No. 22 Miami plays host to Bethune-Cookman, seeking 3-0 start to season
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Credit: AP/Lynne Sladky
Bethune-Cookman (1-1) at No. 22 Miami (2-0), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
Line: No line, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Miami, 6-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
This could be a great way for Miami to keep finding the depth it'll need to get through the season. The Hurricanes beat Bethune-Cookman 70-13 last season in the first game of the Mario Cristobal era, getting 76 players on the field at various times. For Bethune-Cookman, it's another chance against an FBS-level opponent after losing 56-14 to Memphis to open the season.
KEY MATCHUP
Miami vs. Miami. The Hurricanes are dealing with adversity — a short week after beating Texas A&M on Saturday, the injury scare to All-American safety Kamren Kinchens, and avoiding the noise that comes with returning to the AP Top 25. How Miami handles its business on Thursday will indicate if the maturity level is where Cristobal wants it to be.
Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke passes the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami (Ohio), Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Credit: AP/Wilfredo Lee
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bethune-Cookman: LB Dearis Thomas has 17 tackles and a sack in the season's first two games, and is likely to be a busy Wildcat on Thursday night.
Miami: WR Jacolby George had the ball thrown his way six times in the Texas A&M game. He caught five of those throws, and three became touchdowns.
FACTS & FIGURES
Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke threw for 374 yards against Texas A&M; 241 of those yards came after receivers actually made the catches. ... Bethune-Cookman has scored first in four of the six games against Miami, leading 7-0 in 2011, 7-0 in 2012 3-0 in 2017 and 3-0 last year. ... Miami has outscored Bethune-Cookman 302-50 in the all-time series, winning by an average score of 50-8. ... Miami is ending a three-game homestand to open the season. It visits Temple on Sept. 24. ... A win would give Miami only its second 3-0 start in the last six seasons. ... The Hurricanes returned to the AP Top 25 this week and have now been ranked at least once in each of the last four seasons. Hard as this may be to believe, it's Miami's longest poll-appearance streak since being in the rankings at least once in 27 consecutive seasons from 1980 through 2006.
