No. 9 Miami Faces Underdog Stanford Amid Injuries, Historic First Matchup

The No. 9 Miami Hurricanes are set to face the Stanford Cardinal at Hard Rock Stadium, with Miami favored despite recent struggles including a loss to Louisville where QB Carson Beck threw four interceptions. Stanford enters as a significant underdog but is coming off an upset win against Florida State under interim coach Frank Reich, who emphasizes staying focused one play at a time. Miami has a relatively healthy roster heading into the game, though key players remain sidelined for Stanford, including top running back Micah Ford. Miami's offense struggled last week in the run game, while Stanford's defense is better against the run but weak against the pass, which could be a factor given Miami's aerial weapons. Stanford, with a 3-4 record and a poor road history, is aiming to build momentum under Reich's leadership and the guidance of GM Andrew Luck. Statistical trends favor Miami heavily, especially at home, but Stanford hopes to leverage its recent upset to challenge the Hurricanes.