No. 18 Florida State’s stellar offense meets No. 3 Miami’s tough D

For the first five weeks of the season, No. 3 Miami did not have to leave home.

The Hurricanes played their first four games at home and were on bye last weekend. Miami finally hits the road for a high-stakes rivalry in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener versus No. 18 Florida State on Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.

The contest was on track to be a top-10 clash before the Seminoles (3-1, 0-1 ACC) stubbed their toe in a 46-38 double-overtime loss at Virginia last week.

Still, it will be the first time these teams face off while both ranked since 2016. The two programs, which have won a combined eight national titles since 1983, have traded off successful seasons over past the eight years.

"We always knew this as the best rivalry in football," said Miami coach Mario Cristobal, who played for the Hurricanes from 1989-92.

While Florida State limps into this game off an upset defeat, Cristobal knows not to take the Seminoles lightly -- not after what they did to then-No. 8 Alabama in a resounding 31-17 win to begin the season.

"Getting ready for a very talented, physical and well-coached Florida State team that is playing at a high level," Cristobal said. "Statistically in the top 10 in just about every meaningful category."

That's certainly true with regard to Florida State's offense. Even after the loss, the Seminoles still lead the nation in scoring offense (53.0 points per game) and total offense (600.0 yards).

While those yardage numbers certainly are skewed by games against East Texas A&M and Kent State, Florida State still managed 514 total yards in the loss to the Cavaliers. The Seminoles have surpassed the 500-yard mark in three straight games for the first time since 2013.

The defense, though, took a sizable step back at Virginia. After the Seminoles began the season by holding Alabama to 341 yards of offense, 87 rushing yards and 17 points, Virginia gouged Florida State's defense to the tune of 440 yards, 211 rushing yards and six touchdowns, twice as many as the team allowed in its first three games combined.

"Just way too many little errors," Florida State defensive coordinator Tony White said. "Got to go back through and adjust during the week and make sure that we get that shored up, because we're going to see that again."

The Seminoles will be facing a more talented offense this week as the Hurricanes come to town. While Miami (4-0, 0-0) hasn't put up similarly gaudy numbers, the Hurricanes' offense has been quite effective in wins over then-No. 6 Notre Dame, then-No. 18 South Florida and two weeks ago vs. Florida.

Aided by a strong offensive line and a talented, deep pool of skill-position talent, new Miami quarterback Carson Beck has guided the offense well, completing 73.2 percent of his passes for 972 yards, seven TDs and three interceptions.

Florida State coach Mike Norvell has first-hand familiarity with Beck from the QB's time at Georgia, when Beck led the Bulldogs to a 63-3 demolition of a depleted Seminoles squad in the Orange Bowl at the end of the 2023 season.

"You can see that here in Miami he's feeling very comfortable with what they're asking him to do and what they've been able to accomplish here in the early part of the season," Norvell said of Beck.

Miami's defense, which leads the ACC in opponents' scoring (11.5 points per game) and total yardage allowed (244.5 per game), will also serve as quite a test for Florida State's potent offense.