No. 4 Miami leans on QB Cam Ward to lead high-scoring offense into ACC test against Georgia Tech

With quarterback Cam Ward leading the nation’s top-scoring offense and the Hurricanes still unblemished, no deficit appears too big for No. 4 Miami to overcome. When Miami (9-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 4 College Football Playoff) gets ready to play at Georgia Tech (5-4, 3-3) on Saturday, Ward says that one of the main reasons the squad is headed to the 12-team playoff is because wide receiver Xavier Restrepo is his top target.

The Hurricanes have had to make three comebacks in the second half to stay undefeated, but they are one victory away from their first 10-0 start since 2017. Last Friday, Miami defeated Duke 53–31 after the Blue Devils took a 28–17 third-quarter lead. By creating history with Restrepo, Ward strengthened his case for consideration for the Heisman Trophy. The Hurricanes displayed their top-ranked scoring offense with Ward throwing for 400 yards and five touchdowns, including three to Restrepo.

With his 29th touchdown pass, Ward tied Steve Walsh’s 1988 single-season school record. With 2,573 receiving yards, Restrepo took the lead for Miami’s career. Regarding Restrepo, Ward remarked, “Not many receivers in the country have the IQ that X has.” “Every time we’re in man coverage, he makes my job simpler. I am aware that I have a wide-open receiver to pass to as long as I have seven out there.

On September 27, Miami overcame a 10-point deficit against Virginia Tech in the fourth quarter to win 38-34. The next week at California, the Hurricanes fell down by 25 points in the third quarter before winning 39-38. Georgia Tech, without quarterback Haynes King due to injury, has lost consecutive games to Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. King’s condition for this week is unknown.

King is recuperating from an apparent injury to his right arm or shoulder that Georgia Tech has only classified as an upper body issue. Coach Brent Key said he has practiced this week and will be evaluated at game time. On October 26, Zach Pyron and Aaron Philo, both backups, split the workload in the team’s 21–6 loss to Virginia Tech. “We’re preparing everybody to be able to play,” Key stated. Last season, King’s 44-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left after the Hurricanes turned the ball over rather than kneeing to run out the clock helped Georgia Tech defeat then-No. 17 Miami 23–20.

“It has zero, absolute zero bearing on this game,” Key stated. Despite Georgia Tech’s homecoming, coach Mario Cristobal anticipates a lot of support from Miami supporters, including Atlanta-based alumni. “Our players love that,” Cristobal was able to say. “They really do,” I mean. Additionally, we are aware of our sizable alumni base there. So, it’s fantastic. Indeed, it is.

The Hurricanes’ schedule this season includes Georgia Tech as one of three opponents that defeated Miami the previous season. The other two are Florida State and Louisville. For those 2023 losses, the Hurricanes have already received some retribution. After defeating Louisville 52-45, they easily defeated Florida State 36-14. King leads the ACC with 71.2% of his passes completed. Even though he missed two games, he has passed for 1,568 yards and eight touchdowns and ran for 353 yards and six that. “Haynes King in that offense is really good,” Cristobal remarked. Without a doubt, they are excellent at releasing him as well. I mean, he has explosive playmakers and is a really excellent runner.

Andres Borregales, a Miami K, has made 52 straight kicks, including 10 field goals and 42 extra points. On August 31, early in the fourth quarter at Florida, he missed a field goal, his only miss in 59 tries this season. In 2024, Georgia Tech K Aidan Birr is 8-for-14 on field goals and 31-for-31 on extra points, including the game-winning basket to defeat Florida State 24-21 in Ireland on August 24.