Cristobal Blames Defensive Inconsistencies for Miami’s Late-Season Collapse, Urges Hurricanes to Learn to ‘Finish’ Strong Heading Into 2025 Campaign
When the Miami Hurricanes dropped three of their final four games to end the 2024 season, head coach Mario Cristobal was forced to confront a harsh reality—his team still hadn’t learned how to finish.
With a talented roster, high preseason expectations, and a quarterback room now led by former Georgia star Carson Beck, the Hurricanes seemed primed for a return to prominence. But defensive breakdowns, missed assignments, and untimely lapses in intensity down the stretch left Miami fans frustrated and wondering when the U will finally return to elite status.
In a candid offseason media session this week, Cristobal made no excuses and pointed directly at one side of the ball for the team’s shortcomings.
“We didn’t finish. And a big part of that was on the defensive side,” Cristobal said. “We had the players. We had the scheme. But when you don’t execute in key moments—especially late in games—it costs you. We’ve got to be better. That’s on me, and it’s on every coach on this staff.”
A Promising Start, A Painful Finish
Miami opened the 2024 season with a 6-1 record, surging up the rankings behind an improved offense, a stout run defense, and early buy-in from a mostly veteran roster. Wins over Clemson and North Carolina placed the Hurricanes squarely in the ACC title conversation.
But it all unraveled late.
A stunning overtime loss to Virginia Tech, followed by defensive collapses against Florida State and Louisville, erased Miami’s ACC Championship hopes. In all three losses, Miami held second-half leads—only to see them vanish behind missed tackles, blown coverages, and lack of discipline in the red zone.
“We gave up 28 points in the fourth quarter of our final two games combined,” Cristobal said. “That’s unacceptable if you want to compete for a championship.”
The Accountability Shift
Cristobal made it clear that changes were coming—not just in scheme, but in mindset. He emphasized accountability as the foundation for the offseason reset.
“I told our players: if we’re serious about building a championship culture, it starts with owning what went wrong,” he said. “It wasn’t just about talent. It was about trust, communication, and being relentless through all four quarters.”
This message has been reinforced through every offseason meeting, practice, and position group evaluation.
“We’re not sugarcoating anything,” defensive coordinator Lance Guidry added. “This defense has the ability to dominate. But if we play soft situational football, we’ll keep getting beat. That’s not who we are, and it won’t be who we are in 2025.”
New Faces, Same Expectations
Miami’s 2025 defensive lineup will feature a mix of veterans and promising new faces. The return of linebacker Francisco Mauigoa and safety Kamren Kinchens gives the Hurricanes leadership at key positions, while incoming recruits like five-star cornerback Marcus Jefferson and four-star edge rusher Lenny Rawls bring needed explosiveness.
Cristobal believes this blend can transform Miami into the aggressive, swarming defense that once defined the program.
“We’ve recruited dogs. Now it’s time to unleash them,” Cristobal said. “But it’s not just about what they do physically. It’s about being smart, consistent, and tough when it matters most.”
He also noted an increased emphasis on strength and conditioning under David Feeley, aimed at improving fourth-quarter stamina and focus.
“Our guys were gassed late last year,” Cristobal admitted. “We’ve overhauled our entire offseason workload. There’s no hiding in the fourth quarter this time.”
Culture Over Hype
One of the most striking themes from Cristobal’s remarks was a renewed focus on culture. For a program constantly chasing the ghost of its glorious past, the message is now about identity—who Miami is, not who it used to be.
“I don’t care what rankings say. I don’t care what social media says,” Cristobal stated. “Championship culture doesn’t come from hype. It comes from how you practice on Tuesday. It comes from how you finish a rep, how you respond to getting beat, how you show up in November.”
This echoes what Carson Beck has reportedly brought to the quarterback room: a laser focus on winning, not just flashy plays. Cristobal praised Beck’s leadership and described him as “the exact type of mindset we need to push this program forward.”
A Team That Can Finish?
The challenge now is whether Miami can carry this offseason accountability into real results.
Miami’s 2025 schedule won’t make things easy. The Hurricanes open with a tough non-conference test against Texas Tech, face road games at Florida State and NC State, and host defending ACC champion Louisville in late October.
For Cristobal, those games offer a chance for redemption.
“Everyone remembers how you finish,” he said. “We didn’t finish in 2024. That’s got to change. That will change.”
He said team leaders have already embraced that mentality. “Francisco [Mauigoa] is on guys constantly. Kinchens is holding the DBs to a higher standard. We’ve got a core group who knows what it takes—and now it’s about getting the whole team on board.”
Player Reactions Reflect New Tone
Several Hurricanes players have echoed Cristobal’s hardline tone this offseason.
“We all watched the film,” Kinchens said. “There’s no hiding. We had the lead and didn’t finish. That won’t happen again.”
Junior defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte added: “Coach Cristobal isn’t just talking. Everything we’ve done since January is about accountability. If you’re not locked in, you’re getting replaced.”
Looking Ahead
For Miami fans, 2025 presents both hope and anxiety. The talent is clearly there. The coaching staff has doubled down on accountability. And Cristobal appears more determined than ever to make the Hurricanes a contender.
But until Miami finishes strong in November and secures signature wins, doubt will remain.
Cristobal knows that. And he’s embracing the pressure.
“This is Miami,” he said. “We don’t run from expectations. We embrace them. Now it’s time to live up to them—and finish like champions.”
