The No. 4 Miami Hurricanes will play the Clemson Tigers on Saturday night, with kickoff from Memorial Stadium set for 7:30 p.m.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this ACC showdown.
Key Players
The Hurricanes are led by quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney. Mensah has thrown for 14 passing touchdowns (tied for first in the country) and just 12 incompletions; his completion percentage is a historically elite 88.7%. Toney has been Mensah’s top receiving target, catching 34 passes for 564 yards and six touchdowns. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (36 car., 230 yards, three touchdowns) has commanded the ground game, with left tackle and potential first-round pick Samson Okunlola leading the offensive line. As for the defense, edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot is enjoying a breakout season with a team-high 17 tackles and four sacks. Ethan O’Connor has also emerged as a legit lockdown cornerback, posting a team-high Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 87.8. Defensive tackles Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott, both starters on last year’s national title appearance team, anchor the interior of the defensive line.
While Clemson isn’t the national powerhouse it once was, it still boasts plenty of talent that will eventually play professionally on Sundays. Cornerback Ashton Hampton is one of the top outside cornerbacks in the nation, and edge rusher Will Heldt already has four sacks this season. On offense, wide receivers T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco are two names to know. Running back Gideon Davidson is a potential breakout star. He ran for 159 yards last week against California. True freshman Teit Reynolds, who has thrown for 521, a touchdown and two interceptions, will get the start at quarterback.
Injury Report
Miami:
WR Joshua Moore (OUT)
RB Marty Brown (OUT)
CB Xavier Lucas (OUT)
CB OJ Frederique (OUT)
TE Owen Ruskavich (OUT)
TE Luka Gilbert (OUT)
LB Ezekiel Marcelin Jr. (PROBABLE)
Clemson:
S Polo Anderson (OUT)
CB Shavar Young Jr. (OUT)
WR Cole Turner (OUT)
RB David Eziomume (OUT)
RB Jay Haynes (OUT)
DT Kourtney Kelly (OUT)
OL Mason Wade (OUT)
DT Markus Strong (OUT)
DE Armon Mason (PROBABLE)
OL Elyjah Thurmon (PROBABLE)
Betting Odds (Per DraftKings)
Spread: Miami -15.5
Total: O 48.5
Weather
There is a 75% chance of thunderstorms at 7 p.m. and a greater than 45% chance of rain throughout the rest of the night.
TV Info
Miami vs. Clemson will be televised on ABC.
