It wasn’t a pretty path, but the Miami Hurricanes have a College Football Playoff game this weekend, giving head coach Mario Cristobal his chance at history after missing out on the playoff last season.
Cristobal has been an elite recruiter during his tenure at Miami, and the resources have been there for the transfer portal, but Miami is still looking to get that end result of postseason success. While he’s built Miami into a national contender, the head coach’s in-game management has been scrutinized in the past, and he will likely be tested again in the postseason.
Cristobal isn’t the only one with something to prove. Highly-paid quarterback transfer Carson Beck is looking to put a stamp on his collegiate career and potentially boost his stock one last time.
A once heralded NFL prospect, Beck’s stock has slipped over the past two years, with his struggles really showing in big games. But, the Hurricanes quarterback has quietly had a strong end to the season, finishing the year with 12 touchdowns and one interception in his final four games.
A big part of the equation for Beck has been taking care of the football, as turnovers have come in spurts for the quarterback who has thrown 22 interceptions in the last two seasons.
Protecting the football will be the biggest factor in this weekend’s game against the Texas A&M Aggies, as Miami is facing a quarterback who has the tendency to make plays but also struggles with turnovers.
The Hurricanes have been one of the most efficient offenses in the country with Beck at the helm, but the explosive plays have been a struggle at times in the close games. Beck’s accuracy has been better this year, but Miami has to also look to create easier throws to allow their skill position players to make plays in space.
Beck is currently the No. 2 quarterback in completion percentage behind Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, while averaging 8.7 yards per attempt and nearly 12 yards per completion.
Beck could be the difference-maker in this year’s College Football Playoff. Miami is good enough on both sides of the ball to beat any team in the country. They’re as hot as any team in college football, scoring at least 34 points in four straight games, while limiting opponents to just 10.3 points a contest during that stretch.
It’ll come down to the two people with the most to prove. For Beck, can he keep the ball out of harm’s way against the top defenses in college football, which has been a struggle in the past? And for Cristobal, will he snap out of his conservative approaches and be more aggressive in what will likely be close games in the Playoff?
Those two questions will determine Miami’s future in the coming month and have Hurricanes’ fans are the edge of their seats.
