Tag: Miami

Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is escorted by a member of the training staff during the fourth quarter of their game against South Dakota Saturday, September 7 , 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin DB’s unprecedented move could rock NCAA, NIL landscape

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The landscape of college athletics may be on the verge of another major shift, and it all stems from the move of one player.

Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas enrolled at Miami earlier this week but did so without ever entering the transfer portal — and despite having recently signed a revenue-sharing agreement with Wisconsin.

Lucas announced he was entering the transfer portal in a since-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) on Dec. 19. But Wisconsin refused to put his name in the portal despite an NCAA rule requiring schools to enter a player into the portal within two business days of their request.

Adding to the situation, the true freshman and Wisconsin entered into a two-year revenue-sharing agreement during the season. That deal gave the university non-exclusive rights to player’s name, image and likeness — preventing another school from using the player’s NIL rights for the length of the agreement, according to Yahoo Sports.

Unable to talk to other schools because he was not in the portal, Lucas withdrew from classes at Wisconsin and enrolled as a student at Miami, but without formally signing with the Hurricanes.

Darren Heitner, an attorney representing Lucas, told Yahoo that his client requested a transfer after learning his father is suffering from a “serious, life-threatening illness,” But, according to Heitner, Wisconsin refused to comply with Lucas’ request and instead tried to convince him to remain with Wisconsin.

Lucas is from Pompano Beach, Fla., and played at nearby American Heritage High School.

By not signing with Miami, Lucas seems to have avoided violating any NCAA rules for now.

“NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from unenrolling from an institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately,” an NCAA spokesperson told Yahoo! in response to Lucas’ decision.

But if Lucas intends on playing for the Hurricanes, it is expected that Wisconsin will try to block the move in court.

What’s more, a settlement reached in 2024 establishing many of the rules for revenue sharing has yet to be approved. Lucas’ move could impact those proceedings, as well.

Lucas made 12 tackles and had one interception in 11 games with the Badgers this season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) scores a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the Pop Tarts bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

No. 18 Iowa State clips No. 13 Miami for first 11-win season

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Rocco Becht scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak on fourth down with 56 seconds left and No. 18 Iowa State edged No. 13 Miami 42-41 on Saturday in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Orlando, Fla.

Becht also passed for 270 yards and three touchdowns as the Cyclones (11-3) overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half to secure their first 11-win season in school history.

The Hurricanes (10-3), who lost for the third time in four games after starting the season with a 9-0 record, rushed for 308 yards – most in school history in a bowl game. However, they had virtually no passing attack in the second half with backup Emory Williams under center.

Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward threw for 190 yards and three touchdowns for Miami. The first TD was the 156th of his career, breaking the Division I (FBS and FCS) record he shared with Houston’s Case Keenum (2007-11) – before sitting out the second half of his last college game.

Williams, who was intercepted on the final play of the game, finished 5-for-14 passing for 26 yards. He was 3-for-8 for 20 yards when the Hurricanes got the ball back one final time at their own 20 with 47 seconds left.

Both offenses combined to deliver an electric first half that featured 59 points and 625 total yards.

After the Hurricanes fumbled the ball away on an errant snap on the game’s first play, the teams scored touchdowns on eight consecutive possessions, starting with Becht’s 9-yard throw to tight end Gabe Burkle on third-and-goal.

Damien Martinez raced 75 yards to the end zone on Miami’s second offensive play, and Carson Hansen answered with a 30-yard rushing touchdown. Ward knotted the score again with a 4-yard pass to Jacolby George.

Becht, a Tampa area native, and Jaylin Noel connected for a 49-yard completion to the 1 and Hansen charged in the next play for a 21-14 lead with 2:23 left in the first quarter.

The onslaught continued with three more touchdowns in the next eight minutes.

Ward threw a 40-yard score to Joshisa Trader, Hansen caught a 13-yard pass from Becht for his third touchdown, and Ward hit Elijah Arroyo for a 33-yard score. Andy Borregales kicked a 30-yard field goal with 16 seconds left in the half for a 31-28 Hurricanes lead.

Miami went up by 10 on Mark Fletcher Jr.’s 1-yard touchdown run with 8:09 left in the third quarter. Iowa State answered with Becht’s third TD pass, a 4-yarder to Noel, the ensuing drive.

