Game Day Notes: Miami Hurricanes vs. Bethune-Cookman ... how to watch, start time, game notes & more

NO. 5/7 MIAMI (1-0, 0-0 ACC) VS. BETHUNE-COOKMAN (0-1)

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Miami Gardens, Fla.
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium (64,767)
Series History: Miami leads, 7-0
Miami / Miami Gardens: Miami leads, 7-0
Daytona Beach: N/A
Neutral Site: N/A
Last Meeting: Miami won, 48-7 (Sept. 14, 2023)
Television: ACC Network Extra
Talent: Mike Corey (pxp), Tyoka Jackson (color), Madison Hock (sideline)
Radio: 104.3 WQAM
Talent: Joe Zagacki, Don Bailey, Jr., Josh Darrow
Spanish Radio: Radio Libre 790 AM
Talent: Alfredo Alvarez, Joe Martinez

MIAMI GAME NOTES

QUICK HITS

• The Miami Hurricanes continue their fourth season under the direction of head coach Mario Cristobal on Sat., Sept. 6 at Hard Rock Stadium against Bethune-Cookman. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

• Miami posted its first 10-win season since 2017 and only its second 10-win season in the last 20 years in 2024. The Hurricanes also finished the season undefeated at home for the first time since 2002 (6-0).

• The Hurricanes are coming off a thrilling 27-24 win over #6/#6 Notre Dame in their season opener on Aug. 31. A sold-out crowd saw Miami earn its first top-10 win since a 2017 victory, also over the Irish.

• Miami legend Darrin Smith will be honored on the field on Saturday for his impending induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. A two-time first-team All-BIG EAST pick during his time at The U, Smith was posted 401 career tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks over his career.

STORYLINES + NOTABLES

• Miami continue its fourth season under head coach Mario Cristobal with a matchup against Bethune-Cookman at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra, 104.3 WQAM, Radio Libre 790 AM and WVUM 90.5 FM.

• The Hurricanes entered the season ranked in the top 10 of both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls, checking in at No. 10 in both rankings, and rose to No. 5 in the AP and No. 7 in the Coaches Poll after a 27-24 win over Notre Dame in their opener. Miami’s highest ranking under Cristobal came in 2024, when they rose to No. 4/4 in the November 4 polls of that year.

• Among UM’s top newcomers is QB Carson Beck, who arrived from Georgia via transfer portal. Beck, who missed spring practices while recovering from UCL surgery, has a 25-3 (.892) record as a starting FBS quarterback, the best of any active player (minimum five games).

THE MATCHUP

• #5/#7 Miami continues the 2025 football season at Hard Rock Stadium vs. Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, Sept. 6. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra, with radio broadcasts set for 104.3 WQAM, Radio Libre 790 AM & WVUM 90.5 FM.

• The Hurricanes carry a 7-0 record all-time vs the Wildcats into Saturday’s matchup in Miami Gardens. Bethune- Cookman opened its 2025 season in Miami, falling to FIU, 42-6, on Saturday, Aug. 30 in its season opener.

• Miami head football coach Mario Cristobal and Bethune-Cookman head coach Raymond Woodie, Jr., spent one season (2017) on the same coaching staff at Oregon. Cristobal was co-offensive coordinator / offensive line coach, while Woodie was the Ducks’ special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.

• Miami is 26-0 against FCS opponents over the past 40 seasons, winning each game by at least 20 points. That is the longest such winning streak by any FBS team against FCS schools over that same period.

A LOOK BACK: MIAMI TOPS IRISH IN TOP-10 CLASH

• In a heavyweight matchup of two top-10 opponents, the then-No. 10 Miami Hurricanes topped then-No. 6 Notre Dame, 27-24, at Hard Rock Stadium on Aug. 31. A sold-out crowd of 66,793 watched a thriller unfold in the opener.

• The Hurricanes were up 21-7, but a spirited fourth-quarter comeback from the Fighting Irish saw the game tied, 24-24, with 3:21 remaining. Miami marched down the field on a 10-play drive from there, with K Carter Davis connecting on a 47-yard field goal with 1:04 remaining in the game to help set up the victory.

• The win over a top-10 opponent was UM’s first since Nov. 11, 2017 – also vs. Notre Dame (then-No. 3), 41-8.

• QB Carson Beck was impressive in his UM debut, finishing 20-for-30 for 205 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Freshman WR Malachi Toney was Beck’s top target, catching a team-high six passes for 82 yards and his first career touchdown. Veteran WR CJ Daniels had a magnificent one-handed touchdown grab.

• The outrushed the Irish, 119-93, and outgained the Irish, 324-314 in the game. Miami’s defense forced two turnovers on a fumble recovered by DB Jakobe Thomas and an interception from DL Rueben Bain, Jr. Bain and fellow DL Akheem Mesidor turned in dominant efforts, combining for 11 tackles and two sacks (1.5 from Mesidor).

