Miami’s defense hampered a monster season for quarterback Cam Ward and a 9–0 start.
Miami’s shootout loss in the Pop-Tarts Bowl didn’t leave a sweet taste for the defense, and neither did the Hurricanes’ slippage
from 9–0 to missing the College Football Playoff.
Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal announced the firing of defensive coordinator Lance Guidry on Tuesday
via a statement from the university. Guidry’s defense gave up 42 points in the final two losses of the season in addition to four other games where the Hurricanes gave up 30 or more points.
“I want to first thank Coach Guidry for his contributions to the University of Miami,” Cristobal said in his statement. “In a continuous effort to always improve all aspects of our program, I have decided to make a change on defense. We will move forward and make decisions that provide our players, staff, and program the best opportunity to win and develop at the highest level.”
Miami’s defense ranked 70th with 25.3 points per game allowed this season. The Hurricanes (10–3) gave up 28 or more points in all three losses, which all came since Nov. 9, when the team lost three of its final four games.
Miami gave up
372.2 yards passing and 112.8 yards rushing per game, and teams pushed the Hurricanes to the brink multiple times during the nine-game winning streak. Defensive issues became noticeable on the scoreboard starting in September when the Hurricanes escaped Virginia Tech 38–34 on a failed Hail Mary attempt on Sept 27.
The Hurricanes squeaked by California 39–38 on Oct. 5, Louisville 52–45 on Oct. 19, then faltered again on defense in a 53–31 win over Duke on Nov. 2. Georgia Tech spoiled the Hurricanes’ perfect season with a 28–23 upset on Nov. 9, and Miami couldn’t stop Syracuse with an ACC Championship Game appearance on the line in a 42–38 defeat on Nov. 30.
Instead, Clemson made the ACC title game despite three losses and got into the College Football Playoff with an upset of SMU. The Hurricanes were the second team out after Alabama.
Miami had a chance to end the season on a high note and close out the Pop-Tarts Bowl with a
41–35 lead late, but the defense couldn’t stop Iowa State’s game-winning drive in the final minute, making the final score 42–41. The Hurricanes gave up 415 yards of total offense in the defeat.
Conversely, Miami had a record-setting quarterback in Cam Ward this season.
A Heisman Trophy finalist, Ward broke the all-time NCAA Division I career record for touchdown passes in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Overall, Miami’s explosive offense averaged an FBS-best 43.9 points per game this season, but defensive woes ultimately limited the Hurricanes when games counted the most.
