On Saturday in Blacksburg, Miami looked every bit like a team that still believes it belongs in the College Football Playoff conversation. Miami went on the road and handled Virginia Tech 34-17 at Lane Stadium, riding a near-flawless day from Carson Beck and another breakout performance from freshman star Malachi Toney. The Hurricanes led 20-3 at halftime, scored on all four first-half possessions and never trailed while improving to 9-2 overall and 5-2 in the ACC.
It was Miami's third straight win by at least 17 points, following dominant performances against Syracuse and NC State. Here are three takeaways from the win.
1. Carson Beck and Malachi Toney are in complete control of this offense
This was the version of Carson Beck Miami hoped to see earlier in the season. The veteran quarterback completed 27 of 32 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, opening the game 11 for 11 and hitting scoring throws to Elija Lofton, Mark Fletcher Jr., Girard Pringle Jr. and Malachi Toney. Over his last three games against Syracuse, NC State and Virginia Tech, Beck has thrown for 858 yards and eight touchdowns without a pick while completing at least 75% of his passes each week.
Toney set career highs with 12 catches and 146 yards in Blacksburg and added 16 rushing yards plus another completed pass as Miami moved him all over the field. Toney has now thrown a pass in three straight games, including a 14-yard touchdown to Beck against Syracuse and a 44-yard strike to JoJo Trader against NC State. When the quarterback is this sharp and the go-to receiver is this dynamic, Miami's ceiling on that side of the ball looks as high as anyone in the ACC.
2. The defense bent against the run but was still great
For the first time in weeks, Miami's defense did not completely suffocate an opponent. Virginia Tech finished with 395 total yards and gashed the Hurricanes for 194 rushing yards, the most Miami has allowed all season after entering the day with the ACC's top run defense at 81.8 yards per game. True freshman back Jeffrey Overton Jr. broke free for 69 yards and a touchdown, and the Hokies briefly cut the deficit to 27-17 in the fourth quarter after recovering an onside kick.
But, the defensive unit still delivered when it had to. Miami held Virginia Tech to 3 of 12 on third down, recorded five sacks and forced the game-sealing fumble in the fourth quarter. The Hokies finished with only three points in the first half and never had the ball with a one-score chance in the final minutes.
3. Miami is rising, but the margin for error is still zero
The win in Blacksburg passed the eye test. It was a two touchdown road victory over a Power Four opponent. It pushed Miami to 9-2 and extended a November run in which the Hurricanes have outscored Syracuse, NC State and Virginia Tech by a combined 113-34. On Sunday, voters responded by moving Miami up one spot to No. 13 in the AP Top 25. That is a positive sign moving into Week 14 of the CFP rankings which come out Tuesday night.
What the committee ends up doing is still in the air, but one thing is for certain — the Canes have to blow out Pitt and then hope for the best.