There are many reasons for the Miami Hurricanes’ improbable run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday.
But perhaps the biggest has been the play of the team’s defense.
Miami held the No. 7 seed Texas A&M to just three points in its opening-round win, sacking quarterback Marcel Reed seven times and intercepting him twice.
The Hurricanes limited No. 2 Ohio State to just 14 points, while intercepting QB Julian Sayin twice and sacking him five times.
They didn’t have the same level of success against No.6. Ole Miss and star QB Trinidad Chambliss, who threw for 277 yards and a touchdown, but the defense came up clutch on the final play of the fourth quarter.
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After taking a 31-27 lead following a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, the Hurricanes stopped locked down the Rebels WRs on a Hail Mary attempt as time expired to preserve the win.
But now, Miami will have to play its toughest opponent without one of its key defensive starters — for two quarters, at least.
“Miami updates: DB Xavier Lucas will miss first half for targeting,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel tweeted on Saturday.
“DB Damari Brown (left foot) is day-to-day and trending to gametime decision. He said his “expectation” is that he’ll play, but it’s ‘ not certain.’ DB OJ Frederique, who was limited to 6 snaps in Fiesta Bowl: ‘Right now I’m fully healthy. I’m ready.’”
Lucas was ejected from the Fiesta Bowl after he was called for targeting Ole Miss receiver Cayden Lee. As he dove in to make the tackle, Lucas’ helmet made contact with Lee’s, resulting in the penalty call.
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Per NCAA rules, players ejected from games for targeting must serve a one-half suspension in the following game.
The targeting call and Lucas’ subsequent ejection caused a stir in the college football world as many fans and analysts vented their frustration after slow-mo video replay showed Lucas didn’t appear to intentionally try to hit Lee in the head.
“I’m trying to get that targeting reversed, like that is such bull crap,” popular college football analyst David Pollack said on his podcast. “We’re going to go watch a national championship game, and a guy’s going to sit out a half of the national championship. And because it was a horse crap call — it’s a terrible call. Like, the NCAA does nothing right. It’d be a great chance to step in and fix something.”
