FIVE THINGS
1. Saturday’s matchup with Bethune-Cookman begins the 90th season of Miami football.
2. UM holds a 7-0 all-time mark in home openers at Sun Life Stadium, outscoring opponents 267-53 - with an average margin of victory of 30.6 points.
3. Miami owns a 83-57-1 record against the eight different teams it has faced from the state of Florida in school history.
4. Brad Kaaya was one of only 15 quarterbacks in 2014 to throw for more than 3,000 yards, 26-or-more touchdowns and 12-or-fewer interceptions.
5. Miami ranked No. 14 nationally in total defense in 2014, allowing an average of just 329.6 yards per game - the fourth-best mark in the ACC.
HOME, SWEET HOME OPENERS
The Miami Hurricanes open their eighth season at Sun Life Stadium on Sept. 5 vs. Bethune-Cookman; UM holds a 7-0 all-time in home openers at Sun Life Stadium, outscoring opponents 267-53 - with an average margin of victory of 30.6 points.
The Hurricanes have not lost a home opener since 2006, when they fell to Florida State 13-10 at the Orange Bowl (9/4/2006); Miami has won eight straight home openers since.
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Since the start of the 2001 season, UM has opened seven times at home and seven times away from home; the Hurricanes are 6-1 in those home games.
Since joining the ACC prior to the 2004 season, Miami has played a conference opponent in only three of its 12 home openers: Florida State in 2004 & 2006 and Georgia Tech in 2009 - UM is 2-1 in those games.
Miami has played Bethune-Cookman twice in history (2011, 2012) but never in a home opener.
• In its 2014 home opener, Miami topped Florida A&M 41-7 (9/6/2014); UM scored touchdowns on four of its first six possessions, including the first two career home TD passes for Brad Kaaya.
In the modern era of Miami Hurricanes football (since 1979), UM has opened the season at home 15 times and is 13-2 in those games, with losses coming only in 1985 and 2006. Miami is 27-9 in regular season openers dating back to the start of the 1979 season.
SUNSHINE STATE DOMINANCE
In the 89 seasons of Miami football, the Hurricanes have made a habit of winning against their in-state rivals. Miami holds a 83-57-1 all-time record against teams from the state of Florida.
Miami will face three opponents from the state of Florida this year in the form of Bethune-Cookman, FAU and Florida State.
In addition, Miami holds a winning record against every school in the state of Florida.
ONES TO WATCH
Sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya was among four Hurricanes named to major college football award preseason watch lists entering the 2015 season.
Kaaya led all Hurricanes with three separate major award watch list nominations: the Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year), the Manning Award (top quarterback) and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Senior linebacker Raphael Kirby was named to the watch list for the Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s top linebacker.
Junior punter Justin Vogel was named to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, honoring the nation’s top punter.
Senior safety Dallas Crawford was named to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.”
1. Saturday’s matchup with Bethune-Cookman begins the 90th season of Miami football.
2. UM holds a 7-0 all-time mark in home openers at Sun Life Stadium, outscoring opponents 267-53 - with an average margin of victory of 30.6 points.
3. Miami owns a 83-57-1 record against the eight different teams it has faced from the state of Florida in school history.
4. Brad Kaaya was one of only 15 quarterbacks in 2014 to throw for more than 3,000 yards, 26-or-more touchdowns and 12-or-fewer interceptions.
5. Miami ranked No. 14 nationally in total defense in 2014, allowing an average of just 329.6 yards per game - the fourth-best mark in the ACC.
HOME, SWEET HOME OPENERS
The Miami Hurricanes open their eighth season at Sun Life Stadium on Sept. 5 vs. Bethune-Cookman; UM holds a 7-0 all-time in home openers at Sun Life Stadium, outscoring opponents 267-53 - with an average margin of victory of 30.6 points.
The Hurricanes have not lost a home opener since 2006, when they fell to Florida State 13-10 at the Orange Bowl (9/4/2006); Miami has won eight straight home openers since.
•
Since the start of the 2001 season, UM has opened seven times at home and seven times away from home; the Hurricanes are 6-1 in those home games.
Since joining the ACC prior to the 2004 season, Miami has played a conference opponent in only three of its 12 home openers: Florida State in 2004 & 2006 and Georgia Tech in 2009 - UM is 2-1 in those games.
Miami has played Bethune-Cookman twice in history (2011, 2012) but never in a home opener.
• In its 2014 home opener, Miami topped Florida A&M 41-7 (9/6/2014); UM scored touchdowns on four of its first six possessions, including the first two career home TD passes for Brad Kaaya.
In the modern era of Miami Hurricanes football (since 1979), UM has opened the season at home 15 times and is 13-2 in those games, with losses coming only in 1985 and 2006. Miami is 27-9 in regular season openers dating back to the start of the 1979 season.
SUNSHINE STATE DOMINANCE
In the 89 seasons of Miami football, the Hurricanes have made a habit of winning against their in-state rivals. Miami holds a 83-57-1 all-time record against teams from the state of Florida.
Miami will face three opponents from the state of Florida this year in the form of Bethune-Cookman, FAU and Florida State.
In addition, Miami holds a winning record against every school in the state of Florida.
ONES TO WATCH
Sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya was among four Hurricanes named to major college football award preseason watch lists entering the 2015 season.
Kaaya led all Hurricanes with three separate major award watch list nominations: the Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year), the Manning Award (top quarterback) and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Senior linebacker Raphael Kirby was named to the watch list for the Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s top linebacker.
Junior punter Justin Vogel was named to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, honoring the nation’s top punter.
Senior safety Dallas Crawford was named to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.”
