ESPN

Preview

No. 14 Georgia Tech (2-0, 1-0 ACC) at No. 20 Miami (1-0, 1-0)

Key Players: Georgia Tech – QB Josh Nesbitt, RB Jon Dwyer, WR Demaryius Thomas; Miami – QB Jacory Harris, RB Craig Cooper, DB Brandon Harris.

What’s at stake: Tech and Miami will be putting the entire ACC on display, taking the field in front of a prime-time, national television audience. Despite the presence of four ranked teams in the conference, all in the Coastal Division, the ACC isn’t getting a lot of buzz. A well-played game could change some of that. Both teams are coming off close conference wins and another nail-biter would certainly put the ACC on the national radar. Of course, early-season control of a competitive conference is always an enticing storyline as well. 

Prediction: The Miami crowd will be into it from the beginning, letting the nation know they think that The U is back. The speedy ‘Canes will do the same, blowing past Georgia Tech 35-21.

Story of the Week

The story of Week 1 of the Gridiron Tour is one of redemption, of the University of Miami defense removing a stinging thorn from its healing side. Not a soul in South Florida had forgotten last year’s matchup, when Georgia Tech ran the ball seemingly at will. The Yellow Jackets piled up 472 rushing yards in that game, a 41-23 victory.

Last Thursday, the Hurricanes’ distant cries of, “Wait until next year” rang true. It was a completely different story at Land Shark Stadium, as Miami held Georgia Tech to just 95 rushing yards in a 33-17 win.

Of Tech’s 95 rushing yards, 60 came on the game’s opening drive, when the Yellow Jackets kept the ball on the ground for 12 straight plays before settling for a field goal. That was about as exciting things got for Coach Paul Johnson, who said his team’s offense played “very poorly.”

A poor showing on offense, though, is often the product of a good one by the opposing defense. And after Tech embarrassed the Hurricanes a year ago, this good showing was much, much needed. Miami Coach Randy Shannon alternated between calling the win “big” and “huge,” and depending on how the rest of the season plays out, a need for further escalating adjectives might arise.

There was no doubting that Miami’s speedy offense could put up points. After the big/huge win over Georgia Tech it looks like The U has a tight defense to go along with it.

Blog

While college football was welcoming The U back to national prominence, the Heisman Trophy race was rolling out a welcome mat of its own. Here’s hoping that Jacory Harris doesn’t trip over it.

In his second straight game in front of a national television audience, the Miami quarterback turned in the performance of his dreams as the Hurricanes routed ACC foe Georgia Tech 33-17. Harris was an assassin in the Gridiron Tour debut, passing for 270 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-for-25 effort. He didn’t throw an interception and through two games leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in yards (656), completion percentage (69.5), touchdowns (5) and QB rating (184.08).

With Harris leading the charge, Miami is now halfway through a grueling season-opening run against four ranked opponents. Now with wins over Florida State and Georgia Tech, the ‘Canes and their fans are revising their pre-season views that ending the stretch with a 2-2 record would be adequate. Miami has far bigger goals now, the buzz bubbling even beyond an ACC Coastal Division and overall conference championship.

It’s quite possible that Gridiron fans will be able to say that they witnessed the Thursday night game when Harris officially threw his helmet into the ring as a Heisman candidate and Miami brought back its familiar swagger, reminding fans that this is still the same school that brought college football to its knees in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

The party in South Florida started early and ran late on Thursday, likely making class attendance on Friday morning sparse. But when those groggy students finally roll out of bed, they’ll awaken with the knowledge that they root for a football team with an elite quarterback and designs on – wait for it – a national title.

Sound familiar? Welcome back to The U.