Florida State put on an embarrassing performance against the Louisville Cardinals last Friday. After a 14-0 start, they were outscored 44-6 for the rest of the game and were handed their 11th consecutive road loss as they fell to 3-3 on the season.
This Saturday, FSU faces what will be their toughest test of the entire season when they hit the road to play the 5-0 Miami Hurricanes. They're a 21.5-point favoriteagainst the Seminoles, and it's going to take a herculean effort for them to pull off an upset.
With this being a rivalry game, anything is possible. Now, let's take a look at five things to know about Miami.
Quarterback Darian Mensah is extremely accurate and careful with the football
Mensah has put himself firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation with his performance through the first five games for Miami. He's
completed 84.2% of his passes for 1,438 yards and 15 touchdowns. What's even more amazing is that he only has 22 incompletions, and he has yet to throw an interception. Stopping him will be difficult.
Their defense is stingy
Miami has held three of their opponents to single digits, and only the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have put up 20 points. For the season, they've only allowed 9.8 points per game so far. Florida State will have a tough time scoring points in this one, which means they have to take advantage of every chance they get and put up touchdowns.
Wide receiver Malachi Toney is a nightmare to deal with
Toney is one of the most dynamic receivers in the nation. He can run the complete route tree, and he's a twitchy athlete with amazing run-after-the-catch ability. In an instant, he can take over a game with his knack for big plays, and FSU defensive coordinator Tony White will have to have a very strong game plan to slow him down.
They're almost impossible to run against
The Hurricanes are menaces against the run. They're the top defense in the nation versus the run, as they have allowed just 42.6 yards per game and a minuscule 1.9 yards per carry. Florida State runs the ball very well at a clip of 187.2 yards per game and nearly five yards per rush. The Seminoles' offensive line will have to have their best game of the season against the dominant defensive front of the Hurricanes and give Ousmane Kromah as many lanes as they can for him to be productive.
Rushing attack is lethal
For all the explosion Miami can create in the passing game, their running game is also dominant. The Hurricanes average 6.2 yards per rush and 220.4 yards a game on the ground. FSU's front seven on defense will have to really be on top of their game and not let Miami control the pace with the run.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Five things about Miami Hurricanes before matchup with FSU
