After experiencing two heartbreaking defeats in recent weeks, the tenth ranked Miami Hurricanes find themselves in familiar territory, which is collapsing down-the-stretch. The Hurricanes were the favorite to win the contest against unranked SMU but failed miserably in striving to secure a sure win. Throughout the entire matchup, the Canes allowed the home team, SMU Mustangs to hang around the entire game.
It seems as though the Miami Hurricanes had another Deja Vu experienced by losing in a game that the team was more than capable of winning. The timing of this recent loss might once again have the Canes "on the outside, looking in," regarding the program's chance of playing in both the ACC Championship game and College Football Playoff. One could conclude that the promising outlook the Miami Hurricanes sought at the genesis of the 2025 campaign, have all but diminished in recent, heartbreaking losses.
Championship teams are ones who are disciplined. This latest defeat was an excruciating reminder of how the Hurricanes have a way to go to become an elite program. The game against SMU was another self-inflicted loss that has answered the question about the Miami Hurricanes returning to full glory.
Sadly, the Hurricanes have teased fans into thinking they are "back." Despite the obvious penalty that changed the momentum of the contest, which was the roughing the passer penalty by defensive-end, Marquise Lightfoot, the Miami Hurricanes had chances to seal a win but allowed the Mustangs to force the game into overtime. Once the Canes had the ball to commence overtime, miscommunication between Beck and Toney led to an interception by SMU, which allowed the Mustangs to eventually score the go-ahead touchdown.
The bottom line for the Miami Hurricanes is the fact that the program commences the season well, but ultimately, as the season progresses, the Canes are unable to sustain the early season momentum they created. Losing against opponents, who the Hurricanes have no business of becoming defeated by, is realistically a harsh reality the Miami Hurricanes must improve upon if the program has any chance of "silencing the critics," who seem to expect the Canes to falter.