Borregales knocked in a 21-yarder to put the Hurricanes up 41-35 with 9:40 remaining in the game.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) reacts front field after theme against the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip) doubtful vs. Browns on Sunday

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful for Sunday’s road game against the Cleveland Browns because of a hip injury.

Tagovailoa, 26, has been limited at practice all week but is still hoping to play, according to media reports on Saturday. The Dolphins (7-8) are fighting to stay in playoff contention and need a win against the Browns (3-12) to stay in the mix.

If Tagovailoa doesn’t play, Tyler Huntley would get his fourth start of the season. The Dolphins also elevated quarterback Skylar Thompson from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday.

Tagovailoa injured his hip against the Houston Texans on Dec. 15 and absorbed another hit against the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday.

He has already missed four games this season because of a concussion while starting the other 11. He is 291 of 399 (league-best 72.9 percent) for 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Miami selected him with the fifth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He has completed 68.1 percent of his passes in his career for 15,506 yards and 100 TDs along with 44 interceptions in 64 games (62 starts).

Huntley, 26, has started three games this season for the Dolphins while Tagovailoa was out before suffering a shoulder injury. Huntley was 39 of 66 (59.1 percent) for 377 yards, one TD and one pick. He also ran 16 times for 67 yards and a score.

He played in 20 games (nine starts) for the Baltimore Ravens from 2020-23, passing for 1,957 yards, eight TDs and seven interceptions. He also rushed 115 times for 509 yards and three TDs.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) throws a pass against the South Florida Bulls in the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

No. 18 Iowa State tries to contain No. 13 Miami in Pop-Tarts Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Fans will have one more chance to watch Cam Ward orchestrate the nation’s No. 1 offense when No. 13 Miami plays No. 18 Iowa State in Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl at Orlando, Fla.

Ward, the fourth-place finisher for this year’s Heisman Trophy and a likely top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, confirmed earlier this month that he will play. He told Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in a viral video that “you’re going to see the best thing that ever happened in the Pop-Tart(s) Bowl. … Them ‘Canes baby.”

Of the teams that didn’t make the College Football Playoff, Miami and Iowa State are the highest-ranked programs playing each other. It is their first meeting.

“The intensity will be high. Both teams really want this,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “And the competition and the caliber of athlete and player on the field is going to be awesome.

“So, it means a lot to (us). And I’m sure it means a lot to Iowa State as well.”

Said Cyclones coach Matt Campbell: “It’s certainly a great opportunity for Iowa State football. And we have great respect for everything they stand for.”

The Hurricanes boast a high-powered offense that ranked No. 1 in the nation in points (44.2) and total yards (538.3) per game in the regular season.

Ward, a transfer from Washington State, set multiple single-season school records, throwing for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns while completing 67.4 percent of his attempts and tossing seven interceptions.

Ward’s top receiver, All-American Xavier Restrepo, hasn’t said whether he will play in the bowl game, while running back Damien Martinez, a fellow senior also expected to be drafted, has announced that he will.

The ‘Canes enter with a 10-2 record — only the second time in 20 years they recorded double-digit wins in the regular season — but lost two of their final three games, at Georgia Tech and at Syracuse, and consequently a spot in the Atlantic Coast Championship Game.

That largely was due to their defense, which surrendered 42 points in the final three quarters against the Orange and 271 rushing yards to the Yellow Jackets.

Iowa State (10-3), which doesn’t have any reported opt-outs, won 10 games for the first time in school history, reaching the Big 12 Championship, where it lost to Arizona State 45-19. Its other losses were a one-point home defeat to Texas Tech and a 45-36 setback at Kansas.

“Obviously, I think you’re in unchartered territory for Iowa State football,” Campbell said of winning 10 games. “Anytime you’ve got a chance to put an exclamation point on some of those things, it’s powerful.”

Campbell said the senior class is “maybe one of the most special groups we’ve coached here,” adding, “to send them out the right way would be great for Iowa State football.”

Rocco Becht has completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 3,235 yards and 22 touchdowns with nine interceptions. Wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are the first duo in school history, and the only pair nationally this season, with 1,000 yards each. Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III each rushed for more than 500 yards.

