The Miami Hurricanes are getting banged up at the worst possible time.
The Miami Hurricanes have reached a critical point in the college football season. As they prepare to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack this Saturday for their final game, followed by two games on the road, the team needs to play with a sense of urgency.
In all sports, the unknown can be exciting or anxious.
In the Hurricanes' case, a spot in the College Football Playoffs, along with a chance to compete for an ACC title, is up in the air. They do not control their own destiny, especially after two critical losses against the Louisville Cardinals and SMU Mustangs, both unranked ACC opponents, which is also the rest of the schedule.
However, upsets are possible, which is what the Hurricanes need to avoid in order to achieve aspirations from the beginning of the season.
The matchup against the Wolfpack won't come easy, especially with a few notable players down.
Senior running back Mark Fletcher Jr. is expected to miss his second straight game due to injury, which first occurred in the Mustangs' matchup when he exited the game early.
However, another severe update recently broke news, but on the defensive side.
It's been reported that senior star cornerback Keionte Scott is expected to miss this week's game against the Wolfpack due to a lower extremity injury, which was sustained in last Saturday's matchup against the Syracuse Orange.
Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) on X
Miami star cornerback Keionte Scott is set to miss the No. 15 Hurricanes’ game against NC State on Saturday due to a lower extremity injury he suffered last week vs. Syracuse, sources tell @CBSSports.
His status for moving forward into the rest of the season is TBD.
It's a huge loss for the Hurricanes' defense. Scott has recorded 43 tackles, 29 solos and 14 assists, along with three sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and a pick-six.
The status of the 24-year-old for the remainder of the season is unclear.
Scott is currently the top-graded cornerback in the nation, with a PFF of 90.5. He will likely be in the running for the Jim Thorpe award and would be the first Hurricane to win it since 1987, when Bennie Blades tied with Rickey Dixon from the Oklahoma Sooners.
PFF College (@PFF_College) on X
Keionte Scott: The New Top Graded CB in College Football🙌
@CanesFootball
Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes will need to rely more on Jakobe Thomas, Damari Brown, and Xavier Lucas, along with others, to fill in for Scott's absence.
The Wolfpack have scored over 40 points in two of their last four games, so they're capable of putting up points. It's also going to take great effort from the Hurricanes' defensive linemen duo, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, to rattle quarterback sophomore CJ Bailey.
There's already a tough task at hand for the Hurricanes, with the stakes only getting higher, but responding to adversity with strength and victory only builds their chances for the postseason.
More Miami Hurricanes News:
- "Carson Beck 'Not Worried' About Hurricanes College Football Playoff Rankings"
- "Hurricanes Keep College Football Playoff Hopes Alive"
- "Hurricanes Make Slight Climb After Latest AP Poll Updates"
- "Mario Cristobal Praises Hurricanes Freshmen's Breakout Performance"