MIAMI GARDENS -- N.C. State has made a habit of taking down the top teams in the ACC this season. The Wolfpack previously beat Virginia (in what was technically scheduled as a non-conference game) and Georgia Tech.
The No. 15 Hurricanes made sure they would not be the third upset on the Wolfpack's resume. Miami (8-2, 4-2 ACC) rolled to a 41-7 win over N.C. State at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, dominating their opponent for nearly the entire game.
The Hurricanes took a lead on their opening drive, scoring on a short field goal by Carter Davis.
The defense had a strong start, forcing punts on the first two Wolfpack drives, and the unit came up strong again on the third. After the Wolfpack got the ball around midfield on a Marty Brown fumble, senior safety Jakobe Thomas picked off a pass from Chaminade-Madonna alum CJ Bailey and returned it 60 yards for the game's first touchdown.
Thomas was not done terrorizing Bailey, picking off a bass on the following drive, as well. Thomas did not keep his feet after the interception, so he did not return the pick for his second touchdown of the game.
Miami's offense reached the end zone for the first time after the defense forced a punt deep in N.C. State territory. The Hurricanes took over near midfield, and star freshman Malachi Toney -- who played some quarterback in high school -- tossed a 43-yard pass to Jojo Trader, which set up a 1-yard score by Marty Brown to give UM a 17-0 second-quarter lead.
The Hurricanes extended their lead to 24 shortly before half, as Carson Beck tossed a 14-yard touchdown to Toney -- the freshman's fourth touchdown of the season.
UM's dominant effort continued into the second half. Tight end Elija Lofton caught his first touchdown of the year on a 29-yard pass from Beck, and the Hurricanes added a fourth-quarter touchdown from Beck to Toney -- their second scoring connection of the game.
Punt. Punt. Interception. Interception. Punt. Punt. Punt. End of half.
That's how the Wolfpack's first-half drives concluded. They ended the first half with just 82 yards and four first downs. The Hurricanes' defense dominated from the first snap of the game, and they did it without one of the nation's top defensive players, nickelback Keionte Scott (who missed the game with an injury).
N.C. State entered the game as a top-50 offense, but it ended the game with just 149 yards -- the third-lowest total by a UM opponent this season. The Wolfpack did not cross into Hurricanes territory until there was about 5:30 left in the game, well after Miami had secured the win. N.C. State did not score until the game's final three minutes. I
Thomas had a comical interception against Syracuse where he did not realize he caught a live ball and hesitated before running.
He had no hesitation this week. The senior had two interceptions in the first quarter, taking the first to the end zone for the Hurricanes' second pick-six in as many games.
The Hurricanes got a jolt on offense from speedy freshman running back Girard Pringle Jr.
Pringle, a Tampa native, made his first start and notched his first collegiate 100-yard game. Pringle had 116 yards on 17 carries in the win.
With the Hurricanes likely needing an at-large bid to make the College Football Playoff, they need to impress the selection committee.
Although UM was facing an unranked opponent, the manner in which it dispatched the Wolfpack should earn the Hurricanes some style points. The defense excelled, the offense put up points and there were several highlight plays. Now Miami has to hope the committee takes notice.