Mario Cristobal discussed going for it on fourth down

Fourth-down conversions and defensive and special teams touchdowns were critical in the 52-45 Miami win at Louisville on Saturday. Miami converted both of their fourth down conversions and had a defensive touchdown. Louisville was 3-3 on fourth down and had a kickoff return TD.

Louisville also used a fake punt to keep a drive alive in the third quarter. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal knew Miami had to extend possessions to keep up in a high-scoring game. Running back Mark Fletcher had both carries for Miami on the two fourth-down conversions versus Louisville.

The first fourth-down conversion by Fletcher came on a gutsy decision by Cristobal to go for it from the Miami 25-yard line with one yard to go. Miami converted two more first downs on that drive before they had to punt from their own 43. The first down, Miami punting and flipping the field proved important.

On the first play of the next Louisville possession, Miami defensive tackle Simeon Barrow forced a fumble on Cardinals' running back Isaac Brown. Raul Aguirre recovered in the end zone for a Miami touchdown and extended the Hurricanes' lead to 24-14.

""You were going to gain a possession one way or the other. So were they. They gained in the form of a fake punt. We were going to gain it back in the form of, we were at our 28, 29 or something like that. Sure, you guys will love writing about me on that one. But I thought it was the right thing. Trust the big guys up front, and I like the size of our back so we liked what we saw...We like we saw in the form of those two particular plays which don't give in the detail about scheme...One was a big, big factor in the game.""

- Miami head coach Mario Cristobal

The second Miami fourth down conversion came with 5:19 remaining in the third quarter and the score tied at 31. Fletcher converted a fourth and one from their own 34-yard line. Cam Ward connected with Xavier Restrepo for a 63-yard completion on the next play to the Louisville two-yard line.

Isaiah Horton caught a two-yard TD pass from Ward on the play immediately following the Restrepo reception. The two fourth-down conversions by Fletcher were critical for Miami to win the game. Without the Fletcher runs, Miami doesn't score on those drives and gives Louisville the ball twice on short fields.

It's impossible to know what the outcome would have been without Fletcher's runs. Louisville's chances of scoring twice inside Miami's 40 would have been significantly higher, likely resulting in at least two field goals. If we remove Miami's points and add six to Louisville's, the score would have been 51-38 in favor of the Cardinals."

The Louisville fake punt came on fourth and seven at their own 28 with 2:37 left in the third quarter. Miami was leading 38-31. Duane Martin, the up back ran 14 yards for a first down to the Louisville 42 to extend the Cardinals' drive. Louisville ultimately completed a 13-play, 75-yard drive to tie the game at 38.

In the final drive of the game, Louisville successfully converted a fourth down while trailing 52-38. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Miami was penalized for fouls on fourth down, which allowed Louisville to extend their drives twice. Additionally, the Cardinals scored a 100-yard kickoff return, effectively granting them an extra possession.

Miami's 2024 offense has been aggressive, scoring 50-plus points four times and gaining the confidence to go for it on fourth down. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson was recognized as a top midseason assistant coach by the Broyles Award.