Overview
- Miami will host Duke at noon ET Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium with the game televised on ABC.
- Duke running back Nate Sheppard has rushed for 1,189 yards and 17 touchdowns this season and is drawing late Heisman attention as the Blue Devils’ primary offensive weapon.
- Miami enters with the nation’s top rushing defense, allowing about 64.3 yards per game, but the unit has shown tackling lapses in some analytics that could matter against Sheppard’s missed-tackle creation.
- Quarterback Darian Mensah returns to face his former team after a settled legal dispute over his transfer, and Miami will be without star receiver Malachi Toney as he recovers from ankle surgery.
- Duke’s defense has not allowed a touchdown over an extended recent stretch, prompting national analysts to warn Miami not to underestimate an opponent coached by Manny Diaz, and a Miami win plus specific conference losses would clinch an ACC title-game berth.