CBS Sports says Tyler Van Dyke is back, and so is Miami football

As part of its “College football Week 3 overreactions” Will Backus of CBS Sports stated that “Tyler Van Dyke is back, and so is Miami.” The offense for the Miami football team has been efficient and explosive in the first three weeks. The system under new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has been a great fit for Van Dyke.

Van Dyke is seventh nationally in passer rating and completion percentage, 14th in touchdown passes and 26th averaging 274 passing yards per game. Xavier Restrepo is 15th nationally averaging 104.7 receiving yards per game and Jacolby George is tied for sixth with four TD receptions.

The Miami offense is playing at a level similar to 2021 when Van Dyke had a breakout season. Van Dyke finished the 2021 season with six consecutive games of 300 yards passing and three TD. Only Joe Burrow of LSU in 2019 during a Heisman Trophy-winning season accomplished 300 yards and three TD in six straight games.

The question about whether or not the Miami football team is back seems to be perpetual. It is a subjective observation to determine if Miami is back. The definition will vary depending on who is determining what makes Miami back. Miami looks far better offensively in 2023. Backus summarized Miami and Van Dyke.

"Tyler Van Dyke is back, and so is Miami“There was a time when Tyler Van Dyke was considered a Heisman Trophy contender. That talk fell apart quickly in 2022 as he, and Miami’s entire offense, devolved into one of the worst units at the power conference level.And then Van Dyke suffered a shoulder injury that cost him the final three games of the year, and people started to question if he would ever return to form. So it’s fair to say that Van Dyke is blowing all expectations out of the water through his first three games in 2023.He put on a masterclass in Week 2’s upset win against Texas A&M…(and0followed that up with a workman-like statline against Bethune-Cookman…Van Dyke has regained his redshirt freshman form, and Miami looks like a serious contender in the ACC as a result.That Nov. 11 road trip to Florida State could be a cornerstone moment for Mario Cristobal’s young tenure.”"

Through a quarter of the season, Van Dyke has entered the discussion as a long-shot Heisman Trophy candidate. Fan Duel currently lists Van Dyke 11th at +3000 to win the Heisman Trophy. Van Dyke will have an opportunity to compete against teams with other Heisman Trophy candidates at quarterback.

Miami will be challenged against a stout Temple pass defense on Saturday. Temple is 41st allowing 201.5 passing yards per game against FBS opponents. Miami is 18th nationally versus FBS opponents averaging 308.5 passing yards per game. George, Restrepo and Colbie Young have been Van Dyke’s primary receivers.

With the Dawson-led offense, Van Dyke should continue posting elite numbers. The offense for the Miami football is back at least to 2020 and 2021 levels under former offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Dawson is utilizing the strengths of Van Dyke and the players around him.