Miami-Duke Preview Capsule
Miami (4-3, 1-2 ACC) at No. 22 Duke (6-1, 3-0), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Line: No line.
Series Record: Miami leads 10-2
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Miami's dignity, after the worst loss in program history - a 58-0 embarrassment against Clemson - led the Hurricanes to fire coach Al Golden and make Larry Scott the interim coach. At the other end of the spectrum are the Blue Devils, who need a win to maintain remain atop the Coastal Division.
KEY MATCHUP
Miami's ground game vs. Duke's defense. It's unclear if the ACC's top passer - QB Brad Kaaya (concussion) - will play. If he can't go, the Hurricanes will need RB Joe Yearby to generate something on the ground. Miami had just 53 yards rushing against Clemson and now faces a Duke defense that ranks fourth in the ACC in yards allowed (281.3 ypg) even after giving up 452 yards in a quadruple-overtime win at Virginia Tech - the longest game in ACC history.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Miami: WR Rashawn Scott ranks third in the league, averaging 66.7 yards receiving per game, and has a team-best four touchdowns but has the tough task of facing a Duke pass defense that is the ACC's third-best unit.
Duke: QB Thomas Sirk leads the conference in total offense, averaging 280.6 yards, and accounted for 379 total yards (270 passing, 107 rushing) against Virginia Tech - and that doesn't count his rushing 2-point conversion in the fourth OT that won the game.
FACTS & FIGURES
Blue Devils are 23-4 in their last 27 regular-season games. Only six FBS schools have more wins during that span. ... Duke is looking to start 7-1 for the second straight year. They haven't done it in consecutive years since 1938-39. ... Miami's only loss in Durham, North Carolina, came in its last visit in 2013. ... Duke S Jeremy Cash has 14 tackles for losses, best in the ACC.