The Miami Hurricanes drop significantly in the latest AP polls after suffering a heartbreaking loss against the SMU Mustangs.
The Miami Hurricanes started the season on a great note, but the last few weeks have been a complete disaster. First, it was a loss against the Louisville Cardinals. They were behind the entire game, but sparked a late comeback in the fourth quarter. However, it ended with an interception on the final drive for the Hurricanes, suffering its first loss of the season.
The team bounced back against the Stanford Cardinal the following week, but then faced a tougher task with the SMU Mustangs. It would be the Hurricanes' second road game, but their first outside the state of Florida.
The game finished in nearly the exact fashion as against Louisville. In overtime, after making it all the way down the field, the drive ended with an interception. Then, SMU scored to win the game, with a final score of 26-20.
The Hurricanes drop another important game against an ACC opponent, which ruins their chances of competing for a conference title and a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
It also hurts them in the latest AP Polls, in which they've dropped from 10th to 18th. After riding the highest of highs, especially between weeks five and eight, they're going through a humbling experience.
The Hurricanes could have gone undefeated for the first time since 2001, but instead, failed to take care of business against Louisville and SMU. The rest of the schedule consists of unranked ACC opponents, but at this point, even if they win out, there is no guarantee the team climbs out of the current hole they're in.
Both losses were self-inflicted. In the game against Louisville, Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck threw four interceptions. They still had a chance to win the game, but a crucial turnover in the final drive ruined a potential comeback in the fourth quarter. Then, against SMU, penalties were the biggest killer. The Hurricanes had 12 called on them for a loss of 96 yards. A few of them were questionable.
"Obviously, a lot of self-inflicted issues for us," Mario Cristobal said postgame. "At the end, just didn't have enough to overcome it. We always play hard until the end, but a lot of penalties, it's on all of us."
The Hurricanes will face the Syracuse Orange on Saturday at home at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. In the remaining four games of the season, two are at home and two are outside the state of Florida.
The pressure only rises and time will tell how they respond.