No loss is a good loss. Especially in college football when one or two losses can be the difference between being a playoff team or missing out. But in Miami's case, their loss to Georgia Tech might be a necessary step to achieve their lofty goals this season.
The Hurricanes have had issues that have been plaguing them for weeks, mostly on the defense. Breakdowns in coverage. Gigantic running lanes. Poor tackling. It's the primary reason why Miami has trailed so often against inferior opponents.
But, because of Cam Ward's incredible ability to lift the team out of such deficits, those problems were easy to ignore. When you're 9-0 and ranked fourth in the country, how much can you complain?
After a loss to Georgia Tech, though, where the defense was the worst it's been all season, the issues can no longer be ignored. With sights set on an ACC championship and a College Football Playoff berth, the Hurricanes need to figure out these issues before it's too late.
Miami will have plenty of time before its next game on November 23 against Wake Forest, forcing them to sit on the disappointing feeling of the loss:
"Obviously bad taste we got in our mouth right now. We've got to hold it in for about two weeks with the bye week. It's gonna make us even stronger."Meesh Powell to WQAM postgame
The Hurricanes allowed 271 rushing yards on 5.6 yards per carry. The Yellow Jackets converted nine of their 14 third down attempts, while Miami converted just three of 10 and went one for four on fourth down.
One of the third downs allowed by Miami's defense was on a third and 18 at the start of the fourth quarter. A stop would have given Miami a chance to get the football back and take the lead, but instead they went down two possessions.
Another third down allowed came with five yards to go and with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Miami wound up forcing a punt, but not before over two more minutes ran off the clock. It's these types of plays allowed by the defense that really made a victory difficult for the Hurricanes.
.@LRiddickESPN explains why he'd take Cam Ward over Sheduer Sanders by a slim margin right now. pic.twitter.com/LwGHXL3zq2
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) November 11, 2024
Unfortunately, these issues were not just a one-game thing. In ACC play, Miami has allowed 30 or more points to each team they've played except for Georgia Tech, who they lost to and Florida State, who is 1-9. It's the story of Miami's season, a bad defense that's been bailed out by a great offense. But that luck shifted in their most recent game.
It would be a shame if Miami wastes the best offense in football by not contending for an ACC championship or playoff berth this year. Fortunately, they still control their destiny in the ACC after Pitt lost to Virginia on Friday. If Miami wins each of their last two games against Wake Forest and Syracuse, they'll be headed to Charlotte.
Where things stand now after the Georgia Tech loss and a bye week in front of them, Miami has the perfect opportunity to clean up and address all of the issues they've faced this year. It's better now than before it's too late. If Miami goes on to do great things in the postseason, maybe we look back on this loss as a blessing.