Fears of Tropical Storm Nate have seemed to have subsided and the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State will be played at the scheduled kickoff time of 3:30 PM ET per an unnamed ACC Official through the Miami Herald.
Many in the Miami Hurricanes community and beyond had been speculating about if Nate could have an impact on the game. After the uncertainty that caused Miami and Florida State to have to cancel games last month and postpone their game originally scheduled for September 16.
Nate was originally projected to hit the Big Bend/Panhandle area or Florida. The Storm is now projected to hit west of there between the Alabama and Louisiana Gulf. The decision was made to play the game at the regularly scheduled time after Florida State officials received the 2:30 ET weather update.
Miami enters the game on an eight-game winning streak that began last season. The Hurricanes also travel to Tallahassee with a seven-game losing streak against the Seminoles.
Florida State started the season 0-2 for the first time since 1989. They barely survived Florida State last week. The Seminoles needed a late James Blackman to Auden Tate touchdown pass to take the lead. They then held on for a 26-19 victory.
Florida State officials confirmed to the Herald that the game was staying at its originally scheduled time.
"“After confirming plans based on the 2:30 p.m. weather update, the Florida State vs. Miami football game will kick off as scheduled at 3:30 p.m.’’"
The updated forecast for Tallahassee on Saturday is 87 and scattered thunderstorms. Miami Athletic Director Blake James also tweeted out that the game will stay at its regularly scheduled time. He did so a few hours before the Herald confirmed it with the FSU Officials.
The @CanesFootball game on Saturday vs #BeatFSU will stay as scheduled with a 3:30 kick. #LetsGoCanes
— Miami Athletics (@CanesAllAccess) October 5, 2017
Nate began as a tropical depression, turned into a Tropical Storm Nate on Wednesday and is threatening to turn into a Hurricane.
Miami has gotten back into a routine after missing ten days of practice because of Hurricane Irma. UM did have to practice inside at the Dolphins Practice facility twice this week due to inclimate weather in South Florida.
Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz said the threat of another change in the schedule did not affect their preparation for Saturday’s game.
"“It doesn’t affect anything in our preparation…We’ll go play if they let us play.”"
If the weather does play a factor it could give Miami an advantage. The Hurricanes running game behind Mark Walton, Travis Homer and to a lesser extent quarterback Malik Rosier has thrived through three games this season. The U is averaging 7.5 yards per carry this season.
Florida State’s ground game has struggled at times this season. The Seminoles are averaging only 3.3 yards per carry. A lot of that has occurred because of sack yardage allowed. FSU has lost 80 yards on sacks this season. Their four sacks allowed per game ranks 126th out of 129 teams nationally.
Florida State’s top two rushers bely the overall rushing statistics. Junior Jacques Patrick leads the team with 175 yards and 5.3 yards per carry. Freshman Cam Akers is second with 144 yards rushing and four yards per carry.
They have split the payload pretty evenly with 36 carries for Akers and 33 for Patrick. Combined they are averaging 106.7 yards per game and 4.62 yards per carry.
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They are probably going to need more than the combined 23 carries per game they’ve gotten from Akers and Patrick in the Seminoles first three games of the season.