CORAL GABLES – If starting the season with two losses and no wins for the first time since 1978 is considered rock bottom, then the only way the Miami Hurricanes can go is up.
After losing to Florida on opening night, Miami traveled to face North Carolina and new head coach Mack Brown. Despite gaining 488 total yards on offense, including 307 passing yards from Jarren Williams, a Bubba Baxa missed field goal from 49 yards out helped propel the Tar Heels to a 28-25 win over the Hurricanes for the first time since 2016.
The loss made the Hurricanes winless after two games. They are at the bottom of the ACC Coastal Division and the only team in the ACC without a win.
That, however, is in the past.
The Hurricanes (0-2) will turn their attention to a much-needed home stretch, with the next five games being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
This stretch begins with FCS opponent Bethune-Cookman, a team that makes the trip to Miami for the first time since 2017, when the Hurricanes defeated the Wildcats, 41-13.
Today’s Miami-Bethune Cookman game will kick off at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.
While the Hurricanes are expected to handle Bethune-Cookman without many issues, how they enter the game could be a defining matter to this season.
Through the passing game, the Hurricanes have seen sustained success from Buffalo transfer/graduate senior wide receiver K.J. Osborn and tight end Brevin Jordan.
Jordan, a true sophomore, currently leads the team in receiving yards (161) and scored a touchdown against Florida to begin the season.
The main story so far has been the running game with DeeJay Dallas and Cam’Ron Harris.
Against the Tar Heels, both Dallas and Harris saw increased carries, with the pair totaling a combined 24 carries for 167 yards. With the sustained success from both running backs, a situation where the two see increased carries in order to allow Jarren Williams to continually acclimate to the college game is a large possibility.
The biggest factor on offense, however, is the offensive line. This has has struggled for the past two games, to put it rather kindly.
Against North Carolina, Williams was sacked four times and hurried seven times total. In Week 0, Florida sacked Williams an astounding 10 times.
Translation: The offensive line has allowed 14 sacks in two games. It averages out to seven sacks allowed per game by this key unit.
The biggest sign of the Hurricanes improvement will have to come from the special teams. Through two games, special team play has harmed the Hurricanes in new ways each time.
Against Florida, a muffed punt by Jeff Thomas gave the Gators a touchdown in the second half. A penalty on a Bubba Baxa fake field goal also pushed the Hurricanes away from the goal line.
In North Carolina, the issues were missed field goals in critical times.
The Hurricanes left seven points on the board through a combination of missed field goals and extra points.
In the fourth quarter, Baxa had an extra point opportunity to tie the game blocked. It was blocked.
And with just seconds remaining on the clock, Baxa missed a potential game-tying 49-yard field goal.
The slate of special teams mistakes has been critical in the Hurricanes first two losses, to say the least. And as the Hurricanes season continues, those mistakes could continue to plague promising starts if they are not fixed.
Following out-of-conference games against Bethune-Cookman and Central Michigan, the Hurricanes will continue their ACC schedule with Virginia Tech, Virginia and Georgia Tech. All five of these games are at Hard Rock Stadium.
PHOTO CREDIT: Keith Forde
