The Miami offensive line has consistently graded as one of the best nationally throughout the 2025 season. Miami will have one of its biggest challenges in 2025 when it plays at SMU on Saturday. The line of scrimmage will be a key factor in determining the outcome in Dallas on Saturday.
Miami offensive linemen Markel Bell and Matthew McCoy had two of the top 10 grades from Pro Football Focus in the 42-7 win over Stanford on Saturday. It was nearly a tale of two halves for Miami against Stanford on Saturday.
Miami had 95 yards on 20 plays during its first three drives against Stanford. The Hurricanes had 27 yards on carries during their first three drives of the game against the Cardinal. Miami did avoid any first-half sacks against Stanford.
It took Miami until its fourth drive of the game to assert control offensively. On its final drive of the first half, Miami went 15 plays, 71 yards in 7:26 to tie the game at seven. Miami ran eight times for 42 yards on the game-tying drive on their final first-half possession against Stanford.
"The Hurricanes' offensive line, led by star right tackle Francis Mauigoa, ranks third in the nation in PFF grade and fourth in PFF run-blocking grade. The latter could be a big factor against a stout SMU defensive line.Dalton Wasserman, Pro Football Focus
Led by star edge rushers Cameron Robertson and Jahkai Lang...the Mustangs’ defensive line leads the nation with a 91.1 PFF run-defense grade...The Mustangs are allowing just 3.7 yards per carry...excluding sacks. If SMU can match Miami’s strength in the trenches, it can force Carson Beck into obvious passing situations — where he has earned just a 63.7 PFF passing grade without play action."
Miami is 71st nationally, averaging 4.29 yards per carry, fourth with 23 tackles for loss allowed and seventh with six sacks permitted. As Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus stated, Miami has to be able to protect quarterback Carson Beck against SMU.
SMU is 11th nationally, allowing 2.79 YPC, 19th with 54 TFLs and ninth with 25 sacks. Mustang defensive lineman Isaiah Smith is ninth nationally with 11 TFLs. SMU defensive tackle Terry Webb is tied for 23rd with 5.5 sacks. Two Mustangs are in the top 100 in TFLs and four are top 100 in sacks.
Robertson is fourth on SMU and leads the Mustangs' defensive linemen with 38 tackles and has 8.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, two passes defended, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. Lang has 15 tackles, 0.5 TFLs and one fumble recovery.
SMU is deep on the DL with four players having at least 6.0 TFLs and 4.0 sacks. The Mustangs have at least five TFLs in every game this season. SMU has had four games this season with at least three sacks. Baylor held SMU to one sack in a 48-45 win.
Miami finished the game against Stanford with 205 rushing yards on 4.5 YPC and five touchdowns. Stanford had five TFLs but no sacks in their 42-7 defeat. Against Louisville two weeks ago, Miami held the Cardinals to two sacks and no TFLs but had only 63 yards on 23 carries.
Miami needs a consistent performance from the OL throughout the game at SMU. The Hurricanes cannot go nearly an entire half again with a stagnant offense. Staying ahead of the chains and keeping SMU out of their backfield will be keys for Miami to continue its quest to earn a College Football Playoff berth.