Miami will attempt flipping bye week woes under Mario Cristobal

Miami lost both of their regular season games following a bye week and their one bowl game in the first two years under Mario Cristobal. Miami hopes to flip the script on Saturday at Louisville following their first of two regular season byes this weekend. Cristobal extensively discussed the approach after a bye on Monday.

Miami entered their 2022 bye week after losing 17-9 at Texas A&M and demoralizing 45-31 to Middle Tennessee State. North Carolina beat Miami 27-24 after the bye week. Miami was 4-0 entering their 2023 bye week. The infamous late-game collapse against caused a 23-20 Miami loss after the bye in 2023.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Cristobal stated that Miami was humbled in the last two games. Miami had to rally from double-digit deficits in the fourth quarter to beat Virginia Tech and California. Miami had over a month off before losing 31-24 to Rutgers in the 2023 Pinstripe Bowl.

Miami was down to Jacurri Brown as their only scholarship quarterback available in the loss to Rutgers. Byes before the postseason are different with a few weeks to a month between games. Cam Ward will hope to rebound after throwing three interceptions, including a pick-six and losing a fumble in the last two games.

"When you come off a bye week, the importance of practice and the importance of practicing with intensity, the importance of practicing fast with speed...is critically important, We've been very successful at previous stops. At Miami, our last two years, we have not after bye weeks. And it's 1,000 percent related to the level and urgency of practice and preparation."

- Mario Cristobal

Cristobal was 5-0 after regular season byes and 2-2 in bowl games in four seasons at Oregon. The bye-week stigma for Miami precedes Cristobal. Miami has won only three of its last 11 games after a bye week. The Miami ineptitude after a bye week dates back to the three seasons under Mark Richt.

Miami has played with urgency for most of the 2024 season. The Hurricanes remained confident despite the big fourth-quarter deficits in their last two games. Cristobal demands attention to detail and intensity from his players. Miami should be prepared and ready to play at Louisville on Saturday.