LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Beating Virginia was a solid win for Jeff Brohm's University of Louisville football team. The Cavaliers were 4-1. They'll probably finish their season in a bowl game.
But it was not a signature win.
Saturday, the Cards take their shot at a signature win. Saturday, the Cards take their shot at Miami.
Miami leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense.
Miami leads the ACC in total defense.
Miami has scored at least 38 points in all six of its games.
Miami has Cam Ward, a thoroughly modern quarterback who ranks third on the list of players likely to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
Miami believes this season will be a colossal disappointment if the Hurricanes do not quality for the 12-team playoff.
Miami gives Louisville a shot to inject some extra-strength into its season.
Kickoff is set for noon.
The No. 6 Hurricanes are favored but by four points.
The Hurricanes are deserving of their ranking. Along with Clemson, Miami is the team to beat in the ACC.
But after winning its first four games by an average of 42 points, Miami defeated Virginia Tech (38-34) and California (39-38) by a combined margin of five points — with several questionable officiating calls thrown in to enhance the story line
Brohm believes that Miami is legit, starting with Ward, a fifth-year player who started his career by playing two season at Incarnate Word, an FCS program in San Antonio.
Ward has thrown for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns in every game. He leads the ACC in passing yardage per game (370) and touchdown passes (20).
"He's a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate," Brohm said. "He's really good. He can move. He can buy time.
"He's got great feel for the position. He gets it to the playmakers. He makes that offense go.
"Combine that with a lot of great talent on their team at all positions, good receivers, good running back core, strong offensive line.
"Defense is a really, really strong defense with really, really talented players at a lot of positions."
In other words, this is the best Miami team since … certainly 2017, which was the last time the Hurricanes finished ranked in the Top 15. That team, coached by Mark Richt, lost the ACC title game to Clemson, 34-3, and was ranked 13th at season's end.
But many argue this is Miami's best team since 2003, which was the last time the Hurricanes completed a reason ranked No, 5.
If you're making a list of why the Atlantic Coast Conference does not inspire as much fear at the Southeastern or Big Ten conferences, you better put this item in your opening pitch:
Miami has not been Miami since the Hurricanes joined the ACC 20 years ago.
The U has been The Zero in winning ACC titles. Miami has none. That 2017 season was the only time the Hurricanes made the ACC title game.
Mario Cristobal, a Miami alum, did not leave a great job at Oregon to play in the Pinstripe Bowl, which is the bowl the Hurricanes earned last season. Miami was aggressive in the transfer portal, determined to land Ward, who excelled at Washington State for two seasons.
Ward came out firing in Game One, burying Florida with a 385-yard passing game. He put 404 yards on South Florida and played his best game of the year against California when he threw for 437 yards while leading Miami to back from a 35-10 deficit in the third quarter.
What's his secret?
"He's very poised," Brohm said. "He understands football. He's got a great feel standing there making last-minute throws.
"I think he throws the best when he's on the move, when he can buy time.
"That's when big plays are created because he's just so natural doing this. We've got to contain him in the pocket. We've got to make him throw from the pocket as hard and as well as we can."
One of the guys who will be tasked with keeping Ward in the pocket while cranking up the Cards pass rush is defensive end Ashton Gillotte.
"Just containing him in the pocket and finding ways to disrupt them," Gillotte said. "So whether that's tipped balls or pressures, getting him off his spot and make him have to work for those plays.
"Obviously, again, he's a great athlete. Getting him out of his comfort zone is going to be crucial. You can't let guys get in a rhythm."
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