Did No. 1 Miami Hurricanes Overcome Past Mid-Season Struggles?

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MIAMI, Fla. – Over the last couple of seasons (2024 and 2025), under head coach Mario Cristobal, the Miami Hurricanes had great starts but struggled to finish as strongly; however, Saturday’s double-overtime win over the Florida State Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium could be a sign of turning over a new leaf.

Whether it’s Cam Ward losing to Georgia Tech and Syracuse or Carson Beck against Louisville and SMU, they all share disappointing results. In 2024, the Hurricanes cost themselves a chance at the College Football Playoffs; the following year, they had to scrap for the last at-large bid.

The Seminoles forced four ties and two lead changes against the Hurricanes while nearly following the rest of the college football world in pulling off another major upset. Late in the game, fifth-year senior Ashton Daniels found senior star wide receiver Duce Robinson for two significant touchdowns. The first was in the fourth quarter, a 75-yard play, to force overtime; the other to take the lead and force the Hurricanes into a sudden-death situation.

Cristobal has seen that level of disappointment before, but he had quarterback Darian Mensah this time. The 21-year-old led the Hurricanes to score two critical touchdowns, including a successful two-point conversion, to step off the field with a 43-35 win. If repeated history were to have occurred against a historic in-state rival and in front of a sellout crowd, there would be major concerns about the rest of the season, especially ahead of Nov. 7’s prime-time matchup against Notre Dame.

Instead, the Hurricanes were spared from the hauntings of the recent past. However, the test of keeping a heavy foot on the gas continues with the Pitt Panthers traveling to South Florida for Saturday’s matchup. As the Associated Press’ new No. 1-ranked team, the Hurricanes are under a bigger magnifying glass than before.

Even as the National Champion runner-ups, the pressure has only gotten greater.

The Hurricanes are still favorites to win out the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference portion of the schedule; meanwhile, the Fighting Irish look for redemption in South Bend, Indiana. The remaining schedule:

– Oct. 24 Vs. Pitt

– Oct. 31 at UNC

– Nov. 7 at Notre Dame

– Nov. 14 Vs. Duke

– Nov. 21 Vs. Virginia Tech

– Nov. 28 Vs. Boston College

Before the season, Cristobal wanted no comparisons from last year’s success to the present. The Hurricanes beating the Seminoles in November, despite all the back-and-forth intensity, proved that some things are different this time around.

More Miami Hurricanes News:

– "UM's Bryce Fitzgerald Displayed Sacrifice in Win Over FSU"

– "No. 3 UM Stand Tall in Double-Overtime Thriller Against FSU"

– "Did UM's Darian Mensah Secure Heisman Trophy Frontrunning Status?"

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