The Hurricanes’ coaching staff preaches a “1-0 mentality.” No game is bigger than any other. The team just needs to focus on its opponent for the next week.
After Miami beat North Carolina last weekend, UM defensive lineman Marquise Lightfoot said he did not know what team was next on the schedule.
“That’s just 1-0 mentality,” Lightfoot said. “We’re preparing for the next opponent, which, I don’t know who we’re playing right now, but we’ve just got to get there.”
A reporter at the press conference asked if Lightfoot really did not know who the No. 1 Hurricanes‘ next opponent was. Lightfoot said no and was informed No. 11 Notre Dame was up next.
“It’s Notre Dame then,” Lightfoot responded. “That just goes to show it’s just 1-0 mentality. We don’t look past (anyone). We ain’t preparing for nobody else who’s not our week’s opponent.”
Lightfoot and his teammates might have been the only ones who did not already know the Fighting Irish (7-1) were next on the schedule. Miami fans, Notre Dame fans and college football fans around the country have been waiting for Saturday’s matchup in South Bend, Indiana, (7:30 p.m., NBC) for nearly a year.
“It’s just another game,” center Ryan Rodriguez said. “They’re going to go out there, play physical and give us (their) best shot. We’ve got to go out there and execute, give it our best shot, and it’s going to be a great game.”
It won’t be “just another game” for one crucial Miami (8-0, 6-0 ACC) player. Malachi Toney will be unavailable for Saturday night’s game due to an ankle injury.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal did not comment on Toney’s injury before Saturday’s game. But he and the UM staff will need to find a way to make up some of the offensive production Toney contributes on a weekly basis. Quarterback Darian Mensah could look to close friend Cooper Barkate, who is the Hurricanes’ No. 2 receiver this season, to fill the void. Miami could also get more production from fellow wide receivers Daylyn Upshaw, Somourian Wingo, Vandrevius Jacobs or Vance Spafford.
But the production does not necessarily have to come from the Hurricanes’ wide receivers. Miami’s running back tandem of Mark Fletcher Jr. — who is on the verge of setting the program record for rushing touchdowns — and Javian Mallory has helped UM rush for more than 200 yards per game.
Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, the Fighting Irish boast one of the best defenses in the nation. They rank in the top 10 in both rushing defense and passing defense. Notre Dame is No. 1 in yards allowed per game (236.3).
“Obviously, a big challenge,” Mensah said. “We’ve got a bunch of great players across the board. We’ve got to come in and prepare the right way so we can be successful on Saturday.”
Miami’s defense is also in for a tough test. The Hurricanes have struggled to stop opponents’ passing games, and they rank 122nd nationally with 251.9 passing yards allowed per game.
The Fighting Irish rank 34th in the nation with 256.8 passing yards per game. Junior quarterback C.J. Carr is considered one of the nation’s best at his position. He is completing 66.7% of his passes and has 18 touchdowns with only one interception. Carr has an 87.7 passing grade, which is 10th nationally among quarterbacks with 100 or more dropbacks.
“He definitely got better every week last year, and he’s getting better every week this year,” defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. said. “He’s getting more comfortable in his pocket. He’s going through his keys. He’s reading defenses. He’s a great player, and I’m just excited to go against him.”
Miami has played tough games on the road this year against Wake Forest and UNC, but Notre Dame will be a different animal. The teams have a long-tenured rivalry, and the eyes of college football fans around the nation will be upon them; ESPN’s “College GameDay” will broadcast from Notre Dame’s campus in the morning. By the time the game kicks off, the fans in attendance will be amped up. But Cristobal said the “outside noise” does not bother his team.
“I just don’t think those words resonate with our players: narratives, pressure,” Cristobal said. “The expectations within the walls here are greater than any outside noise or quote-unquote pressure can be. Our players recognize the incredible opportunity we have in front of us and the incredible opponent that we are facing. So all focus and all energy on preparing to the best of our abilities.”