Miami football has huge line of scrimmage advantage versus Virginia

The Miami football team has a huge advantage on the line of scrimmage entering the game versus Virginia on Saturday. Miami is tied for first in the ACC with Clemson at 53 tackles for loss and a four-way tie in the ACC with 22 sacks. Virginia is 13th in the ACC allowing 52 TFLs and 24 sacks.

The Miami offensive line is fourth in the ACC allowing 34 TFLs and third allowing just eight sacks the entire season. Virginia is tied for 12th in the ACC with 32 sacks this season and last in the conference with seven sacks. Virginia has had multiple sacks in a game only twice this season.

Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa is tied for third in the ACC with 8.5 tackles for loss. Virginia defensive end Kam Butler is the highest-ranked Cavalier at 21st in the ACC with five TFLs. Edge rusher Rueben Bain is tied for fifth in the ACC with 4.5 sacks. Butler is 11th in the ACC with 3.5 sacks.

The Miami offensive line has also been productive with the Hurricanes second in the ACC averaging 5.43 rushing yards per carry. Virginia ranks 11th in the ACC allowing opponents 4.5 YPC. Virginia is last in the ACC averaging 3.01 YPC. The Miami football team ranks first in the ACC allowing 2.73 YPC and 79.57 rushing yards per game.

Miami is third in the ACC averaging 193.86 rushing yards per game. Virginia is tied for 11th in the allowing 172.14 rushing yards per game. Miami has run for over 200 yards in four games this season. North Carolina and Texas A&M are the only teams to hold Miami under 100 yards rushing this season.

Miami has been able to be successful on the ground this season utilizing multiple running backs. Henry Parrish leads Miami with 452 yards rushing but did not play versus Clemson. Don Chaney Jr. is second on Miami with 375 yards rushing and Ajay Allen is third with 215. Miami has been without freshman RB Mark Fletcher.

Allen, Chaney Jr., Fletcher and Parrish are all capable RBs. Expect Miami to try and establish the run versus what has been a weak Virginia rushing defense. Virginia has allowed at least 143 rushing yards in all but one game this season. Maryland ran for a season-low 119 yards on 31 carries in a 42-14 win over Virginia.

The Cavaliers have four players in the top 25 in the ACC in tackles. Safety Jonas Sanker is third in the ACC with 60 tackles this season. Linebacker James Jackson is 13th, defensive back Coen King 24th and freshman LB Kam Robinson 25th in the ACC in tackles this season. Virginia will need a team effort to limit Miami offensively.

The Miami football team needs to be focused after the big double-overtime win over Clemson. Mario Cristobal stressed the importance of winning the line of scrimmage when he was hired in December 2021. Everything points towards Miami dominating Virginia up front on Saturday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.