Iowa State’s defense allowed only 21.5 points per game — the Cyclones are 6-0 when giving up fewer than 20 — and is highlighted by defensive tackles J.R. Singleton and Domonique Orange, as well as defensive backs Beau Freyler and Malik Verden, the team’s top two tacklers. The Cyclones intercepted 14 passes and recovered eight fumbles.

“They’re really explosive on offense,” Cristobal said. “And they’ve always played great defense. … Very disciplined, very hard-nosed, very tough and very physical.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is upset with officials after a Tide player was called for a personal foul during the second half against the Autumn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

‘Quite a debate’: Alabama, Miami first teams out of CFP field

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Getting whipped by a downtrodden Oklahoma squad came back to haunt Alabama. So did a historic loss to Vanderbilt.

That’s because the Crimson Tide (9-3) were passed over for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff when the selections were announced on Sunday.

Alabama appeared in good shape to make the playoffs until visiting the Sooners and losing 24-3 on Nov. 23. Oklahoma finished the regular season with a 6-6 mark.

SMU (11-2) earned the final at-large spot despite losing to Clemson 34-31 in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game on Saturday night.

“I think it’s the right decision,” Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee told CBS Sports said. “… We didn’t ever have a bad loss.”

Selection committee chairman Warde Manuel said it was a tough choice to take the Mustangs over the Crimson Tide.

“We looked at the number of wins Alabama had against ranked opponents,” Manuel, the Michigan athletic director, told ESPN. “We looked at SMU’s schedule and they were undefeated in conference. Their losses were to ranked teams.

“We also looked at Alabama’s losses to unranked teams. It was quite a debate. We value strength of schedule and that’s why Alabama as a three-loss team is ranked ahead of teams that have two losses.”

SMU’s loss to then-No. 17 Clemson came on a last-second field goal in Saturday night’s Atlantic Coast Conference title game. The Mustangs also lost 18-15 at BYU on Sept. 6. SMU beat then-No. 22 Louisville on the road and then-No. 18 Pitt in Dallas.

“Losing on a last-second field goal … we felt SMU still had the nod over Alabama,” Manuel said of the Mustangs’ loss to Clemson. “… It’s just looking at the entire body of work over both teams.”

Alabama’s other two losses included the shocking 40-35 stumble at Vanderbilt on Oct. 5 that marked the Commodores’ first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team. The Crimson Tide also lost 24-17 to then-No. 11 Tennessee on Oct. 19.

The Crimson Tide posted three ranked victories, beating then-No. 2 Georgia, then-No. 21 Missouri and then-No. 15 LSU.

The second team out was Miami (10-2), which saw its chances plummet by losing two of its last three regular-season games.

The Hurricanes, who started 9-0, lost 28-23 to host Georgia Tech on Nov. 9 and completed the regular season with a 42-38 road loss against Syracuse.

Miami didn’t play a Top 25 team this season.

SMU plays No. 6 Penn State in its first-round playoff game on Nov. 21.

“We’re excited about the challenge and the opportunity to prove that the committee made the right decision,” Lashlee said.

–Field Level Media

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) throws the ball during warm ups as Auburn Tigers take on Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.

CFP rankings: Alabama in position for final playoff bid

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The picture is getting a little clearer for the first edition of the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Tuesday’s rankings reveal placed Alabama (9-3) at No. 11, ahead of No. 12 Miami (10-2) and No. 13 Ole Miss (9-3), and the Crimson Tide are in position to receive the final spot in the playoff field if conference championship weekend doesn’t provide any surprises.

“What it really came down to is Alabama is 3-1 against current Top 25 teams and Miami is 0-1,” selection committee chair Warde Manuel said on ESPN’s ranking reveal show. “Alabama is 6-1 against teams above .500 and Miami’s 4-2. Both have had some losses that weren’t what they wanted out of those games, but in the last three games Miami has lost twice. So for us, in evaluating their body of work, we felt that Alabama got the edge over Miami.”

Manuel said there won’t be any changes between Tuesday and Sunday for teams not playing in their conference championship games, all but confirming that Miami and Ole Miss are out of the running.

