This time, Miami couldn’t overcome a second-half deficit.
Cam Ward was sacked and fumbled the ball with 1:36 to go as Georgia Tech upset previously undefeated No. 4 Miami, 28-23.
Georgia Tech dropped eight defenders into coverage on the second-down play and Ward couldn’t find a receiver to throw to. Romero Height chased Ward down from behind and Jordan Van Den Burg recovered the ball.
Miami never got the ball back after Ward’s fumble. Eric Singleton ran for a first down on third down and slid before the end zone after Miami had used its timeouts. That allowed Georgia Tech to simply run out the clock.
The Hurricanes entered the game at 9-0 and in the top four of the first CFP rankings because of an uncanny ability to overcome second-half deficits. Already this season, Miami had come back from a 10-point deficit against Virginia Tech, a 25-point deficit at Cal and trailed by 11 early in the second half a week ago against Duke before blowing out the Blue Devils.
The magic ran out on Saturday, however — even as Miami gave its fans hope that another comeback was on the horizon.
After a penalty negated a Miami TD, Georgia Tech stopped the Hurricaes on a third fourth-down attempt with just over 10 minutes to go. However, the Yellow Jackets couldn’t add to their 28-16 lead at the time and Miami got the ball back just a few minutes later.
It took just 2:17 for Miami to score and cut the lead to five when Ward found Xavier Restrepo for a 38-yard TD.
Georgia Tech then got stuffed on a third down near midfield and decided to punt. That set up Miami for a chance to complete the comeback. Instead, Ward fumbled on the second play of the drive.
Miami’s defense is an issue
Ward has become a Heisman Trophy contender thanks to the second-half comebacks and stellar play that has made him one of the best quarterbacks in college football this season. However, Miami’s Achilles’ heel has been its defense. And that was on display Saturday.
QB Haynes King made his first start in weeks for Georgia Tech, though he was clearly limited by his shoulder injury when throwing the football. The Yellow Jackets rotated in freshman Aaron Philo on passing downs and had a plan to stick with the run.
It worked even though it took a lot of bodies. Georgia Tech opened the scoring with a 16-yard TD run by Jamal Haynes on the way to 271 rushing yards on 48 carries. Miami knew that Georgia Tech was going to run, run and run some more. And the Hurricanes had a hard time slowing Georgia Tech down.
Not long after the TD run, Haynes was forced to leave the game due to an injury and didn’t return. Eight players ended up carrying the ball for Georgia Tech as King led all rushers with 20 carries for 93 yards and a score.
He also completed all six passes he threw, though they were all very short and accounted for just 32 yards. Philo was 5-of-10 passing for 67 yards.
SMU now leads the ACC
Miami’s loss also makes the race for the ACC title incredibly interesting. SMU is now the only team without a conference loss as Miami, Clemson and Pitt all have one loss with Louisville sitting in fifth at 4-2. The Mustangs, Hurricanes and Tigers have not and do not play each other this season and SMU’s schedule is very manageable.
It’s now very conceivable that Miami and Clemson are battling for the right to play the Mustangs in the ACC title game. After an off-week on Saturday, SMU has Boston College, Virginia and Cal remaining on its schedule. If both Miami and Clemson run the table, the Hurricanes have the edge thanks to their win over Louisville and Clemson’s loss a week ago to the Cardinals.