Tyler Van Dyke overcame a brutal first half and had his breakout game as the Miami quarterback in a 45-42 loss at North Carolina in 2021. Miami hosts North Carolina on Saturday. Van Dyke was 5-15 for 59 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns in the first half at Chapel Hill last season.
In the second half, Tyler Van Dyke was 15-30 for 205 yards, one interception and one TD and put Miami in position to rally from a 28-10 second-quarter deficit. Miami was in a position to tie the game or take the lead when North Carolina intercepted Tyler Van Dyke at their own 16-yard line off a tipped pass with six seconds remaining.
Van Dyke finished 20-45 for 264 yards, three interceptions and one TD in his third collegiate start. The second-half performance by Van Dyke was a preview of what was to come over the final six games of the season. Van Dyke threw for at least 300 yards and three TD passes in each game of the 2021 season.
After the three interceptions versus North Carolina, Van Dyke threw 20 TDs and three interceptions over the final six games of the season. Miami rallied in the second half outscoring North Carolina 17-7 in the third quarter and 8-7 in the fourth. Key’Shawn Smith had a big game with seven receptions for 73 yards.
Jaylan Knighton is another returnee for Miami who had a big game versus North Carolina in 2021. Knighton had 17 carries for 92 yards and two TDs and two receptions for 73 yards and another TDs. Knighton was hurt versus Middle Tennessee State. Smith had four receptions for 81 yards versus the Blue Raiders.
The success for Van Dyke in 2021 came against a North Carolina defense that allowed 238 passing yards per game that was 83rd nationally. Miami hosts North Carolina on Saturday versus a pass defense that is even more porous in 2022. North Carolina is 104th nationally allowing 257.8 passing yards per game.
After Van Dyke was pulled versus Middle Tennessee State, Miami has not indicated who the starting QB will be against North Carolina. Jake Garcia relieved Van Dyke versus Middle Tennessee State. Garcia is 19-28 for 272 yards with no TDs and no interceptions in three appearances in 2022.
Van Dyke has struggled in 2022 completing 59.3 percent of his pass attempts for 809 yards, four TDs and three interceptions. In the last two games, Van Dyke has completed just 50.68 percent of his passes for 355 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Van Dyke was pulled in the third quarter versus Middle Tennessee State.
Miami is set up for success offensively versus North Carolina. North Carolina is 120th nationally allowing 450.4 yards per game. North Carolina had its best game of the season defensively in a 41-10 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday holding the Hokies to 273 yards. Miami and North Carolina kickoff at 4 PM ET on ESPN 2.