Miami Is a National Title Contender, but One Problem Stands Out

For the second straight year, Miami has the look of a legitimate national title contender.

The Hurricanes are just one of three unbeaten teams left and have provided stability atop the Associated Press poll after there had been turbulence.

They have a pair of Heisman candidates in quarterback Darian Mensah (nation-leading 80.7% completion percentage, 2,425 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, one interception) and wide receiver Malachi Toney (73 catches for 1,027 yards and 13 TDs).

If Miami can get past No. 5 Notre Dame in its spotlight road game next week, the Hurricanes are likely to finish the regular season 12-0 and be highly favored to make that 13-0 and earn the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Once it gets to that point, though, does this Miami team have a fatal flaw it will be unable to overcome against the best teams in the country?

Its pass defense leaves a lot to be desired.

Miami's pass defense problem

Miami ranks 14th in the ACC and 123rd out of 138 FBS teams in passing defense (251.9 yards per game allowed).

Mind you, the Hurricanes haven’t played a remotely difficult schedule. Their matchup next Saturday against the Fighting Irish will be their first against a ranked opponent this season.

And yet, they have been seriously threatened in two of the last three weeks by much less talented teams because of their inability to shut down the opponent’s passing attack.

Florida State, which is averaging 248.6 passing yards per game with 14 passing TDs and 11 interceptions, threw for 305 yards, four TDs and one interception against Miami, with the Hurricanes escaping 43-35 in controversial double-overtime fashion on Oct. 17.

This week, Miami allowed North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. to throw for a season-high 341 yards and four touchdowns. The Hurricanes may have needed the strip sack they got from Marquise Lightfoot to pull out their 38-35 road victory. With that performance, the Tar Heels are now averaging 236.8 passing yards per game, which is middle-of-the-road nationally.

It hasn’t helped Miami that it has been down two of its top cornerbacks in OJ Frederique and Jaboree Antoine for much of the season with injuries. But with how well head coach Mario Cristobal has recruited, the reserve players stepping up should be playing better than this.

A potential saving grace next week is that Notre Dame isn’t a pass-first offense. While the Irish are averaging 256.8 passing yards per game, they’re running for 186.0 a contest, once again led by the ground game.

On that front, Miami is strong, leading the country with 60.8 rushing yards per game allowed.

But Notre Dame has a NFL prospect QB in CJ Carr, who has 18 TDs and one interception this season, along with a talented receiver room.

If the Hurricanes struggled to stop the likes of Florida State and North Carolina through the air, it’s hard to see them having much success on that front against another contending team like Notre Dame or any number of top-tier teams that could be waiting in the CFP.