Pringle Jr. has barely stepped on the field in the College Football Playoffs, but has proven to be effective when called upon. He rushed 48 times for 302 yards and scored a touchdown during the Hurricanes' four-game winning streak to close the regular season.
The Hoosiers haven't faced an opponent who can run the ball as effectively. The Alabama Crimson Tide was among the worst in the nation. They averaged 126.2 rushing yards throughout 12 regular-season games, which ranked among the bottom half of the Football Bowl Subdivision, and averaged 3.7 yards per carry.
In the Crimson Tide's quarterfinal matchup against the Hoosiers, the team rushed 17 times for 23 yards, averaging 1.4 yards per carry, their worst statistics of the year. Then, in the following round, the Oregon Ducks essentially had no run game to show on the field, with Jay Harris, Jayden Limar, and Makhi Hughes entering the transfer portal before the matchup.
Although Harris played, it wasn't enough to overcome the lack of depth. They attempted to address the issue by moving two defensive players to running back: safety Kilohan Haasenritter and linebacker Brayden Pitt. Instead, the Ducks relied on freshman Dierre Hill Jr. backing up Harris.
The Ducks rushed 26 times for 93 yards, averaging 3.6 yards per carry in the semifinals, a devastating performance without having the personnel.
Granted, the Hoosiers do have one of the best running defenses in the nation, but the same was said about the Buckeyes, and the Hurricanes ran through them. Fletcher Jr., Brown, and Pringle Jr. may be the deciding factors in whether the program adds a sixth National Championship to its history.
It's going to be an excellent showdown with the stage set at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Monday night, Jan. 19th, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN.
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