“Yes, so those who are not playing, we will not adjust those teams because they don’t have another data point obviously,” Manuel said.

He added that a team that loses its conference championship game may not take a hit at all, citing two years ago when TCU fell to Kansas State in the Big 12 title game but did not drop in the rankings.

Unbeaten Oregon remained No. 1 in the rankings, and Texas, Penn State and Notre Dame moved up to Nos. 2-4 following Ohio State’s loss to Michigan and subsequent tumble. Georgia rose two spots to No. 5, and the Buckeyes settled at No. 6.

Tennessee, SMU, Indiana and Boise State rounded out the top 10 in front of Alabama. SMU and Boise State join Oregon and Texas as the projected top-four conference champions who will receive first-round byes in the tournament.

The fifth-highest ranked conference champ is still projected to be the winner of the Big 12 title game between No. 15 Arizona State and No. 16 Iowa State.

There’s a clear scenario where a “bid thief” takes Alabama out of the running for an at-large. Clemson dropped five places to No. 17 when it lost to South Carolina last Saturday, but thanks to Miami’s come-from-ahead loss to Syracuse, Clemson qualified for the ACC championship game against SMU.

Should Clemson beat ACC newcomer SMU on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., the Tigers would vault not only into the playoff field with an auto bid, but potentially all the way into the top four seeds if they’re ranked highly enough.

CFP projected first-round byes: No. 1 seed Oregon, No. 2 seed Texas, No. 3 seed SMU, No. 4 seed Boise State

CFP projected quarterfinal games (campus sites):
No. 9 seed Tennessee at No. 8 seed Ohio State
No. 10 seed Indiana at No. 7 seed Georgia
No. 11 seed Alabama at No. 6 seed Notre Dame
No. 12 seed Arizona State at No. 5 seed Penn State

CFP rankings (different from seeds):
1. Oregon (12-0)
2. Texas (11-1)
3. Penn State (11-1)
4. Notre Dame (11-1)
5. Georgia (10-2)
6. Ohio State (10-2)
7. Tennessee (10-2)
8. SMU (11-1)
9. Indiana (11-1)
10. Boise State (11-1)
11. Alabama (9-3)
12. Miami (10-2)
13. Ole Miss (9-3)
14. South Carolina (9-3)
15. Arizona State (10-2)
16. Iowa State (10-2)
17. Clemson (9-3)
18. BYU (10-2)
19. Missouri (9-3)
20. UNLV (10-2)
21. Illinois (9-3)
22. Syracuse (9-3)
23. Colorado (9-3)
24. Army (10-1)
25. Memphis (10-2)

–Field Level Media

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Auburn Tigers take on Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Auburn Tigers 28-14.

Bettors behind Alabama to make CFP field

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bookmakers are adjusting the odds for making the 12-team playoff field with a surge of support for a familiar postseason power.

Alabama is running to the front of the futures pool for teams to make the College Football Playoff 12-team field when it’s announced Sunday afternoon as part of a bowl selection broadcast.

Conference champions from the top five leagues and seven at-large teams are granted spots in the first 12-team playoff, which begins Dec. 20.

The Crimson Tide are receiving more than 85 percent of the total bets in the market at FanDuel and more than 92 percent of the action at ESPNBet.

Alabama also has +1500 national championship odds at FanDuel and BetMGM, ahead of Tennessee (+1800), SMU (+3200), Indiana (+4000) and Arizona State (+8000).

The national title favorites as of Tuesday morning were Oregon (+350), Texas (+380), Ohio State (+400) and Georgia (+550).

Currently at No. 13 in the rankings, Alabama could be on the rise Tuesday night when the latest rankings are set by the committee which must account for losses by Miami (Fla.) and Clemson.

The loser of the ACC championship game Saturday between SMU and Clemson would land on the so-called bubble along with South Carolina, Miami and Ole Miss.

SMU currently is on the board as the favorite over Clemson and has -240 odds to make the 12-team field. Miami lost to Syracuse last week and went from in the field to +600 at FanDuel. The Hurricanes are dropping rapidly and sat at +750 on Tuesday morning, behind South Carolina (+600).

