We meet again, Canes fam. Welcome to another Miami Hurricanes game day, everyone! This time, it’s another home game and with it a much needed win against the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, this year’s FCS buy-game opponent.

Here are some things to get your day started with some breakfast, maybe a mimosa or three, and settle in for Miami’s final non-conference game of the 2021 regular season. Oh yeah, and I’m gonna drop in some news from the last few days that I didn’t get to write up and post on the site too.

OL Jalen Rivers out for the Season

A bit of bad injury news: Starting OG Jalen Rivers sustained a season-ending knee injury in the game against Michigan State. Rivers left the game in the 1st quarter and did not return to action.

Furthermore, Rivers has already undergone surgery for the injury, so his season is fully confirmed to be over.

An inauspicious end to the season of the lineman who had been playing the best of anyone on Miami’s OL. We wish Jalen a swift and complete recovery.

QB D’Eriq King “highly doubtful” for Saturday’s game

In the same press conference in which Head Coach Manny Diaz detailed Rivers’s injury, he also said the QB D’Eriq King is “highly doubtful” to play today after injuring his shoulder against Michigan State as well.

I’m gonna be honest with you: we don’t need D’Eriq King to beat CCSU today. This is a “name your score” game regardless of who takes snaps behind center.

But, I fear King’s shoulder injury is a bit worse than they’re letting on. So I’m interested to see what happens with King for next week’s game on a short week (Thursday night) against Virginia. Will he be ready/able to play then? Or does Miami play one (or both?) of the young kids at QB against UVa to give King an extended rest period with Miami on a bye week following the Virginia game? We’ll see.

WR Jeremiah Payton in transfer portal

Earlier this year, WR Jeremiah Payton elected to take a leave of absence from the Miami Hurricanes Football program. At the time, he made posts on social media that he planned to return to Miami in the future.

Late this week, however, Payton announced his intention to sever his connection to the Canes permanently and enter the Transfer Portal.

Payton was a top 60 recruit nationally in the 2019 recruiting class. The former Duncan U. Fletcher HS standout was touted for his ability to create separation on routes and was also noted as a natural pass catcher. He will look for another progam at which to showcase those talents.

With the likelihood that he has played his last game as a Hurricane, Payton ends his UM career with 5 catches for 58 yards and 1 carry for 7 yards in 5 games.

We wish Jeremiah Payton the best in his future endeavors.

Film Preview

Miami’s gonna win today, but there are plenty of things to work on to sue in other games moving forward. Let’s all gather together and see what Justin Dottavio has on the list for X’s and O’s to watch.

Blips on the Radar

Today’s jersey combination, for those interested in such things:

Roman Marciante’s latest X’s and Ro Q&A

Carl Bleich’s 3 things to watch

Craig T. Smith’s Week 4 lines and picks

John Reynold’s ACC Rooting Guide for week 4

Carl Bleich tried to answer some questions the Canes’ performance thru 3 games have raised

Marsh Thomas endeavored to figure out what ails Miami’s offense

That’s it for today.

Happy early morning ahead of today’s 12:30pm kickoff!

Go Canes