After players-only meeting, No. 6 Miami braces for Louisville

The Miami Hurricanes had a players-only meeting a few days ago.

What makes this interesting is that the Hurricanes don't have the criteria usually associated with players-only meetings. They don't have a losing record, they're not coming off a loss and their coach is not on the hot seat.

Instead, the sixth-ranked Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are on a roll as they get set to visit Louisville (4-2, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon.

Miami, which is led by Heisman Trophy contender Cam Ward at quarterback, has scored at least 38 points in every game this season.

However, the Hurricanes had to rally from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter against Virginia Tech and overcome a 20-point hole at Cal.

The Hurricanes received good news this week when it was announced that star left tackle Jalen Rivers will return from injury on Saturday for the first time since the season opener.

"He's full go," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said of Rivers.

Miami leads this series 11-4-1, but Louisville went on the road last year and posted a 38-31 victory. Miami is 5-2 in Louisville, but the Cardinals have won four of the past six matchups.

The Cardinals, who went 10-4 last season while reaching the ACC title game, reloaded this year by signing 15 prep recruits and bringing in 26 transfers.

Among the transfers are quarterback Tyler Shough and running back Donald Chaney Jr.

Shough started his career at Oregon, where he initially sat behind now-Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. In 2020, after Herbert went to the NFL, Shough won the starting job and led Cristobal's Ducks to the Pac-12 title.

However, Shough lost his job in the bowl game, and he transferred to Texas Tech and now Louisville.

This is Slough's seventh college season. He has played 36 games. This season, he is completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 1,674 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Chaney, playing his fifth college season, has 110 yards on 33 carries this season. He played his first four seasons at Miami.

Louisville's leading rusher also has Miami ties -- Isaac Brown is a true freshman from Homestead High. Brown leads the Cardinals in rushing yards (508), rushing average (8.6) and scrimmage yards (600).

Defensively, Louisville's big name is end Ashton Gillotte. Prior to the start of this season, Gillotte was named by Lindy's magazine as the ACC's second-best NFL prospect. He has 24 career sacks in 45 games, including 11 last season and two in 2024.

The Cardinals, after consecutive losses to then-No. 16 Notre Dame and SMU, beat Virginia 24-20 on Saturday.

"It was a hard, workmanlike job," Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said.

The Hurricanes, coming off a bye week, lead the nation in scoring average (47.7 points per game). Ward leads the nation in passing yards (369.8). Xavier Restrepo leads the ACC in receiving yards (585). He also has five TDs and an 18.3 average.

"We have a lot to prove," Cristobal said this week. "We have to look at the first half of the season with humility. But, fortunately, we have some alpha leaders."

That was proven this week during that players-only meeting.

--Field Level Media