Those were better odds than Ole Miss (+4000), which currently would be situated alongside South Carolina as SEC teams left out of the playoff.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Miami Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe (31) breaks up a pass intended for Syracuse Orange running back LeQuint Allen (1) during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

No. 6 Miami loses out on ACC title berth, falls at Syracuse

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kyle McCord passed for 380 yards and three touchdowns as the host Syracuse Orange rallied to upset the sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes 42-38 in an ACC game on Saturday.

Syracuse trailed 21-0 but took its first lead, 35-28, in the third quarter on a 56-yard fumble recovery by Devin Grant. The Orange never trailed again.

A win would’ve put Miami in the ACC title game next Saturday against SMU. Instead, Miami (10-2, 6-2) ended its regular season with two upset losses in its final three games.

Syracuse (9-3, 5-3) got two touchdown receptions from Jackson Meeks (seven catches, 110 yards). Teammate Trebor Pena caught six passes for 128 yards and one TD.

Cam Ward led Miami, passing for 349 yards and two TDs. He leads the nation with 36 TD passes, and he also went over 4,000 passing yards for the season.

McCord, who leads the nation in passing yards, also went over 4,000 yards for the season.

Hurricanes wide receiver Xavier Restrepo caught nine passes for 148 yards and one touchdown. He went over 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight season, but his fumble led to Grant’s TD.

After Miami’s 21-0 lead, Syracuse rallied to cut its deficit to 21-14 by halftime.

On those two Orange TDs, LeQuint Allen ran eight yards, and Meeks won a 9-yard jump-ball battle against cornerback Daryl Porter Jr., who ended up on the turf.

Syracuse took the second-half kickoff and scored in three plays. McCord hit Pena with a 50-yarder and then a 25-yard touchdown, tying the score, 21-21.

Miami responded with a 75-yard TD march, capped by Mark Fletcher Jr.’s 2-yard run.

Syracuse tied the score on another 9-yard TD pass to Meeks — this time on a slant — and the Orange were driving again when Miami’s Bobby Pruitt forced and recovered a fumble. Yasin Willis was the Syracuse running back who got stripped at the Miami 17.

But Restrepo fumbled, and Grant’s return changed momentum.

Miami tied the score on Damien Martinez’s 2-yard run with 13:02 left. That was set up by a 40-yard completion to Restrepo.

Syracuse went back on top, 42-35, on Allen’s 3-yard run with 9:16 left.

With less than four minutes remaining, Miami faced a fourth-and-goal at the 10. Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal — instead of going for the touchdown — opted for a field goal. Miami closed its deficit to 42-38 on Andres Borregales’ 27-yard field goal, but the Hurricanes never got the ball back.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) throws a pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the third quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Quarterbacks in spotlight when No. 6 Miami visits Syracuse

Posted on | by Field Level Media

It didn’t take Syracuse first-year coach Fran Brown long to figure out the key matchup for Saturday afternoon’s Atlantic Coast Conference game visiting Miami.

“Syracuse has a really good quarterback,” Brown said of Kyle McCord, “and Miami has a really good quarterback (Cam Ward).”

With a win on Saturday, the No. 6 Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 ACC) can clinch a berth in the league championship game against SMU.

Miami is a 10 1/2-point favorite for Saturday’s game.

Syracuse (8-3, 4-3) has reached eight wins for just the fourth time since 2002, going 8-5 in 2010 and 2012 and 10-3 in 2018. However, the Orange haven’t defeated a Top-10 team since knocking off Clemson in 2017.

Miami leads the nation in scoring (44.7), and the Hurricanes will count on perfect passing conditions in Syracuse’s dome.

That could be huge for Ward, who leads the nation with 34 touchdown passes, ranking second in passing yards (3,774) and fourth in passing efficiency.

Ward’s top target is wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, who needs just 21 yards to reach 1,000 for the second straight season.

Restrepo also ranks tied for seventh in the nation with 10 TD receptions.

Ward has some other top targets, including 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end Elijah Arroyo, who is a walking mismatch because of his size and speed. He leads Miami with 18.5 yards per reception.

Hurricanes wide receivers Isaiah Horton and Jacolby George have combined for 12 TD passes, and Sam Brown has added two more. Each of them has more than 500 receiving yards this season.

