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The Hurricanes dismantle Stanford
1. Final Score & Context
On Saturday evening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL, the No. 9-ranked Miami Hurricanes dominated the Stanford Cardinal by a 42-7 margin.
The victory improved Miami’s record to 6-1 overall, 2-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Stanford fell to 3-5 overall, 2-3 in conference play.
This was the first time these two programs had met.
2. How the Game Unfolded
First Half – Competitive Start
Stanford struck first. On their opening drive, they covered 74 yards and scored on a 9-yard pass from QB Ben Gulbranson to WR Caden High, taking a 7-0 lead.
Miami answered just before halftime when QB Carson Beck hit WR C.J. Daniels on a fade in the end zone, knotting the game at 7-7.
Second Half – Miami’s Dominance
The second half was an entirely different story. Miami outscored Stanford 35-0 in the final 30 minutes.
Key factors:
Miami forced two interceptions, one by LB Wesley Bissainthe and another by CB Xavier Lucas, each of which set up short fields.
RB Mark Fletcher Jr. exploded with 106 rushing yards on 23 carries and a career-high 3 touchdowns (all in the second half).
Miami’s special teams made an impact: WR/returner Malachi Toney had 138 all-purpose yards, including 73 from punt returns, which helped change field position.
Stanford, after the initial scoring drive, managed only roughly 70 total yards for the remainder of the game and was held to about 2.7 yards per play.
3. Standout Players
For Miami:
Mark Fletcher Jr. — 106 yards, 3 TDs.
Carson Beck — 21 of 28 passing for 189 yards, 1 TD, 0 turnovers.
Malachi Toney — 5 catches for 52 yards, 73 punt-return yards.
The defensive unit — Two interceptions, eight-plus tackles for loss, held Stanford nearly silent after the first quarter.
For Stanford:
Cole Tabb — Led Stanford’s rushing with 64 yards.
Ben Gulbranson — Threw a TD on the opening drive but finished 9 of 21 for only ~50 yards with 2 interceptions.
4. What It Means
For Miami
This win re-establishes momentum for the Hurricanes, who bounced back strong after a recent stumble. The dominant second half showed what the team is capable of when firing on all cylinders: balanced offense, opportunistic defense, and special teams execution. With a 6-1 record and solid conference standing (2-1), they’re positioning themselves as serious contenders.
For Stanford
Despite starting well, Stanford’s season remains rocky. At 3-5 and 2-3 in the conference, they’re still searching for consistency, especially on the road (they dropped to 0-5 away). Their inability to sustain drives and protect the ball was their undoing this week.
5. Key Takeaways & Observations
Defense wins the second half: Miami’s defensive adjustments were stark — after giving up a score early, they shut out Stanford for the remaining 45+ minutes.
Turnovers are momentum killers: Stanford’s two interceptions mid-game directly led to Miami scores and shifted the oyster.
Special teams matter: Toney’s punt return yardage turned into field position advantages that Miami capitalized on.
Depth and execution: Miami ran the ball effectively, passed efficiently, and converted opportunities; the Cardinal lacked that across all phases in the second half.
Stanford’s first half showed promise; second half collapsed: A 7-7 halftime score belied the looming blowout; the Cardinal simply couldn’t respond to Miami’s surge.
6. What’s Next?
Miami travels to face SMU Mustangs on November 1 for their first road game outside Florida this season. (Kick-off time 12PM EST)
Stanford hosts the Pittsburgh Panthers on November 1, looking to bounce back and remain in bowl contention.
7. Final Word
Saturday’s game was a showcase for what Miami aspires to be: dominant across the board when things click. The 42-7 score may mask how competitive the first half was, but the second half was emphatic. As for Stanford, they had a glimmer of hope early, but could not sustain it when the Hurricanes turned the heat on.
Written by: Giancarlo Morera
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