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No. 16 Miami's playoff hopes crushed with disappointing road loss to Virginia

nick bromberg
Senior writer
Virginia’s Bryce Perkins stiff-arms Miami’s Gerald Willis III in the first half the Hurricanes’ loss to the Cavaliers. (AP)
Virginia’s Bryce Perkins stiff-arms Miami’s Gerald Willis III in the first half the Hurricanes’ loss to the Cavaliers. (AP)

Virginia Tech is all alone at the top of the ACC’s Coastal Division thanks to Miami’s loss at Virginia on Saturday night.

The No. 16 Hurricanes suffered their second loss of the year, 16-13, to the Cavaliers. The loss, coupled with Virginia Tech’s escape against North Carolina means the Hokies are the only Coastal team undefeated in ACC play. Miami is now tied with Virginia and Pitt for second behind Virginia Tech.

Miami’s quarterback troubles continue

Whatever distant College Football Playoff hopes Miami harbored are now kaput — and quarterback play is a significant reason why. Freshman N’Kosi Perry was 3-of-6 passing for 20 yards with two interceptions before he was replaced early in the second quarter by senior Malik Rosier.

Perry’s first interception led to a Cavaliers field goal to kick things off. His second led to a 7-yard Jordan Ellis touchdown run, which put the Hurricanes in a 10-point hole.

Rosier, who started the season as the team’s starter before giving way to Perry, went 12-of-23 passing for 170 yards with one interception.

Miami doomed by late mistakes

While they struggled throughout the night, the Hurricanes weren’t out of it late in the game.

Miami mounted a 93-yard drive that ended in an 11-yard Rosier touchdown to bring them within just three points. A failed onside kick, though, put Virginia back in position to end the game with just 3:04 left.

While down three, the Hurricanes had Virginia set to try a field goal with 2:39 to go in the game after a third down stop. The field goal try would have made the game 19-13, however would have given Miami plenty of time to score.

But Miami defensive lineman Tito Odenigbo pushed a Virginia player in the back, which drew the penalty and gave Virginia a first down. The Cavaliers then simply ran out the clock, picking up their first win against a ranked opponent in four years.

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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.

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