After the 38-34 victory by the Miami football team at Pittsburgh on Saturday, the Hurricanes, head coach Manny Diaz and quarterback Tyler Van Dyke were named in the top three nationally by ESPN top college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit. Miami earned its second straight victory over a ranked team against Pittsburgh.
The week prior to defeating Pittsburgh, the Miami football team earned a 31-30 victory over North Carolina State. Victories over the Wolfpack and Panthers were the first time in Hurricanes program history for consecutive wins over ranked teams while they were unranked. Van Dyke is being noticed nationally.
Against NC State and Pittsburgh the last two weeks, Van Dyke has completed 57 passes in 75 attempts for 753 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. Van Dyke has earned ACC Rookie of the Week consecutively for his performances against the Wolfpack and Panthers.
With the victory at previously, 18th ranked Pittsburgh, Miami was named the second-best performing team, Van Dyke the second-best QB and Manny Diaz the third best performing coach of the week by Herbstreit. The recognition by Herbstreit came after he criticized the Miami football program earlier this season.
Here are my top performing teams from WEEK 9:
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 1, 2021
1-@MSU_Football
2-@CanesFootball
3-@AuburnFootball
4-@UHCougarFB
5-@WVUfootball
6-@HailStateFB
7-@FresnoStateFB
8-@BUFootball
9-@CalFootball
10-@WSUCougarFB pic.twitter.com/foZxR9ymoc
Commenting on an article by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Herbstreit said that Diaz reportedly not being aligned with University of Miami President Julio Frenk and Hurricanes athletic director Blake James was something that needed to be rectified for the future of the football program.
Here are my top coaches from WEEK 9:
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 1, 2021
Mel Tucker @MSU_Football
Bryan Harsin @AuburnFootball
Manny Diaz @CanesFootball
Zach Arnett DC @HailStateFB
Jake Dickert @WSUCougarFB
P.J. Fleck, @GopherFootball
Dana Holgorsen @UHCougarFB
Neal Brown @WVUfootball
Kalen DeBoer @FresnoStateFB pic.twitter.com/hezQTHfqjL
The wins by Miami over Pittsburgh and North Carolina State have helped alleviate some of the criticism Diaz has received nationally and from the Hurricanes fanbase following a 2-4 start. With four games remaining against teams Miami will be favored against, the Hurricanes have to continue winning to keep the criticism away.
Here are my top performing players from WEEK 9:
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 1, 2021
1-Walker III @MSU_Football
2-Van Dyke @CanesFootball
3-Rogers @HailStateFB
4-Williams @OU_Football
5-Tucker/Jonathan @CuseFootball
6-@BadgerFootball Defense
7-McClain @AuburnFootball
8-Williams @NDFootball
9-Allgeier @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/E4BNEraZbb
Van Dyke has been an elite QB the last two weeks. After getting off to slow starts in games earlier this season, Van Dyke was sensational against Pittsburgh in the first quarter on Saturday. Van Dyke was 8-11 for 237 yards, two TDs as Miami took a 21-10 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Herbstreit has been fair with Miami. Although Herbstreit criticized the Hurricanes earlier this year, he has publically stated the importance of Miami for college football. Herbstreit announced Miami games against Louisville, Florida State and North Carolina in 2020. Miami is not likely to have a game called by Herbstreit in 2021.