CINCINNATI — It’s the most important game of the year.
For decades, it has altered the course of Hurricanes seasons. It has major impact on the ACC division races, recruiting, and, in all likelihood, Al Golden’s job security.
Allen Eyestone
Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Walton (1) is tackled by Florida Atlantic Owls defensive back Jake Stoshak (20) at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida on September 11, 2015. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)
And it’s only 10 days away.
Miami had better not be thinking about the Oct. 10 showdown at Florida State when it lines up against Cincinnati on Thursday night. A non-conference road game the week before facing the hated Seminoles has all the makings of a trap, but the Hurricanes say they won’t be caught.
Good news: the Bearcats (2-2, 0-2 American Athletic Conference) pose enough of an offensive threat to demand Miami’s attention. That, plus the national television spotlight (7:30 p.m., ESPN) and Miami (3-0, 0-0 ACC) should consider this game a chance to make a statement before turning its attention to Tallahassee.
“It is a big game,” freshman running back Mark Walton said. “We’ve got to bring our best on Thursday night. Lot of people are going to be watching it.”
Several key players will view part or all the game from the sideline.
Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel is out after suffering a neck injury in last week’s 53-46 loss at Memphis. Kiel threw for 355 yards in a 55-34 loss to the Hurricanes last Oct. 11 at Sun Life Stadium. The man who will start in his place, redshirt freshman Hayden Moore, is no slouch.
After entering with four minutes remaining in the first quarter against Memphis, Moore set a program record for passing yards (557, with four touchdowns and two interceptions) in a wild game that ended with his ill-advised interception with 10 seconds left.
He’ll lead an offense that is putting up “prolific numbers, numbers I’ve never seen before,” Golden said. “They can score quickly. They can score in bunches. It’s going to be another rock-and-roll game.”
In this era of quick-paced, high-scoring football, Cincinnati makes most teams look lethargic. The Bearcats, who rank third in yards gained (623 per game), are on pace to run more plays (93.3 per game) than anyone since at least 2003, according to FBS-only data from TeamRankings.com. In that stretch, 2012 Marshall (92.8) has the highest play count.
That dizzying pace presents a challenge for a UM defense missing two safeties, senior Deon Bush and junior Jamal Carter, for the first half because of targeting penalties incurred in the Hurricanes’ last game, a 36-33 overtime win against Nebraska on Sept. 19. Also, UM’s top linebacker, junior Jermaine Grace, has battled a shoulder injury and was treated last week for a possible concussion. His backup at weak-side linebacker, former Park Vista High standout Marques Gayot, is out indefinitely after suffering a neck injury in practice last week.
“That’s all part of the deal. I don’t think we really blink at it,” defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said. “What happened in the previous three games and who we don’t have doesn’t matter.”
The Bearcats, who have gained a nation-best 139 first downs, also rank second-to-last in turnover margin (14 giveaways, four takeaways). They have thrown nine interceptions and lost three fumbles in their last three games. The ball-hawking Hurricanes, who rank No. 2 in the nation in turnover margin (plus-8) won’t lack for confidence.
Same goes for quarterback Brad Kaaya, named ACC offensive back of the week after throwing for a career-high 379 yards against Nebraska. Though he’ll be without junior receiver Stacy Coley (hamstring) for the second time in four weeks, sophomore Braxton Berrios returns from a knee injury suffered in the first quarter of UM’s season-opener.
He can also can lean on sophomore running back Joe Yearby (316 yards, three touchdowns), Walton (151, four touchdowns) and a rushing attack that put up 335 yards against Cincinnati last year.
The Canes can consider Thursday a warmup for the unfriendly environment they’ll expect in Tallahassee. Cincinnati’s noisy, 91-year-old Nippert Stadium, the fifth-oldest in college football, has been renovated and expanded to seat 40,000 and anticipates a record crowd. Miami, favored by six points, will try to break the Bearcats’ 27-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents.
“It’s going to be a hostile environment,” freshman linebacker Charles Perry said. “We’re Miami, so everyone wants a part of us. They want our best. They’re going to get our best.”
TONIGHT’S GAME
Miami at Cincinnati
7:30, ESPN