Miami turned a deadlocked game into a rout after halftime, burying Stanford 42-7 on Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium. The Hurricanes (6-1, 2-1 ACC) outscored the Cardinal 35-0 over the final 30 minutes, responding to a sluggish first half with their most complete defensive effort of the season.
Mark Fletcher Jr. set the tone after the break, finishing with 23 carries for 106 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Carson Beck was efficient throughout, going 21 of 28 for 189 yards with a 5-yard scoring toss to C.J. Daniels late in the second quarter that sent the teams to the locker room tied 7-7. Malachi Toney led Miami with five receptions for 52 yards and added 73 yards on two punt returns that helped Miami in the field position department. The Hurricanes possessed the ball for nearly 37 minutes and rushed for 199 yards.
The defense was complete for Miami. After Stanford marched 74 yards for a touchdown on its opening drive, Miami slammed the door — the Cardinal managed only 25 total yards over their next eight possessions and were shut out after the first quarter. Overall, the Canes allowed just 2.7 yards per play, produced two sacks and six tackles for loss, and generated two takeaways that flipped the game. Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe and cornerback Xavier Lucas each intercepted passes, and Miami turned both turnovers into touchdowns.
Miami's third quarter avalanche broke the game open. Fletcher's second and third TDs capped back-to-back drives, then the Canes layered on two more scores in the fourth to put the result beyond doubt. It was a pointed response one week after Miami's loss against Louisville and came on a night that drew camo uniforms as the program put together a Military Appreciation Game. It also marked the first football meeting between the schools.
Stanford (3-5, 2-3) arrived with momentum after a win over Florida State but found little room once Miami adjusted. The Cardinal were held to seven points and shut down on the ground after their opening series, undone by negative plays and third-and-longs.
The night also featured a long-planned celebration of Hurricanes greats: wideout Andre Johnson, left tackle Bryant McKinnie and linebacker Dan Morgan were inducted into the program's Ring of Honor at halftime. Quarterback Ken Dorsey is going to be honored at a later date.
Miami is visiting SMU on Nov. 1 in Dallas and Stanford returns home to face Pitt the same day.