• The Hurricanes continued their unbeaten run of home openers at Hard Rock Stadium, where they moved in 2008. Miami is now 18-0 in openers at the facility, and have not lost a home opener since 2006. Miami’s last game against a ranked opponent in a home opener was 2011 vs. then-No.17/16 Ohio State, 24-6 (Sept. 17, 2011).

CANES RISE TO #5/#7 IN THE WEEK TWO POLLS

• Following its impressive victory over the Fighting Irish, Miami rose to No. 5 in the Associated Press poll and No. 7 in the Coaches Poll released on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Miami was ranked No. 10 in both preseason polls.

• The Hurricanes opened the 2024 season at No. 19 in the poll and found their name in every top 25 ranking of the season. The Hurricanes reached as high as No. 4 (after improving to 9-0 to start the year) and ended No. 18 in the final poll, its highest final ranking since being ranked No. 13 to end 2017. Mario Cristobal’s highest-ranked finish as a head coach came in the final 2019 polls, when Oregon was No. 5/5.

• The Hurricanes were not ranked in the 2023 preseason polls, but were ranked in the 2022 preseason polls in Cristobal’s first year as head coach, checking in at No. 16 in that year’s coaches poll and No. 17 in the AP top 25.

FOLLOW THE BLUEPRINT: MILESTONES HIT IN 2024

• Miami reached a number of notable milestones in 2024, its third season under Mario Cristobal. The Hurricanes managed only the second 10-win season in the last 20 years at Miami (2017), finished undefeated at home for the first time since 2002 and ended the season inside the Associated Press Top 20 at No. 18 – only its second finish that high since 2005.

• The Hurricanes had 10 NFL Combine invites and its seven NFL Draft picks ranked sixth-most nationally. The Hurricanes had just one NFL Draft pick in the draft prior to Cristobal taking the helm, in 2022 – and it came in the seventh round (Jon Ford, Green Bay Packers).

• QB Cam Ward, the winner of the Davey O’Brien Award and Manning Award as the nation’s top quarterback, was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans – it was the third No. 1 overall pick in program history.

• The Hurricanes, who led the nation in yards per game and points per game, were one of just three teams in the nation to have a 4,000 yard passer (Cam Ward), a 1,000-yard rusher (Damien Martinez) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Xavier Restrepo). The other two teams were Ohio State and Syracuse. BECK ARRIVES, RECOGNIZED FOR GAME VS. IRISH

• For the second straight year, the Miami Hurricanes added one of the top quarterbacks in the country in the January transfer window, signing QB Carson Beck after an eye-popping career at Georgia, where he finished 24-3 as a starting quarterback with the Bulldogs. He threw for 7,912 yards, 58 touchdowns and 20 interceptions at UGA.

• He was named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 after a 205-yard, two-touchdown win in his debut vs. Notre Dame. Against Notre Dame, Beck had his 13th career game with multiple passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. That is the second most among active FBS players behind Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia (19).

• Beck, who assumed starting responsibilities at Georgia in 2023 as a fourth-year redshirt sophomore, led the Bulldogs to a 13-1 record and a win in the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl, finishing just shy of a College Football Playoff berth in the four-team field. He was a member of back-to-back national championship teams as a backup.

• In his second year as the team’s starting quarterback in 2024, Beck led Georgia to the College Football Playoff with an 11-2 record. Beck was hurt in the 2024 SEC Championship Game against Texas, which Georgia won, 22- 19. He finished 2024 with 3,485 yards, a 64.7% completion percentage, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

• Beck underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow after the SEC Championship Game. Though he did not throw during all of spring practice at Miami after enrolling in January while completing his rehab, he was cleared for full participation shortly thereafter and took part in all summer team activity.

BECK ARRIVES, RECOGNIZED FOR GAME VS. IRISH

• For the second straight year, the Miami Hurricanes added one of the top quarterbacks in the country in the January transfer window, signing QB Carson Beck after an eye-popping career at Georgia, where he finished 24-3 as a starting quarterback with the Bulldogs. He threw for 7,912 yards, 58 touchdowns and 20 interceptions at UGA.

• He was named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 after a 205-yard, two-touchdown win in his debut vs. Notre Dame. Against Notre Dame, Beck had his 13th career game with multiple passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. That is the second most among active FBS players behind Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia (19).

• Beck, who assumed starting responsibilities at Georgia in 2023 as a fourth-year redshirt sophomore, led the Bulldogs to a 13-1 record and a win in the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl, finishing just shy of a College Football Playoff berth in the four-team field. He was a member of back-to-back national championship teams as a backup.

• In his second year as the team’s starting quarterback in 2024, Beck led Georgia to the College Football Playoff with an 11-2 record. Beck was hurt in the 2024 SEC Championship Game against Texas, which Georgia won, 22- 19. He finished 2024 with 3,485 yards, a 64.7% completion percentage, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

• Beck underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow after the SEC Championship Game. Though he did not throw during all of spring practice at Miami after enrolling in January while completing his rehab, he was cleared for full participation shortly thereafter and took part in all summer team activity.

