Miami Gardens, FL. – Leading with a strong defensive performance and a dynamic offense, the Miami Hurricanes maintained control from start to finish Saturday, defeating the Syracuse Orange 38-10 in front of a crowd of 60,337 at Hard Rock Stadium.
No. 18 Miami improved to 7-2 overall and 3-2 in the ACC. Syracuse dropped to 3-7 overall and 1-6 in conference play.
“I think that we showed in spurts what a really good football team we are. I think we also show what you see in college football, that games at some point in time, there’s some back and forth and some stagnant moments,” Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal said. “That’s why you keep playing, that’s why the game is four quarters. And then show that some of our young players are really playing well.”
The Hurricanes scored two touchdowns within a 23-second span late in the first half to break a scoreless game, and they averaged 10 yards per play during a 17-point third quarter that effectively sealed the game.
Miami’s defense limited Syracuse to 285 total yards, forced three turnovers, and recorded seven sacks along with 11 tackles for loss. Safety Jakobe Thomas had an impactful game with five tackles, one sack, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Cornerback Keionte Scott contributed with a 38-yard interception returned for a touchdown late in the first half. Defensive end Akheem Mesidor recorded 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss, while defensive tackle David Blay made five stops.
Quarterback Carson Beck completed 18 of 24 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown. He caught his first career pass from wide receiver Malachi Toney for a 14-yard score. Beck also completed a trick play—a backward pass to right tackle Francis Mauigoa for Miami’s final touchdown. Wide receiver Keelan Marion totaled three receptions for 116 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown reception, and running back Girard Pringle contributed 55 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Syracuse quarterback Rickie Collins completed 12 of 25 passes for 85 yards with two interceptions. Running back Yasin Willis carried 13 times for 63 yards. Linebacker Gary Bryant led the Orange defense with six tackles.
After a scoreless first quarter, Miami’s offense gained momentum when Beck connected with Marion on a 25-yard reception. Later, Beck found wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw on a 41-yard catch-and-run to the Syracuse 26. On the next play, Beck pitched to Toney, who then threw a pass to Beck, who sprinted down the left sideline for a 14-yard touchdown—Beck’s first career reception—giving Miami an early 7-0 lead.
Syracuse took possession at their own 25-yard line but was forced to change after a third-down interception by Scott, who returned it 38 yards for a touchdown, extending Miami’s lead to 14-0 with 1:50 remaining in the first half.
“They just played really good football,” Syracuse Orange football coach Fran Brown said. “They played really good, clean football for 60 minutes, and it was a pleasure and honor to be able to play against those guys.”
The Orange responded with their best drive of the half, reaching the Miami five-yard line. However, after a false start and a fumble caused by a hit from Mesidor that forced a fumble recovery by Thomas, Miami went into halftime with a 14-0 advantage.
In the second half, Syracuse scored first with a 38-yard field goal by Trip Woody, reducing Miami’s lead to 11 points. Miami quickly responded with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Marion, marking Beck’s achievement of over 10,000 career passing yards. The score became 21-3.
Miami’s defense forced another punt, and the offense capitalized. Toney rushed twice for 22 yards, and Pringle carried for six yards before a 19-yard rushing touchdown, increasing the lead to 25 points.
On Syracuse’s ensuing drive, Thomas recorded a sack on Collins and then returned a tipped pass from wide receiver Darius Johnson 10 yards to the Syracuse 23. Miami settled for a 36-yard field goal by Carter Davis, extending their lead to 31-3.
Following a sack on fourth down by Mesidor and Jadais Richard, the Hurricanes regained possession at the Miami 49-yard line. Pringle ran for 12 yards, and Beck connected with Marion for a 30-yard gain to set up first and goal. In a trick play, Beck took the snap, rolled left, then threw to Mauigoa, who scored on a three-yard rush (officially a rushing touchdown).
Syracuse backup quarterback Joseph Filardi completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Elijah Washington-Baker with 21 seconds remaining, closing out the scoring.
Miami will play their home finale next Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium against NC State, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2.
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