It is a quieter Sunday after Friday night’s demolition of Stanford.
Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney quite rightly took most of the headlines after Miami’s 45-6 win.
But with the dust beginning to settle, the first proper film review tells us something else.
There was plenty more to like.
Miami’s offensive line deserves some credit
The offensive line entered 2026 as one of Miami’s biggest questions.
One game in, the early answer is encouraging.
Stanford did not sack Mensah once, giving him the platform to pick apart the Cardinal secondary. Miami also converted eight of 11 third downs and finished with 549 yards of offence at 8.2 yards per play.
That matters.
This was a rebuilt line being asked to protect a new quarterback on the road in his Miami debut.
And it did its job.
The run blocking was less impressive. Mark Fletcher Jr. never really got going and Miami will want far more consistency on the ground as the season develops.
But if you gave me the choice before Week 1 between worrying about the run blocking or worrying whether Mensah could stay upright, I know which one I would take.
Miami dominated without winning the turnover battle
The defensive performance looks even better when you dig into it.
Stanford scored six points.
They never reached the end zone.
And Miami did all of that without forcing a single turnover.
In fact, the Hurricanes lost the turnover battle 2-0.
That gives Corey Hetherman plenty to work with.
Marquise Lightfoot and Armondo Blount showed flashes up front, while the secondary coped with the absences of Ja’Boree Antoine and Dylan Day.
The pass rush can still become more consistent.
Miami also need to start creating takeaways.
But holding an ACC opponent to six points while losing the turnover battle is hardly a bad starting point.
Imagine what that defence looks like when the splash plays start arriving.
Now comes the less glamorous test
The Stanford win was fun.
The next challenge is very different.
Miami host Florida A&M on Thursday 10 September at 8pm ET, which means a 1am Friday kick-off in the UK.
Nobody is going to learn whether Miami are a national championship team from beating FAMU.
What we might learn is whether they know how to handle success.
There is plenty for Cristobal to demand this week.
Improve the run blocking.
Generate more pressure.
Create turnovers.
Get healthier.
Put the game away early enough to give the depth chart another meaningful run-out.
That is what good teams do after comfortable wins.
The Last Word from Across the Pond
Friday night belonged to Mensah and Toney.
Sunday’s closer look gives us another reason to be encouraged.
Miami protected its new quarterback, moved the ball efficiently and held Stanford to six points despite losing the turnover battle.
There are things to fix.
That is probably exactly how Cristobal would want it.
Miami were dominant without being perfect.
Now comes the next challenge.
Turning one brilliant opening night into the standard rather than the exception.