HOME SWEET HOME OPENERS

• The Miami Hurricanes opened their 18th season at world-class Hard Rock Stadium on Aug. 31 vs. Notre Dame; UM holds a 18-0 all-time mark in home openers at the stadium, having outscored opponents 810-155 for an average margin of victory of 36.4 points in those 18 home openers since 2008.

• The Hurricanes have not lost a home opener since 2006, when they fell to Florida State 13-10 at the Orange Bowl on Sept. 4, 2006. Miami has won 19 straight home openers since – each one since 2007.

• In the modern era of Miami Hurricanes football (since 1979), UM has opened the season at home 20 times and is now 18-2 in those games. The Hurricanes are 35-12 in regular season openers dating to 1979.

NEW RECEIVER TRIO IMPRESSES IN MIAMI DEBUTS

• The Hurricanes lost their top-six pass-catchers by receptions from a season ago, when the Hurricanes had the No. 1 offense in the country. Miami’s three starting wide receivers were all making their debuts on Aug. 31 vs. Notre Dame: transfers CJ Daniels (LSU) and Keelan Marion (BYU) as well as true freshman Malachi Toney.

• The trio combined for 14 catches totaling 157 yards and two touchdowns in Miami’s 27-24 win. Toney was targeted 10 times – more than any other player – while both he and Daniels had touchdown catches.

• Daniels is one of only two active FBS players with 2,000 receiving yards (2,480) and 20 touchdowns (22) over their careers at the FBS level. The other is Arkansas State’s Corey Rucker (3,138, 25). Daniels’ eye-popping onehanded score was named the Crunch Time Play of the Week by the Football Writers Association (FWAA).

• Toney became the only Hurricane in the last 30 seasons to have at least six catches, 80 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in his college debut. He was named 247Sports National True Freshman of the Week.

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE CRUCIAL VS. ND

• Notre Dame led the country in turnovers gained in 2024 and were No. 5 in turnover margin. In its win over the No. 6 Irish, Miami had zero turnovers on offense. That marked the third time Miami defeated an AP Top 10 team this century while not giving the ball away, along with 2017 against No. 3 Notre Dame and 2004 at No. 10 Virginia

BROWN ONE OF JUST 30 BACKS IN 1,100/15 CLUB

• Despite having two running backs – Mark Fletcher, Jr. and Jordan Lyle – that will play massive roles for Miami’s offense in 2025, Mario Cristobal went out and added one of the best players at the FCS level to the roster this offseason – former North Dakota State running back CharMar “Marty” Brown (pronounced like Shemar).

• Brown was one of 30 DI (FBS/FCS) players last season to record at least 1100 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns last season, and is the only active underclassman among that group. He is a redshirt sophomore.

• Brown, the Jerry Rice Award winner as the top freshman player in Football Championship Division last season, was a member of the Stats Perform, FCS Football Central and Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-America teams. Brown won Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors, becoming just the third Bison player and sixth in league history to sweep both awards.

• The Omaha, Neb., native led all FCS freshmen in rushing attempts (244), yards (1,181) and touchdowns (15) and became the first Bison tailback in seven years to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. He is a 5-11, 220-pound back.

UM LOOKING FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT 2-0 START

• Miami is looking to start 2-0 for the fourth straight season, something it has not done since a four-season span from 2001 to 2004. UM is also looking to start 2-0 at home for the 13th time in the last 14 years (since 2012).

PPG, YPG + THIRD DOWN LEADERS WAS HISTORIC

• In 2024, Miami ranked first in the FBS in points per game, total yards per game and third down conversion percentage. The only other teams this century to lead the FBS in all three stats are LSU (2023) and Hawaii (2006).

MIAMI LEADS THE NATION IN FG PCT. SINCE 2020

• The Hurricanes have been the most accurate field-goal kicking team in the country over the last six seasons. Miami has made 87.4 percent of its field goal attempts since 2020 (97/111), ahead of Boise State (86.1), UNLV (85.5), Texas State (85.4), Alabama (84.9) and Miami-Ohio (84.9). K Carter Davis went 2-for-2 on Aug. 31.

 UM EARNS HIGHEST PRESEASON RANK SINCE 2018

• Bolstered by the addition of several impressive newcomers and anchored by a talented group of returning veterans, the Hurricanes were ranked in the top 10 of both preseason polls – checking in at No. 10 in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and Associated Press rankings. Miami’s ranking inside the top 10 marked its highest preseason in seven years; the Hurricanes opened the 2018 season ranked No. 8/8.

• The Hurricanes opened the 2024 season at No. 19 in the poll and found their name in every top 25 ranking of the season. The Hurricanes reached as high as No. 4 and ended No. 18 in the final poll, its highest since 2017 (#13). Miami was not ranked in the 2023 preseason polls, but were ranked in the 2022 preseason polls in Cristobal’s first year as head coach, checking in at No. 16 in that year’s coaches poll and No. 17 in the AP top 25.

THREE TRUE FRESHMEN MAKE DEBUTS VS. IRISH

• WR Malachi Toney, WR Joshua Moore and DB Bryce Fitzgerald made their collegiate debuts on August 31.