Miami Hurricanes would have had more wins with Jose Borregales in 2019

The addition of Jose Borregales to the Miami Hurricanes roster for 2020 is a big upgrade at kicker after several missed kicks led to losses early in 2019.

Missed field goals and extra points cost the Miami Hurricanes in losses to Florida, North Carolina and Georgia Tech and killed momentum in a loss to Virginia Tech during the 2019 season. The addition of graduate transfer kicker Jose Borreagales from FIU is expected to be a big upgrade in 2020.

Bubba Baxa who was the Miami Hurricanes kicker in 2018 and 2019 lost his job last season after converting just five of his 10 field goal attempts and making 15 out of 17 extra-point attempts. Third-team kicker Turner Davidson replaced Baxa and made 1-3 field-goal attempts and all five extra-point attempts.

Camden Price, who was suspended earlier in the season, eventually steadied the kicking for Miami. Price made six out of seven field-goal attempts and all 18 of his extra-points. The damage was done however from the poor kicking early in the season. It proved to be a difference between a good season and a mediocre one.

Missed field goal was costly versus Florida

In the season opener against Florida, with Miami holding a 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter and began a drive at the Gators 25-yard line, Baxa missed what should have been an easy 27-yard field goal. It proved to be the difference later in the game. Florida scored the game-winning touchdown on their next possession

On their last drive of the game with Miami trailing 24-20, the Hurricanes had to go for it on fourth and 12 from the Florida 26-yard line. Had Baxa made the field goal earlier in the fourth quarter, he would have been set up for a 43-yard potential game-winning field goal. Jarren Williams’ pass was incomplete on fourth down.