Miami football 2023 numbers are most dominant in ACC

The Miami football team has the best numbers in the ACC as they begin conference play on Saturday versus Georgia Tech. Miami leads the ACC in scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense and defense as they begin conference play. Miami is fourth in passing, second in scoring and total defense and eighth against the pass.

The Hurricanes have started the 2023 season 4-0 with the 13th-best strength of record, 15th-best Football Power Index according to ESPN versus the 102nd-best strength of schedule. The strength of schedule for the Miami football team will significantly improve as they go through their ACC schedule.

Real-Time RPI ranks the ACC as the third-best conference five weeks into the season. The Pac 12 is first and the SEC second. The ACC is behind the SEC despite a winning record in head-to-head games between the conferences. The four traditional in-state rivalry games between the ACC and SEC will occur on Thanksgiving Weekend.

Miami is topping the ACC averaging 43.8 points per game. The Hurricanes have scored at least 38 points in its first four games for the first time since 2022. Miami finished the 2022 season averaging 40.5 which was fourth out of 117 nationally. Most impressive is that Miami scored 48 on Texas A&M who is allowing 18.5 PPG.

Florida State is slightly behind Miami averaging 43.3 PPG to rank second in the ACC. Louisville is a distant third averaging 38.2 PPG. Miami has a sizeable lead in total offense. The Hurricanes average 519.0 yards per game. Louisville is second in the ACC averaging 494.8 yards per game. Georgia Tech is third at 467.4 YPG.

Miami leads the ACC in rushing even when including a 77-yard performance against Texas A&M. Miami is averaging 222.50 rushing YPG. Duke is second averaging 199.00 rushing YPG. In its other three games this season, Miami ran 250 yards versus Miami (Ohio), 240 yards versus Bethune-Cookman and 323 versus Temple.

The Miami football team is fourth in the ACC averaging 296.5 passing yards per game, second in averaging 10.4 yards per attempt, first completing 75.4 percent of their pass attempts and with a 192.92 passer rating. Miami has not had to be prolific passing because of a dominant run game in three of its four wins.

Miami has been nearly as dominant defensively compared to its ACC rivals. The Hurricanes are second in the ACC allowing 12.5 PPG. Duke who is 4-1 leads the ACC allowing 11.2 PPG. Syracuse is third in the ACC allowing 14.8 PPG. Miami has allowed 10 points or less in three of its first four games.

Miami has made it nearly impossible for opponents on the ground allowing 48.0 rushing yards per game. Clemson is a distant second allowing 83.20 rushing YPG. The Miami run defense has been so dominant that Clemson is closer to sixth place Louisville in rushing yards allowed per game than they are to Miami.

Miami has forced opponents to throw because of how dominant they are versus the run. The Hurricanes are eighth in the ACC allowing 225.0 passing yards per game. Miami has mixed results in its pass defense efficiency. Miami is fifth with a 114.34 opponent passer rating and with opponents averaging 6.6 YPA.

The Hurricanes need to improve allowing opponents to complete 57.4 percent of their pass attempts which is eighth in the ACC. Texas A&M threw for 336 yards on 53 attempts. Bethune-Cookman only had 132 yards passing but averaged 7.8 YPA. Miami will face good quarterbacks nearly every week in the ACC.