A week without Miami Hurricanes football can be difficult, especially after their tremendous success thus far in the season. However, having a bye gives the team the advantage of resting, healing up any minor injuries, and preparing for the next game with extra film studies and practice sessions.
The last time the Hurricanes were on the field, they were coming off a gutsy victory over the Florida Gators, with a final score of 26-7, on College Gameday. Despite a defective performance by quarterback Carson Beck, the team was able to survive thanks to their defense and excellent run game.
Also, after their in-state matchup, the Hurricanes jumped to second in the AP poll rankings, the highest since 2017.
However, without college football in South Florida, the rest of the games would determine the shift of the latest AP poll rankings.
The biggest matchup was the sixth-ranked Oregon Ducks and the third-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. There is nothing better than a couple of top-10 teams going head-to-head.
The Ducks managed to hold off from the Nittany Lions' late comeback efforts to pull through with a victory, with a final score of 30-24 after double overtime. It pushed the Northwestern program up to second in the latest AP polls, dropping the Hurricanes to third.
It's not drastic, but the Hurricanes have a tremendous opportunity to make up ground this Saturday against the Florida State Seminoles. Another excellent in-state matchup, giving the team the path to claim itself as the ruler of the state.
The Seminoles are coming off an upsetting loss against the Virginia Cavaliers, with a final score of 46-38, which also went to double overtime. The game went down similarly to the Ducks-Lions game.
The Hurricanes proved against the Gators that they can win games even when things are not going their way. They have one of the best defenses in the nation, along with an offense that can score in multiple ways and explode the scoreboard.
If the Hurricanes manage to take care of business against the Seminoles, especially in dominant fashion, they could find themselves back as the second-ranked team in the nation.
The Ducks enter their bye week with a 5-0 record and have been ranked in the top-10 after each game. They will face the Indiana Hoosiers, currently ranked eighth in the AP polls, the following Saturday.
The Hurricanes control their own destiny as they partake in their first road game of the season in Tallahassee.