It's not 2001 but it looked a lot like that Miami team.
Comparisons of the 2001 Hurricanes measure up in dramatic Fiesta Bowl win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Heading into the college football playoff Miami seemed to be headed in an upwards trajectory. Reflecting on the season invited parallels to the last time the Miami Hurricanes were within reach of a National Championship game.
It has been 25 years since the Hurricanes were this close. With many college football fans asking if this was the return of ‘that’ Miami? The truth is it’s almost unfair to compare any Miami team to ‘that’ Miami team.
There are similarities. Both lead by tall quarterbacks that could move but primarily operate from the pocket, Carson Beck and Den Dorsey. Like Dorsey, Beck is not a dual-threat quarterback but is not opposed to using his legs when necessary. As was the case with the go-ahead touchdown that would seal the win for Miami on Thursday night.
Both had effective and at times impressive running backs. Often splitting the load with multiple backs affecting the game. While the 2001 team was led in rushing by Clinton Portis and his 1,200 yards, that backfield also included Frank Gore and Willis McGahee. Mark Fletcher’s performance puts him over the 1,000-yard mark, but CharMar Brown adds almost 50% of that production to the total team numbers.
In 2001 Andre Johnson was the NFL WR prototype. In 2026 the biggest receiving threat for Miami is Malachi Toney. With his Fiesta Bowl performance, Toney almost cleared 1,100 yards and scored his ninth touchdown. At only 5’11, 190 pounds and just turned 18 years old five months ago.
Defensively, as good as the current Miami team is, the 2001 Hurricanes defense almost reads like an NFL pro bowl team. The 2001 defense had Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, DJ Williams, Antrel Rolle, Vince Wilfork, and Jonathan Vilma just to name a few. Bain and Mesidor, as well as Keionte Scott, Jakobe Thomas and Wesley Bissainthe fly around and feel stylistically like the “01 Hurricanes”, but the 2001 defense is an all-time great.
Where this team differed in the semifinal win over Ole Miss was in the margins. Miami had three clean opportunities to intercept Ole Miss passes. For anyone who remembers the 2001 team, it's hard to imagine they don't capitalize on most of those opportunities.
Miami also had a very dramatic fourth quarter. During the penultimate Ole Miss offensive drive, Miami began stacking very counterproductive penalties. Ole Miss moved the ball on Miami, but in that fourth quarter Miami seemed to be assisting Ole Miss at the worst time possible. A fear of a possible implosion came close to fruition.
Michael Irvin and Ray Lewis who were in attendance and all of the Hurricane faithful will celebrate tonight with their 31-27 semifinal victory but ultimately follow their coach’s lead. Late in the game after Beck’s rushing touchdown sealed the victory, cameras caught a premature embrace between coaches. Head coach Mario Cristobal did not seem to enjoy the premature celebration. Seems a safe prediction that regardless of the outcome of the Peach Bowl, Cristobal’s Hurricanes will not prematurely overlook their next opponent.
If Miami is the last team standing on the night of January 19th, they will have done something not seen in a quarter century. Win the biggest trophy in the sport and restore the reputation created by those previously Hurricanes teams.
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Category: General Sports
