David Kenyon of the Bleacher Report wrote "1 Word to Describe Every Top 25 Team's October." Kenyon stated that October was tense for Miami. Miami began October with a 39-38 epic comeback at California. Following a bye Miami needed to hold on late to beat Louisville 52-45.
Florida State helped the Cardiac Canes have a comfortable 36-14 win on Saturday. Miami enters November 8-0 for the first time since 2017. The Hurricanes went 3-0 in October with one bye. Miami hosts Duke, plays at Georgia Tech, has another bye, hosts Wake Forest and plays at Syracuse in November.
Wake Forest who is 4-4 is the only team remaining on the Miami schedule without a winning record. Duke is 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, Georgia Tech is 5-4, 3-3 and Syracuse is 5-2 and 2-2. Quarterback Cam Ward carried Miami before a dominant running game led the win over Florida State.
With Ward at QB, Miami is first nationally averaging 48.3 points per game and 560.8 yards per game. Ward leads the second best passing offense nationally and the top among Power Conference teams averaging 366.8 yards per game. Miami proved versus Florida State and Louisville they can rely on the running game.
Except for *1@Cameron7Ward | #HE1SMAN pic.twitter.com/MFkgoAf99x
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) October 29, 2024
"5. Miami Hurricanes: TenseDavid Kenyon, Bleacher Report
Two things are simultaneously true: Miami doesn't need to apologize for winning ugly, and the 'Canes have played with fire lately. Heisman Trophy contender Cam Ward has ignited a great offense, and the running game has started to pick up. However, the defense struggled in a chaotic one-point victory (and 25-point comeback) at Cal and (a) 52-45 win at Louisville before dispatching rival Florida State. Miami has a clear path to 12-0, though the warning signs are present for another tense month."
The numbers for Miami stayed relatively steady in October. Miami was seventh nationally averaging 42.3 points per game in October and fourth averaging 519.3 total yards per game. Florida State was the first team in 2024 to hold Miami under 500 yards. Miami gained 445 total yards versus Florida State.
Miami improved significantly in the last two games versus ACC opponents averaging 224.5 rushing yards per game. Miami had a slight improvement averaging 195.67 rushing yards per game in October. The Hurricanes averaged 193.00 rushing yards per game in August and September games combined.
The convincing win over Florida State was critical to putting the tense victories behind them. Miami enters November tied with Georgia at 85 percent for the best chance to earn a College Football Playoff berth per the ESPN Football Power Index. Georgia has the sixth toughest remaining schedule while Miami is 53rd.