As No. 15 Miami tries to improve its chances of reaching both the College Football Playoff and the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, it hosts a potentially dangerous opponent in North Carolina State in its home finale on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Hurricanes (7-2, 3-2 ACC) are the highest-ranked ACC team, but they have alternated wins and losses following a 5-0 start. It’s taken away any margin for error as Miami must win its final three games to have any chance of accomplishing those aforementioned goals.
The Wolfpack (5-4, 2-3) aren’t in the CFP or conference title picture, but they have proven themselves a menace to teams that still are — or aren’t, anymore, thanks to them. NC State is coming off a bye that followed an 48-36 upset win at home against previously unbeaten Georgia Tech. The Pack also have wins over Virginia (in a nonconference game) and Wake Forest this season.
“It’s just a really good growth by the football team,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. “And with all the things we’ve been through that are well-documented, it was great to see them, you know, step up and play that way in a game of that magnitude, in a game we needed to win. And so now coming off a bye week, it was good timing, having two byes later in the season with our health, definitely going to help us at certain positions.”
The Wolfpack have been inconsistent, though, as that victory followed a 1-4 stretch with the only win coming against FCS Campbell. NC State’s CJ Bailey, who is from Miami, has been one of the consistent factors, posting the second-best passer rating (158.3) of any quarterback in the ACC. Bailey has thrown for 2,411 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Running back Hollywood Smothers leads the Wolfpack on the ground with 825 yards (6.9 yards per rush) and six touchdowns. His total yards and average per game (103.1) are best in the league.
“There’s been spurts where we’ve really played well off of each other and set up our offense or defense with special teams play,” Doeren said. “We hadn’t done it for four quarters. And then you get into a game like that and do it.”
Miami is coming off a 38-10 win at home over Syracuse last Saturday during which quarterback Carson Beck threw for a touchdown, caught a touchdown from receiver Malachi Toney and surpassed the 10,000-yard passing career mark.
The Hurricanes’ running game managed despite the absence of top tailback Mark Fletcher Jr., who sat out with an injury. Freshman Girard Pringle Jr. stepped in and amassed a team-best 55 yards and a touchdown to help Miami seal its win over the Orange.
“I was ready and prepared,” Pringle said. “When they told me to go in there, there were no second thoughts.”
Fletcher remains doubtful for Saturday’s game, but Miami expects to have linebacker Wesley Bissainthe back and possibly receiver C.J. Daniels as well.
NC State is giving up 4.15 yards per carry this season, which ranks 12th of 17 teams in the ACC.
“We need to get more out of the run game,” Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “(Pringle) came in and gave us a spark, and I think it’ll lift everybody up in that room.”
