Although Miami is dealing with some injuries in the defensive backfield and along the offensive line, the Hurricanes will be getting back one of their most important offensive players before the Clemson game. After missing last week versus Central Michigan, Hurricanes star running back Mark Fletcher Jr. should be able to give it a go. Mario Cristobal said so on Sunday. This is a problem for Clemson...
This season, Clemson has given up 157.8 rushing yards per game. Oddly enough, Clemson has been just as good pounding the rock on offense. However, the Tigers have not faced a running back as talented as Fletcher this year. Dilin Jones and quarterback Sam Leavitt got whatever they wanted on the ground in the LSU game. Fletcher has 230 rushing yards for three touchdowns on the season.
While the Clemson defense is improving, it will have to get even better faster when taking on Fletcher and the rest of Shannon Dawson's Miami offense. The Hurricanes are both explosive and versatile under his guidance. This will be a major step up from what the Tigers have faced the last three weeks versus Georgia Southern, North Carolina, and at Cal. In a way, this game will define Clemson's season.
Mario Cristobal said on WQAM that he expects running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. to play against Clemson on Saturday.
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) September 28, 2026
Sammy Brown, Jeremiah Alexander must stop Mark Fletcher Jr. to win
Where does Tom Allen's defense go in this one? Even though he has one of the best secondaries in college football, Allen has to accept that Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney, Cooper Barkate, and the rest of the Miami passing game will get theirs. Where the game could be won or lost is how well Clemson defends the run. Simply put, Sammy Brown and Jeremiah Alexander need to play their best games.
While Alexander played arguably his best game to date in a Clemson uniform last weekend versus Cal, Tosh Lupoi's coaching staff leaves so much to be desired. Regardless, if that showing gives him enough confidence to be all he can versus Fletcher and the Miami rushing attack, then so be it. Brown may be a technician at linebacker, but he has been understated this year. He has to pop in this game.
Not only will Clemson have to put forth its best effort defensively to hang tough in this ACC contest, but it will also need to see Tait Reynolds grow up a lot under center. The offensive side of the football is where Clemson can improve the most. The special teams are operating at peak efficiency for the most part, while Allen is getting the most out of his defense's talent. It needs to be a total team effort.
Right now, Clemson should not be surprised to see Fletcher back from injury. To be quite frank, Allen and his defensive staff were probably going to game plan for him being a part of it anyway for Miami. It will take an incredible amount of focus, as well as a few strokes of luck, for Clemson to get past the Hurricanes. Thankfully, this team is playing better, and this ACC conference game will be at home, too.
The only way that Clemson can improve to 4-1 with a win over Miami is by shutting down Fletcher.
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