01/09/26 02:13:00
Printable Page
01/09 14:11 CST Miami's rise under Cristobal takes the Hurricanes home to play
for a national title
Miami's rise under Cristobal takes the Hurricanes home to play for a national
title
By JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) --- Mario Cristobal returned to South Florida to find his
alma mater in disarray.
A national powerhouse during Cristobal's playing days, Miami had slipped out of
prominence for the better part of 20 years, a handful of losing seasons
sprinkled with mid-level bowl appearances.
Cristobal's goal when he was hired was to recreate a winning culture, put the
Hurricanes in the mix for national championships again. Four years later, the
Hurricanes will play for their first national championship since 2001 --- in
their home stadium, no less.
"It's a reflection of our players and their DNA and the way that they're wired,
how they came into the program and how they've continued to develop and
evolve," Cristobal said after Miami's 31-27 win over Mississippi in the Fiesta
Bowl Thursday night. "It almost seems like the tougher it gets, the better we
play. And it's a testament to them, to their resilience and their will."
One of Cristobal's first steps after being lured away from Oregon in 2021 was
to make Miami again a destination for top recruits and transfers, something he
had done with the Ducks. The former offensive lineman who won two national
championships with the Hurricanes also wanted to re-instill a winning culture,
adding physicality and discipline to the program.
Miami has been on a steady climb since Cristobal's hiring, increasing its win
total every year until this season's 13 wins --- and counting.
With the win over Ole Miss at the Fiesta Bowl, the Hurricanes will be the first
team in the BCS/CFP era (since 1998) to play a national championship in their
home stadium. Miami will face top-ranked Indiana or No. 5 Oregon in the Jan. 19
title game.
"What an unbelievable year," Miami quarterback Carson Beck said. "It was never
easy. It was never perfect. There were a lot of ups and downs. There was a lot
of adversity that not only I faced individually, but that we faced as a team.
We really banded together and showed that we believe in connection, that we
just don't fake it."
Beck has been a big part of Miami's run from No. 10 College Football Playoff
seed to the national championship game.
The sixth-year quarterback started his career at Georgia, winning a national
championship as a backup before two highly-productive seasons as a starter.
After a knee injury knocked him out of the playoffs last season, he looked at
declaring for the NFL before opting to play at Miami.
The Hurricanes are sure glad he did.
Beck was instrumental in the Hurricanes earning an at-large CFP bid and played
a huge role in their Fiesta Bowl. He threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns
with an interception --- on a tipped pass --- and orchestrated the game-winning
drive behind Miami's massive offensive line after Ole Miss took the lead with
three minutes left.
Beck took it in himself for the winning score, scrambling to the right for a
3-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left. He's 36-5 as a starter.
"He's hungry, he's driven, he's a great human being, and all he wants to do is
to see his teammates have success," Cristobal said. "And that's what we
witnessed tonight."
Miami's defense certainly has played its part.
The Hurricanes were middle of the FBS pack defensively last season, but took
huge strides under first-year coordinator Corey Hetherman. Miami allowed the
fewest points per game since the 2001 national championship team --- fourth
nationally --- and was 11th in the FBS in total yards allowed.
The Hurricanes gave up 398 yards in the Fiesta Bowl, but forced Ole Miss to
kick five field goals --- four makes --- and made one last stand in the closing
seconds after the Rebels reached Miami's 35.
"It's the simplicity of these guys," Cristobal said. "They know exactly who
they are, and they know what it took to get us to this point and they were not
settling for getting to this point just to get here. They weren't going to let
anything get in the way."
Now the Hurricanes are headed back to Miami after playing five straight games
away from home, one last hurdle in their way on the path to a national title.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up
here. AP college football:
https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and
https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
|
