Miami football far better fourth quarter team than North Carolina State

The Miami football team should have a big advantage over North Carolina State in the fourth quarter. Miami is 13th nationally versus FBS teams averaging 10.6 points per game in the fourth quarter. North Carolina State is 128th out of 133 teams nationally averaging 3.3 PPG in the fourth quarter.

The Miami football team is 12th nationally allowing 3.6 PPG in the fourth quarter. North Carolina State is 73rd allowing 7.0 PPG in the fourth quarter. Miami was able to put Texas A&M away with a strong fourth quarter in September. The Hurricanes needed strong fourth quarters in comeback wins versus Clemson and Virginia.

Miami led Texas A&M 31-26 entering the fourth quarter. The Miami football team outscored Texas A&M 17-7 in the fourth quarter to earn a 48-33 win. Miami had a decisive 64-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Van Dyke to Jacolby George on third and seven with 2:36 remaining to put the game away.

Miami trailed Clemson 17-7 entering the fourth quarter. Behind true freshman QB Emory Williams, Miami outscored Clemson 21-3 in the fourth quarter and two overtimes to earn the 28-20 win. Williams completed five passes in eight attempts for 63 yards and a TD in the fourth quarter versus Clemson.

Behind Williams, Miami had 15 and 10-play drives to force overtime versus Clemson. Miami needed two field-goal drives in the fourth quarter to tie the game each time and send it to overtime versus Virginia. After struggling all game, Van Dyke was 11-14 for 82 yards and no interceptions in the fourth quarter.

Close games have been blown open or North Carolina State nearly lost big leads in the fourth quarter often this season. NC State was outscored 8-3 in a 24-21 win over Virginia in September. A week later, NC State allowed a Louisville field goal as the only score in the fourth quarter of a 13-10 loss. In their 24-17 win over Clemson last week, North Carolina State was outscored 10-0 in the fourth quarter.

The last three Miami versus North Carolina State games have come down to the fourth quarter. In 2016, Miami used two fourth-quarter scoring drives to take two score leads over North Carolina State. The Hurricanes put the game away with a Mark Walton 24-yard TD run with 2:06 remaining in Raleigh.

In 2020, Miami and North Carolina State combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense. Miami outscored North Carolina State 13-3 in the fourth quarter for a 44-41 win. The Hurricanes overcame a 41-31 deficit in the fourth quarter behind two Jose Borregales field goals and a D’Eriq King to Mike Harley TD pass.

In 2021, Van Dyke earned his first win as a starter against an FBS opponent versus North Carolina State. After trailing NC State 27-24, Van Dyke threw a four-yard TD pass to Charleston Rambo with 9:34 remaining in the fourth quarter to give Miami the lead for good in a 31-30 win over North Carolina State.

The physicality the Hurricanes have played with this season and the past success by Miami against North Carolina State should provide confidence in the fourth quarter. Van Dyke knows he can lead drives in the fourth quarter, specifically against the Wolfpack. The fourth quarter should be key in Raleigh on Saturday night.