Miami Improves to 5-0 With 41-13 Win Over Clemson

The Hurricanes used a turnover-free performance, two Mark Fletcher touchdowns and a six-sack defensive effort to beat Clemson at Memorial Stadium ahead of their off week.

The Miami Hurricanes rolled past the Clemson Tigers 41-13 on Saturday night, October 3, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, in a game carried by ABC. The result lifts Miami to 5-0 heading into its off week.

Mistakes divided the two sides. Clemson committed the only turnovers of the night, a fumble by quarterback Tait Reynolds and a late interception brought back for a touchdown, while the Hurricanes protected the ball throughout. Clemson was also assessed 91 penalty yards to Miami's 68, and the teams went 9-of-21 and 5-of-13, respectively, on conversion downs.

Quarterback Darian Mensah averaged 8.2 yards per pass attempt and threw for a score, and he added a rushing touchdown on a 34-yard scramble that ended with him falling on his own fumble in the end zone. His completions reached five different teammates, three of whom averaged at least ten yards per catch. Mark Fletcher led the ground attack at 4.8 yards per attempt with two touchdowns, though he appeared to hurt his groin at one stage. Javian Mallory complemented him at 4.5 yards per carry.

With Malachi Toney shadowed by double coverage for much of the night, Cooper Barkate benefited to the tune of 19.6 yards per reception, including a 61-yard screen pass for the game's opening touchdown. Toney still made his mark, converting a fourth-and-one throw against double coverage and, on one of Fletcher's scores, pulling two defenders with him before blocking a third. An illegal-shift penalty erased another snap on which Toney had run free against a linebacker. He has another season remaining at Miami.

The offensive line permitted two sacks, two tackles for loss and a handful of hits and pressures on Mensah. Buchanan and McCoy each had to leave the game at different points, and McCoy later returned with his shoulder in a harness. Congdon earned the start at left guard from the first snap and helped open the lane for the long opening score, with Rodriguez delivering a decisive block on the play.

Jake Weinberg highlighted a steady kicking game with a career-long 50-yard field goal. Coverage units contained Clemson aside from Chris Johnson Jr.'s 42-yard return of the opening kickoff. Miami's own kick-return group, by contrast, generated almost nothing.

Miami's defense registered six sacks and nine tackles for loss, though it finished without a pass breakup. Damon Wilson led the charge with 2.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, and Chase Smith recorded five solo stops. Reynolds, a freshman, averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and finished with minus-22 rushing yards, a figure that reflects sack yardage under college rules. He distributed the ball to nine receivers, only two of whom averaged double-digit yards per catch.

Clemson's ground game found some room against a front surrendering 4.7 yards per carry to the Tigers' three running backs. Johnson Jr. averaged 6.4 yards per attempt and Davidson 3.6 with a touchdown, while wideout Bryant Westco paced the passing game at 16.9 yards per catch. Reynolds also delivered several clutch plays to keep drives alive, offsetting the turnovers.

Clemson is back in action quickly, hosting Florida State on Sunday, October 4 at 3:30 PM EDT at Historic Riggs Field. The game airs on the ACC Network.