{"id":413586,"date":"2026-09-29T08:58:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T08:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/413586\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T08:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T08:58:09","slug":"rising-clemson-braces-for-stiff-test-from-high-scoring-no-4-miami-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/413586\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising Clemson braces for stiff test from high-scoring No. 4 Miami – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

While it\u2019s not rare for Miami and Clemson to clash in a meaningful Atlantic Coast Conference matchup, it is different to see the visiting team as a 16.5-point favorite in Death Valley.<\/p>\n

The No. 4 Hurricanes (4-0, 2-0 ACC) enter their matchup against the Tigers (3-1, 2-0) on Saturday night at Clemson as such a favorite after a strong start following their national runner-up finish last year.<\/p>\n

Miami and Clemson are 7-7 all-time against each other, and the Hurricanes won the most recent encounter at home in 2023. Miami is seeking its first win on the Tigers\u2019 home field since 2010.<\/p>\n

Clemson, which is 5-2 against the Hurricanes with Dabo Swinney as head coach, opened its season with a 51-10 loss at LSU, then strung together three consecutive wins over Georgia Southern, North Carolina and Cal.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly they didn\u2019t get off to the start they wanted in game one but since then have been playing really high-level football in a lot of different ways,\u201d Miami coach Mario Cristobal said on Monday.<\/p>\n

The teams are sitting in the top two spots in the ACC heading into the game, although the Hurricanes present a major challenge to a Clemson squad trying to prove it has turned its season around.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, you\u2019re both undefeated in the league, and all you can ask for is opportunity. So, it\u2019ll be a huge opportunity,\u201d Swinney said. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to play, by far, our best game to have a chance to beat those guys. But we\u2019ve got to have a great week and great preparation and spot the ball and see if we can do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clemson had to overcome early deficits in each of its conference wins.<\/p>\n

The Tigers lost running back David Eziomume, who was carted off the field in the first quarter of Clemson\u2019s 24-10 win over Cal after sustaining a lower-leg injury while blocking on a kickoff return. He is expected to miss the rest of the season, per Swinney. Sophomore Gideon Davidson is leading the way in the backfield overall with 346 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust tremendous contact balance,\u201d Cristobal said about Davidson. \u201cHe can accelerate. He runs behind his pads, runs through tackles, rarely gets tackled by the first guy. Explosive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swinney praised the way Clemson\u2019s offense has continued to progress with freshman Tait Reynolds at quarterback over the past three games.<\/p>\n

\u201cOffensively, we played tough and physical but didn\u2019t always play smart,\u201d Swinney said. \u201cJust some small things that we have to do in order to make us more complete. To be able to run the ball especially when they knew we had to run it, I\u2019m really pleased with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miami quarterback Darian Mensah leads the nation in passing efficiency (228.23) and completion percentage (88.7%), is tied for first in passing touchdowns (14) and ranks seventh in passing yardage (1,211). His top target, Malachi Toney, is third in receptions per game (8.5) and receiving yards per game (141) and is tied for fourth with six receiving TDs.<\/p>\n

The two have anchored a deep Hurricanes offense, which is averaging 51.8 points per game this season \u2014 ranked third best behind only Georgia and Florida.<\/p>\n

The Hurricanes got some good news on the injury front as lead running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who sat out the team\u2019s 52-3 win over Central Michigan last week due to an upper-body injury, is expected to return against Clemson.<\/p>\n

The Miami defense, which has been ravaged by injuries early in the season, should get tackle Ahmad Moten and cornerback Damari Brown back on Saturday after both didn\u2019t face the Chippewas. Defensive lineman Armondo Blount, who got hurt vs. Central Michigan, \u201cwas a little banged up, but he\u2019s good to go,\u201d according to Cristobal.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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