MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Quarterback Carson Beck threw four interceptions, and No. 2 Miami suffered its first loss of the season Friday night, falling 24-21 to Louisville at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Hurricanes (5-1) went into halftime trailing 14-10 — the first time they had been behind at the break this season — and never fully recovered.
Louisville (5-1) capitalized on Miami’s turnovers and a dominant rushing performance from Isaac Brown to earn its fifth win of the season.
The Cardinals opened the game strong with a 75-yard drive capped by quarterback Miller Moss’ short touchdown run — his third straight game finding the end zone on the ground. Louisville faked a field goal on fourth-and-2 to extend the possession before Moss punched it in for a 7-0 lead before a made extra point.
After a penalty derailed Miami’s first drive, Moss found receiver Chris Bell on the next series for a 35-yard touchdown, giving Louisville a 14-0 advantage.
Miami answered midway through the first quarter when Beck connected with CJ Daniels for 30 yards and Malachi Toney for 39 on a leaping grab. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to cut it to 14-7.
The Hurricanes’ defense settled down after a shaky start, forcing a couple of stops before Beck led a drive capped by Carter Davis’ 27-yard field goal to make it 14-10 at halftime.
Louisville extended its lead in the third quarter with a 48-yard field goal by Cooper Ranvier. Davis responded with his second kick of the night, a 41-yarder, to pull Miami within 17-13.
But Brown and the Cardinals’ offensive line continued to dominate. Brown rushed for 113 yards on 15 carries, including runs of 20 and 15 yards to set up Moss’ 36-yard touchdown strike to Bell, pushing the lead to 24-13.
Beck struggled to find rhythm all night. After being bailed out by a roughing-the-passer call that nullified what would have been his third interception, he was picked off again on the next drive by safety JoJo Evans Jr.
Moments later, Keionte Scott forced a fumble by Brown to give Miami new life.
Toney took a jet sweep 12 yards for a touchdown and then caught a pass on the two-point conversion to bring Miami within 24-21 early in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with a team-high 135 yards on 9 catches.
However, Louisville’s defense tightened late, forcing Beck into a fourth interception — this time by defensive lineman David Blay Jr. on a deflected pass intended for tight end Elija Lofton — effectively sealing the Hurricanes’ first defeat of the season.
Notably, Miami was not able to get their ground game going, rushing for 24 times for 63 yards, (2.6 yards per carry) their lowest rushing total of the season.
Moss finished 23 of 37 for 248 yards and two touchdowns, while Bell led all receivers with 136 yards and two scores. Beck completed 25 of 35 passes for 271 yards but was undone by his four interceptions.
Miami will look to regroup when they host Stanford (2-4) next Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. Louisville returns home to face Boston College (1-5).
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