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All-22 Review: Miami Offense vs. SMU Mustangs (2025)

The Miami Hurricanes were upset by the SMU Mustangs 26-20 on November 1st, 2025. The ‘Canes had a 10-7 lead at halftime before allowing SMU to sneak back in and eventually beat Miami in overtime.

Miami was better on 3rd down but two Carson Beck interceptions (one his fault, one not) and being stopped on 4th down were the difference makers for The U on the road. Beck averaged 7.2 yards per attempt with two TD’s and Mark Fletcher averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

Malachi Toney didn’t have a huge game, but Jo Jo Trader and Keelan Marion did. The duo averaged 16.2 and 15.4 yards per catch, respectively. Trader also caught a touchdown while being the ‘reason’ for Beck’s first INT.

Above- I’ve never understood motioning your star only to directly throw him the ball to where he motioned to. It adds bodies and eyes to the POA instead of away from it. ie- motion Mark Fletcher away from Toney to put playmakers on opposite sides of the field and the motion to make eyes / adjustments go to Fletcher vs. Toney.

Above– 1-on1 vs. man on a switch route and it’s a nice shot up the seam. Beck fires a line drive and Trader uses an over the shoulder catch. We’ll come back to how that backfires later, but for now it’s a win.

Above- Fletcher is the perfect back for what the run game has become: duo and outside zone. He has patience, vision, and trusts the OL to make that sliver of light work for him. Then he’s a hard runner which duo needs.

Above- Trader hauls in another big catch, this time a fade up the sideline. In press man he’s hard to stop as he’s fast and physical. BUT he catches another ball in his body and over the shoulder.

Above- And here is where it bites him in the… butt. He goes for his 3rd basket catch but this one bounces off his shoulder pads and into the SMU defense.

Above- One looks significantly more fluid than the other three that look clumsy.

Above- Toney is a stud. He hauls in this tipped pass and breaks 2-3 tackles. Everything you do against him is a tough out.

Above- Dawson dials up mesh at the exact right place and time. +10YL, SMU in man, Lofton comes wide open and drops the TD off of contact. You HAVE to catch this ball to win national championships.

Above- Dawson puts EIGHT O-Line on the field (even the FB is one) and then throws the ball on play-action. Bauman and Fletcher hi-lo and Bauman beats his man for a TD.

Above- As I said in the Twitter post, the Run & Shoot had some really good ideas. Toney is unCAPd as the DB over him is at 8y, the hard deck is 7y. In the R&S that means Toney would take a 1-step ‘now’ throw from Beck and get the 1st down that way. Instead, they motion him which is ineffective vs. man coverage (only one guy moves and he’s on Toney who is doing nothing) and the run is stuffed.

Above- Brown looks for the cut back here and it is a TFL. His eyes are going to cut back the entire way vs. bouncing play side.

Above- If he pushes playside Bauman cuts the defender off and it’s that sliver of light Fletcher makes happen but Marty Brown just doesn’t seem to find.

Above- And here’s Beck on the final throw of the game for Miami’s offense. It’s 3rd and 6 and the QB can just throw this away, kick a FG, and force SMU to either kick and tie (always tricky in college) or score a TD (Hetherman is a hell of a DC). Once the pick is thrown the defense just about gives up on Miami and SMU scores.

But back to the pick- Beck throws this over the middle and late which is a recipe for disaster. No one is open, it’s a throw away or scramble situation.

The Wrap

It’s tough to see a great run game and some explosive throws offset by a tipped pick, and bad decision here, and a couple of “and short” runs fail. Beck and the ‘Canes rally off this loss and have a hell of an end to their season. Typically you learn more from losses than wins.

Sadly Miami doesn’t play SMU in the regular season in ‘26. I think SMU and Louisville as well as Ga. Tech are great games for college football but the ACC gave Miami a rather boring slate of games. I can’t imagine paying for season tickets with a home slate of FAMU, Central Michigan, Duke and Boston College. You do get FSU, Pitt and Virginia Tech but the odds of all three being ‘good’ again in ‘26 are slim.

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