<\/p>\n
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Darian Mensah (10) gestures towards the fans in the first half against Florida A&M Rattlers at Hard Rock Stadium at Miami Gardens on Thursday, September 10, 2026.<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY AL DIAZ<\/p>\n
adiaz@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
The Miami Hurricanes got the expected blowout win, the anticipated rout.<\/p>\n
A lopsided victory was expected over Florida A&M on Thursday, even if a 77-7 final score and school-record 856 yards of offense might not have been as easily predicted.<\/p>\n
Nearly everything went right for Miami in its home opener at Hard Rock Stadium as the Hurricanes improve to 2-0 on the young season, one with national championship aspirations.<\/p>\n
But don\u2019t look to the Hurricanes to be patting themselves on the back after that one.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe never feel satisfied,\u201d offensive lineman Matt McCoy said. \u201cSo it\u2019s just like, \u2018Yeah, we scored, but let\u2019s spot the ball again. Let\u2019s keep doing it. Let\u2019s keep doing it.\u2019 We just want to make people quit. \u2026 Of course, we scored pretty much every drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want more. Of course, we did a great job, but we just hold ourselves to a higher standard.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that high standard will be needed as the season progresses. The Hurricanes thus far have faced the team voted to finish last in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Stanford (winning that game 45-3) and an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision that was paid $760,000 to play in FAMU. While Miami\u2019s schedule on paper overall isn\u2019t very daunting, it\u2019s about to have an uptick in competition as they get into ACC play. Miami (2-0, 1-0 ACC) travels to play Wake Forest (2-0) on Friday (7:30 p.m., ESPN).<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery single week,\u201d Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said, \u201cyou better get better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miami has seen that improvement in a few key areas.<\/p>\n
The new-look offensive line, which is replacing four starters from last year\u2019s team that reached the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, has begun to build chemistry. The run game piled up 430 yards against Florida A&M after having just 121 against Stanford. Miami quarterbacks have not been sacked through two games.<\/p>\n
Quarterback Darian Mensah has been nearly perfect through two games, completing 41 of 45 passes for 653 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception.<\/p>\n
And the defense still hasn\u2019t allowed a touchdown through two games, holding Stanford to just two field goals and FAMU scoreless (the Rattlers\u2019 only points Thursday came on a fumble recovery for a touchdown).<\/p>\n
But, it\u2019s worth noting, that same defense has only forced three sacks and has not produced a turnover in two games against far inferior opponents as it replaces a slew of key players and deals with injuries. Three of Miami\u2019s top five cornerbacks in Xavier Lucas, OJ Frederique Jr. and Ja\u2019Boree Antoine are all sidelined long-term, leaving defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman to get creative with how he deploys his secondary.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is being tested,\u201d Cristobal said.<\/p>\n
But this team is fine with being tested. It embraces it, actually. Daily competition in practice is fierce, and it has shown on the field through two games.<\/p>\n
Now, they need that to continue as the season progresses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it\u2019s good, it\u2019s good,\u201d Mensah said, \u201cand I\u2019ve got to be ready for adversity to show. We\u2019ve got a good Wake Forest opponent coming up this next week. But yeah, it\u2019s awesome that things are going well. But I think adversity is when your team grows and shows the true colors of your team.\u201d<\/p>\n