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Miami Hurricanes get dismantled by Clemson in ACC Championship game

By Alan Rubenstein

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 02: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers greets head coach Mark Richt of the Miami Hurricanes on the field after the ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 02: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers greets head coach Mark Richt of the Miami Hurricanes on the field after the ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Virtually everything that could go wrong early did for the Miami Hurricanes. It ended in a 38-3 loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship game. The Tigers led 14-0 after the first quarter and 21-0 at halftime.

The Miami Hurricanes entered the ACC Championship with a very respectable 7-6 record all-time against the nation’s number one ranked team. The last time they defeated the nation’s top-ranked team was a 2000 victory over Florida State. That is the game that announced the Hurricanes as back the first time.

Any grand illusions of an upset against Clemson were erased quickly. The Tigers scored on their first three offensive drives of the game to gain control quickly. As with the game against Pittsburgh last week, the Hurricanes were unable to create much offense.

Malik Rosier continued to miss open receivers and the Miami Hurricanes failed to capitalize on an early Clemson turnover plus another chance at a turnover. Clemson muffed a punt after Miami’s first drive that gave the Hurricanes the ball on the Clemson 37.

Miami got one first down and Michael Badgley then uncharacteristically missed a 46-yard field goal that could have given Miami points early.

Miami blew another opportunity for a big play on Clemson’s next drive. Ray-Ray McCloud who muffed the punt fumbled after 25 yard gain. Malek Young had a chance to fall on it but tried to pick it up. Clemson’s Milan Richard recovered the ball for Clemson for a 40-yard gain in all.

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    • Five plays later Clemson’s Kelly Bryant ran it in from 11-yards out for a 14-0 lead. The Tigers extended the lead with another touchdown drive the next time they had the ball.

    Miami was able to keep the Tigers scoreless on their last three drives of the first half. Clemson scored on three of their first four drives of the second half to completely erase any doubt about the outcome of the game.

    The last two weeks have posed many questions after Miami was able to overcome doubts and mask their imperfections this season. Rosier had his fifth game of the year under 50 percent completions, the running game was under 100 yards for the fourth time this season and Miami missed too many opportunities.

    They were missing their three best offensive players entering the season, but Clemson exposed the Hurricanes. Their offense was anemic for the second straight week.

    It’s nearly impossible to rebuild a football program quickly. Some might want to point to what Kirby Smart has done with Richt’s former team at Georgia. Miami just doesn’t have currently have the depth that other programs have.

    Next: Miami Hurricanes have come full circle versus Clemson

    The influx of talent coming to Miami next season should help. It could be the last year that the linebacking core and wide receiver Ahmmon Richards play for Miami. Miami needs the bigger influx on offense. They have that coming with depth at running back, tight end and wide receiver in the Storm 18 Class.

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