Kirk Herbstreit names Miami football top 7 week 8 performing team

Top ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit named the Miami football team his fourth-best-performing team of week eight. Herbstreit named Virginia, Ohio State and Utah ahead of Miami and Nevada, Oklahoma State and Minnesota behind the Hurricanes in his top seven performing teams of week eight.

Miami beat Clemson 28-20 in double overtime on Saturday. The Hurricanes’ win ended a two-game losing streak and halted four consecutive losses to Clemson. Miami true freshmen edge rusher Rueben Bain earned the ACC Defensive Lineman and Rookie of the Week and was named the best true freshman by 247 Sports.

Bain had eight tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, 10 quarterback pressures, two quarterback hits and a forced fumble. Other standouts for Miami on defense versus Clemson were safety James Williams with seven tackles and linebacker K.J. Cloyd who had six tackles, one TFL, one sack, one QB hit and one pass breakup.

On offense, Emory Williams was an efficient game manager at QB. Williams completed 24 passes in 33 attempts for 151 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Williams evolved as the game progressed. Williams was 14-17 for 120 yards and one TD in the second half and the two overtimes.

The Miami football team dominated the line of scrimmage. After rushing for 33 yards in the first quarter, Miami held Clemson to minus two yards on the ground over the final three quarters and the two overtimes. The Miami offensive line did not allow any sacks and the Hurricanes averaged 5.6 yards per carry.

Wide receiver Colbie Young was the most productive pass catcher for Miami with six receptions for 76 yards and a TD. Mario Cristobal said he expects to Tyler Van Dyke and running back Henry Parrish to return versus Virginia on Saturday. Expect Miami to re-open the offense with Van Dyke healthy.