Miami’s running game features battering ram Damien Martinez (739 yards, 5.5 average, eight TDs); versatile Mark Fletcher Jr. (499 yards, 5.7 average, six TDs); and game-breaking freshman Jordan Lyle (361 yards, 8.6 average, four TDs).

Defensively, Miami’s big-play man is safety Mishael Powell, who ranks second in the ACC with five interceptions.

“He’s all about winning,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said of Powell. “He’s a smart, self-starting team player.”

On special teams, Miami kicker Andres Borregales ranks second in the ACC with 97 points. He is 52-for-52 on extra points and 15-for-16 on field goals.

Meanwhile, McCord ranks No. 1 in the nation in passing yards (3,946) and tied for seventh in TD passes (26). McCord, a transfer from Ohio State, has also set Syracuse’s single-season record for passing yards.

In last week’s 31-24 win over Connecticut, McCord passed for a career-high 470 yards. However, McCord is just 46th in the nation in passing efficiency, due in part to his high total of interceptions (12).

Syracuse also has three of the top six pass-catchers in the ACC in terms of yards: tight end Oronde Gadsden II (810) and wide receivers Jackson Meeks (801) and Trebor Pena (743).

Gadsden, who is from the greater Miami area, has had three straight 100-yard games. He is the son of former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Oronde Gadsden.

Syracuse’s run game is led by LeQuint Allen, who has rushed for 819 yards, a 4.3 average and 12 TDs.

The issue for Syracuse could be its defense, which ranks 13th in the ACC in points allowed (27.8).

Miami’s defense is fourth (22.3).

Even so, Syracuse coach Brown said he’s excited about this matchup.

“I heard Miami is going to come deep,” Brown said of Miami fans. “It’s going to be intense in the stands. It’s going to be intense on the field. I think this is a game everyone wants to see.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 17, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Patriots will try to reverse road struggles against the Dolphins

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Hitting the road to face the Miami Dolphins has been anything but easy for the New England Patriots over the past 11 years.

Since 2013, New England is 2-9 against the Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla., where the Patriots will attempt to pick up a rare win on Sunday afternoon.

First-year coach Jerod Mayo has been in the thick of New England’s struggles in the Sunshine State. He spent his entire playing career (2008-15) with the Patriots, then served as inside linebackers coach from 2019-23 before taking over at the helm.

Mayo is making sure that New England (3-8) leaves the past in the past come Sunday, though.

“First and foremost, I won’t address it with the guys as far as the struggles that we’ve had in Miami, even though they’re probably listening to me right now,” Mayo said. “But what I will say is every game is unique. … It’s a tough place to play. It’s not that it’s super loud or anything like that.

“We just haven’t been able to get over the hump.”

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, has given Mayo a reason to believe that New England can turn the corner against Miami (4-6). Maye continued to take steps in the right direction by completing 29 of 39 passes for 282 yards, two touchdowns and one interception during a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday.

Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa has been impressed with what he has seen from the 22-year-old Maye so far and is eager to go up against him.

“I respect his game. I respect his game a lot,” Tagovailoa said. “He’s a rookie, so there’s gonna be bumps within his journey. But you see a lot of flashes of things that he can do, not just inside the pocket, outside of the pocket as well.

“I got a lot of respect for him, and looking forward to competing against him.”

Tagovailoa most recently threw for 288 yards and three scores on 28-for-36 passing Miami’s 34-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday. One of his favorite targets was former New England tight end Jonnu Smith, who hauled in six catches for 101 yards and two TDs.

Miami has rattled off back-to-back wins on the heels of a three-game losing streak that began after a 15-10 victory against the Patriots in Week 5.

“We’re looking to go out there and play the plays with what they’ve presented us over the years,” Tagovailoa said, referring to the Dolphins’ familiarity with New England’s game plan. “If we need to adjust in any way, we’ll adjust.”

Cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) and offensive tackle Terron Armstead (knee) missed Miami’s practice on Wednesday. Six Dolphins were limited, including star wideout Tyreek Hill (wrist) and cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee).

Defensive end Deatrich Wise (foot), offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (neck) did not practice for the Patriots on Wednesday. Safety Kyle Dugger was among those limited — due to an ankle injury — and defensive end Keion White (knee) also failed to practice in full.

–Field Level Media