For a moment, a palpable tension hung heavy in the humid Miami air. The home crowd, already on edge after a gut-wrenching overtime loss last week, grew restless. Four drives, four punts. The offense looked stuck in neutral, hampered by a string of injuries to key starters. The boos started to rain down.

Then, just as the frustration reached its peak, the Miami Hurricanes remembered who they were.

With a flash of trick-play brilliance and a defensive stand that turned the game on its head, No. 18 Miami (7-2, 3-2 ACC) unleashed its frustration on a struggling Syracuse (3-7, 1-6), exploding for two touchdowns in 23 seconds to blow the game open and cruise to a much-needed 38-10 victory.

“When Miami’s on, Miami really distinguishes itself as one of the better teams,” Coach Mario Cristobal said, a statement that felt more like a prophecy fulfilled after the sluggish start. The Hurricanes weren’t just on; they were electric.

A Tale of Two Halves for Miami’s Offense

The game began as a gritty, scoreless slugfest. Without starting running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and top receiver CJ Daniels, the Miami offense sputtered. The first 22 plays yielded zero points and a chorus of discontent from the Hard Rock Stadium faithful. Quarterback Carson Beck, just a week removed from a game-ending interception at SMU, seemed to feel the pressure.

But this is college football, where momentum can turn on a dime. Cristobal, sensing his team needed a spark, reached deep into his playbook. On a drive that started with a 41-yard screen pass to freshman Daylyn Upshaw, Miami found itself with a chance. Toney, a high school quarterback, took an end-around pitch and lofted a perfect pass back across the field to a wide-open Beck, who strolled into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown reception. The crowd erupted. The spell was broken.

“There was a lot of help along the way,” Beck said with a smile after learning he had eclipsed 10,000 career passing yards during the game. “But super excited to hear that.”

That excitement was just getting started. On the ensuing Syracuse possession, safety Keionte Scott jumped a route, snagged an interception, and weaved 38 yards for a pick-six. In the blink of an eye, a tense 0-0 stalemate had become a 14-0 Miami lead, and the Hurricanes never looked back.

Dominance, Trickery, and a Big Man Touchdown

The second half was a showcase of what Miami can be at its best. The defense, which recorded six sacks on the day, was relentless. The offense, finally in rhythm, scored on four consecutive possessions. Beck connected with Keelan Marion for a beautiful 61-yard touchdown pass, Marion’s first as a Hurricane.

The highlight of the night, however, belonged to 335-pound offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa. In a play that had the entire stadium roaring, Beck threw a backward pass across the field to the big tackle, who rumbled 3 yards for a rushing touchdown. It was a moment of pure joy.

“It’s a play we’ve been practicing for two, three years now,” Mauigoa said, recalling his first touchdown since his childhood days.

Freshman Girard Pringle Jr. also added a 19-yard touchdown run, showcasing the depth that Miami had to rely on with so many starters sidelined.

Syracuse’s Skid Continues

For Syracuse, it was another painful chapter in a season spiraling out of control. The Orange have now lost six straight games, their longest losing streak since 2020. They showed flashes, particularly on the ground where they outrushed Miami 161-121, but they couldn’t sustain drives or protect their quarterback.

“We had a lot of self-inflicted wounds,” said Syracuse coach Fran Brown. “I think they’re a really good football team.”

Quarterback Rickie Collins finished a modest 12 of 25 for 85 yards and two costly interceptions before being replaced. The Syracuse offense managed just a single field goal until a garbage-time touchdown with 21 seconds left. The difference in climate—a balmy 83 degrees in Miami Gardens versus a brisk 44 in Syracuse—seemed to mirror the difference in the two programs’ fortunes.

With this win, the first step in a difficult climb back into the College Football Playoff conversation is complete for Miami. While they’ll need help, this dominant performance proved that when the Hurricanes are firing on all cylinders, they are a force to be reckoned with.