Iowa State scored touchdowns all five times they reached the red zone on Saturday. Miami scored two TDs, but had to settle for two field goals in four red zone trips. That ultimately was a huge reason why Iowa State beat Miami 41-40 to win the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday.
The inability of Miami to force red zone field goals hindered them versus Iowa State and in regular season losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse. Miami was 130th out of 133 teams with opponents converting 88.89 percent of their red zone trips into touchdowns in losses.
The most critical point of the game for Miami on Saturday was the second red zone field goal they had during the fourth quarter. Primarily running, Miami moved the ball to first and goal to the Iowa State seven. Jordan Lyle ran four yards for first down to the Iowa State three-yard line.
Emory Williams threw an incomplete pass to Shemar Kirk on second down. On third down Lyle was stopped for no gain. Mario Cristobal chose to have Andres Borregales kick a 21-yard field goal to put Miami up 41-35 with 9:40 remaining. That decision played a significant role in Miami losing to Iowa State.
Terrible way to end the season
— John Michaels (@JohnMichaelsU) December 29, 2024
Defense was terrible the last month, cost Miami a playoff and 3 losses
And we need a QB for next year ….badly
As they have done all season, Miami was inconsistent defensively. On the drive after the Borregales' field goal, Miami forced a three-and-out. Miami took over at their own 37. The Hurricanes needed about 30 yards to get in field goal range for Borregales to extend the lead to nine points.
Iowa State forced a three-and-out and Dylan Joyce's punt pinned the Cyclones on their own 16-yard line. A 15-play, 84-yard drive in 5:38 ended with a one-yard TD run by Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht put them in front 42-41. Miami had multiple opportunities defensively to stop Iowa State on the final drive.
Iowa State converted three third downs on the final drive and Becht's TD was on fourth down. Miami gave Iowa State an extra set of downs after safety Zaquan Patterson was called for defensive holding on second and goal from the four-yard line. Iowa State scored the game-winning TD on its sixth play inside the Miami 10.
I honestly feels like Miami plays defense with 10 people on the field every play lol
— Phillip Dorsett II (@Dorsett_4) December 28, 2024
Georgia Tech used eight plays to score TDs in three of its first-and-goal situations versus Miami. Its fourth TD also came in the red zone on a 16-yard run. Miami scored a TD on its only red zone trip versus Georgia Tech, but was twice stopped on downs inside the Yellow Jackets' 25-yard line and once at their 39.
Syracuse scored TDs on all four of its red zone trips versus Miami in a 42-38 win in the regular season finale that kept Miami out of the ACC Championship Game and likely knocked the Hurricanes out of the College Football Playoff. Miami had five TDs and one (questionable) field goal in five red zone trips versus Syracuse.
Four of Syracuse's five offensive TDs versus Miami came from inside the 10-yard line. The other was a 25-yard pass and the Orange added a 56-yard fumble return for a score that put them in front in the fourth quarter. Syracuse needed eight plays once it was inside the 10 to score the four red zone TDs.
Syracuse also converted seven of 10 on third down versus Miami. Situational football hindered Miami far too often this season. Miami was last in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2024 allowing opponents to convert 16 of 24 on third downs before the loss to Iowa State on Saturday. Iowa State was 6-13 on third down versus Miami.