Cristobal gives latest Hurricanes injury update. Plus UM-FSU game time announced

University of Miami admin October 5, 2026 0 Comments

Cristobal gives latest Hurricanes injury update. Plus UM-FSU game time announced

The Miami Hurricanes have been banged up plenty this season.

Mario Cristobal hopes the team’s bye week came at the perfect time for a chance to reset.

And it looks like that may be the case.

Cristobal didn’t provide any exact updates on ailing players postgame Saturday or during two media appearances on Monday (first on WQAM’s Joe Rose Show in the morning and then with local media in the afternoon), saying the team likely would have clarity later in the week. However, he did say Monday afternoon that “there is some promise in terms of guys returning” from injury when the No. 4 Hurricanes return to the field after their bye week.

He specifically noted cornerback Xavier Lucas and linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin among that group who could return. Both players were initially listed as questionable for last week’s game against Clemson, but neither played in the 41-13 win (Lucas was ruled out on Friday; Marcelin was cleared to play but didn’t). Lucas hasn’t played since Miami’s season opener at Stanford. Marcelin has missed the past two games.

“Last week, we felt good about Xavier Lucas being there,” Cristobal said. “We feel even better about it even though he didn’t make it there. And then Marcelin. We didn’t use Marcelin last game, but he was ready to go, and now with another couple weeks, he’s going to be in a good spot.”

Beyond that, Cristobal said he won’t have updates until later in the week. That includes edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot, who leads the team with five sacks but left midway through the Clemson game with injury and did not return. A pair of offensive linemen in right guard Max Buchanan and right tackle Matt McCoy also briefly left the game but returned although they clearly weren’t at full strength.

UM has also been without starting cornerback OJ Frederique since the opening drive of the season opener against Stanford and reserve cornerback Ja’boree Antoine since before the season began.

“There’s still some guys we’re trying to figure out and see where they’re at,” Cristobal said.

Cristobal did praise McCoy and Buchanan for returning to the game, saying McCoy “displayed a toughness that I have never seen” while playing through his shoulder injury and that he and Buchanan overall were “off the charts.”

“They really wanted this game,” Cristobal said. “I mean, the culture gets stronger all the time, and it’s driven by everybody in the building. Certainly, if you walk around, we don’t have any slogans on the wall. We don’t really delve in like a lot of behind the scenes footage and video and whatnot. We just do what we do, and we like to refer to ourselves as men of action. Work it into existence. These guys have really been gelling a little bit more and more each and every week.”

And all that said, Cristobal said he won’t be backing off the team during the bye week.

“It’ll be a normal week,” Cristobal said. “Now, some guys just can’t go. That’s the bottom line. But in terms of the actual blueprint and the regiment, it’ll be what we’re used to doing. We’ve made some modifications to practice where it really it relates to the guys that are banged up to a point where they can’t fully participate because it’s a rigorous schedule. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are tough practices around the country. That’s no secret.”

Miami-FSU time set

The Hurricanes home game against Florida State on Oct. 17 will be under the lights.

The ACC announced Monday that the game between Miami and FSU at Hard Rock Stadium will have a 7 p.m. scheduled kickoff. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

It’s the sixth consecutive night game for Miami and seventh total on the schedule (UM’s road game at Notre Dame on Nov. 7 is also a night game in South Bend, Indiana). Kickoff times for UM’s other five games will be announced as the season progresses.

The Seminoles are 3-2 (1-1 ACC) entering their game against the Louisville Cardinals on Friday. They are coming off a 38-7 win over Virginia. Quarterback Ashton Daniels led the way for the Seminoles against Virginia, rushing for 136 yards and a program-record five touchdowns while also completing 12 of 19 passes for another 183 yards.

Miami has won the last two matchups against rival FSU, beating the Seminoles in Tallahassee last season. UM leads the all-time series 37-33.

“They’re coming off a big-time win,” Cristobal said. “Very, very impressive. Certainly a team that we’re going to have to be at our best against.”