Miami Hurricanes dominated by Wisconsin in Pinstripe Bowl loss

The game started about as bad as possible and the Miami Hurricanes were abysmal on both sides of the ball in a 34-3 loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Wisconsin scored two touchdowns 3:30 into the game, the Miami Hurricanes gave up 333 yards rushing and five turnovers cost UM in their worst bowl loss since a 40-3 thumping by LSU in the 2005 Peach Bowl.

It felt like the Miami Hurricanes never had a chance. Wisconsin won the toss and went 65 yards in six plays to take a 7-0 lead 3:04 into the game. On Miami’s first play from scrimmage, Wisconsin’s Eric Burrell intercepted Malik Rosier’s pass and returned it 30 yards to the Hurricanes seven-yard line.

Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor ran it in on the first play of the drive to extend the Badgers lead to 14-0. Taylor had 35 yards on five carries with a touchdown on the Badgers first two drives. He carried the ball on Wisconsin’s first four plays of the game.

After a Garrett Groshek two-yard gain, Jack Coan threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Pryor to give the Badgers a 7-0 lead. The story of the game was Wisconsin’s ground game and Taylor. Taylor had 205 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.

The Badgers 333 rushing yards were the most Miami gave up since Clemson ran for 412 in the infamous 58-0 thrashing at Hard Rock Stadium in Al Golden’s last game in 2015.

The quarterback play was abysmal. Rosier was 5-12 for 46 yards with three interceptions and had a passer rating of 23.9. N’Kosi Perry relieved Rosier in the second half and was worse. Perry was 1-5 for two yards with an interception, another that was dropped and a -0.16 passer rating.

Rosier and Perry were both effective on the ground. Rosier had Miami’s biggest play with a 62-yard run in the first half. Rosier led Miami with 90-yards rushing. Perry had four carries for 11 yards with a long of 16. Sacks count against the rushing yardage total.

Miami was able to keep the game close with a reasonably good performance from the defense in the first half and Wisconsin miscues. Wisconsin kicker Rafael Gaglianone missed field goals from 39 and 41 yards in the second quarter. That would have given Wisconsin a 20-3, instead 14-3 lead at halftime.

Taylor had 117 of his 205 yards in the first half. The game was a microcosm of many of the Hurricanes season. It was the fourth time the Miami defense allowed over 200 yards rushing and the quarterback play continued to be pitiful. Going into next season Mark Richt needs to figure out his offense.

Miami lost the game in front of legendary Hurricanes quarterback Jim Kelly. Kelly conducted the pregame coin toss and presented Taylor with the MVP Trophy Postgame.

Wisconsin only had to throw the ball 11 times. They ran 58 and held the ball for 39:47. There was very little in the game that went well for the Hurricanes. Seniors Jaquan Johnson, Sheldrick Redwine and Mike Smith put in good performances in their last game.

Johnson had 13 tackles and an interception, Smith ten tackles and 1.5 sacks and Redwine seven tackles and a pass breakup. Johnson and Redwine will have to be replaced as the starting safeties next season.