Friedlander: Was Virginia Tech a wake-up call or a warning sign for ACC frontrunner Miami?

The call and the controversy surrounding it are a moot point now. Whether you agree with the outcome, Miami beat Virginia Tech, is still undefeated and remains a heavy favorite to reach the ACC Championship Game.

There is, however, at least one point still open for debate.

Was Friday night’s close call against the Hokies a wake-up call for the Hurricanes or a warning sign that perhaps they’re not as good as advertised? And that it’s only a matter of time before they do what Hurricanes teams have done for as long as they’ve been in the ACC.

Fall short of expectations.

It’s a natural reaction to treat the game and Miami’s performance in it as a measuring stick since it was the Hurricanes’ first conference game and most challenging test of the season.

But to do that would be a disservice to a Virginia Tech team that is much more talented than its 3-2 record. The Hokies have some of the best offensive talent in the ACC and the league’s sack leader. And for the first time this year, they finally played up to their expectations.

That had something to do with Miami’s struggle, along with the likelihood that Mario Cristobal’s 8th-ranked team got caught reading their press clippings and didn’t take Tech as seriously as it should have.

It also didn’t help that quarterback Cam Ward was his own worst enemy. The Heisman frontrunner turned the ball over 3 times, once with a fumble on the game’s opening possession and twice on interceptions.

The fumble led directly to a Hokies touchdown. The first of the 2 picks, late in the first half, was even more damaging.

One play earlier, Ward hit Xavier Restrepo for an apparent touchdown that would have given the Hurricanes a 21-7 lead and put them firmly in control of the game. It was nullified by a holding call, which set the stage for Mose Phillips’ momentum-swinging interception.

It should be noted that Ward still ended up throwing for 343 yards and 4 touchdowns while making several winning plays on the clutch 4th quarter drive that finally put his team ahead – proving yet again that the Washington State transfer is the difference-maker Miami has lacked for the past 2 decades.

Don’t let that controversial Hail Mary ending distract you from the fact that Cam Ward turned a disappointing loss into a HEISMAN MOMENT performance. Cam Ward has BROUGHT THE U Back. Wow.
Smartest thing he ever did was come back for another year. His draft stock is SOARING. pic.twitter.com/Fp34SHxm2q

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 28, 2024

This was a game the Hurricanes would have lost in previous years. The fact that they didn’t, albeit with a little bit of luck – OK, a lot of luck – is reason enough not to dismiss them as a fraud.

But it’s not the only reason.

Let’s start with Ward. His history suggests that the turnovers are an anomaly, not the norm. He had only 7 interceptions in 12 games last season while playing for a bad team. He’ll bounce back.

One thing that will help him rebound is the return of starting left tackle Jalen Rivers, who has missed the past 3 games with a lower body injury. Tech star Antwaun Powell-Ryland dominated Rivers’ replacement, Markel Bell, forcing Ward to operate under pressure most of the night.

Cristobal said earlier this week that Rivers will be a game-time decision at Cal on Saturday. His return won’t just help Ward in the passing game, it will also have a positive impact on a ground attack that was also less effective against the Hokies.

On the other side of the ball, the Hurricanes’ pass rush will also get a significant upgrade with the return of last year’s ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Rueben Bain, who has been sidelined with an injury since the opening possession of the season.

Even with all that going for it, there are still reasons for concern as the season progresses.

The biggest is the way Tech quarterback Kyron Drones exposed a Miami secondary, which was considered to be its most glaring weakness coming into the season. While his numbers weren’t as gaudy as those of his cousin Ward – 19-of-33, 189 yards and 2 touchdowns – he made the Hurricanes pay when they left receivers wide open.

Which happened often. Usually on 3rd down.

Miami’s defense also had trouble tackling, a factor that contributed to the 206 yards the Hokies piled up on the ground.

Then there’s the Mario factor.

Cristobal is notorious for his questionable in-game decisions and clock management skills. But on Friday, it was his counterpart Brent Pry who gave the master class on how not to win a winnable game.
Chances are the Hurricanes won’t be that fortunate again, especially if Mario decides to Mario at some point in the season.

So was Virginia Tech a wake-up call or a warning sign?

If it’s a wake-up call, the Hurricanes would be wise to heed it on Saturday. Because with College GameDay coming to town and a Cal program on the upswing thanks to its entry into the ACC and an early upset of Auburn, the folks in Berkeley have set their alarms and will be wide awake and ready to go long before the sun rises.

Brett Friedlander

Award-winning columnist Brett Friedlander has covered the ACC and college basketball since the 1980s.