The Rundown Take
Two-and-Four and Out of Patience: U Talk Breaks Down NC State's Freshman Killer Before Miami's Defense Even Shows Up
Friday night, kickoff less than 24 hours away, and Devin and Larry Frank Jr. sat down for the "tale of the tape" on a Miami team that came in 2-4 at the midway point of the season. Larry Frank's numbers told a rough story before a single snap was played, and by the end of the show the panel wasn't picking Miami to win.
Key Takeaways
- Larry Frank's stat breakdown: Miami's defense ranks 39th nationally but is giving up 93rd-ranked scoring defense, with 23 missed tackles in the loss the week before — worst tackling in the country.
- NC State freshman QB Devin Leary is up to 1,534 yards and 15 touchdowns against just two picks — Larry Frank calls him the best Wolfpack quarterback since Philip Rivers in 2003.
- NC State's running back duo, led by Knight, draws North Carolina 2020 comparisons — both backs went for over 100 yards the week before.
- Cornerback Avonte Williams returns from a six-game suspension, expected to add immediate pressure to the secondary.
- Score predictions split hard: Larry Frank says NC State 38, Miami 27; others in the room and chat call it anywhere from 20-10 to 41-24.
The Tale of the Tape
Larry Frank walked through both sides: NC State's offense sits 60th nationally but is efficient rather than explosive, while its defense — 14th ranked, sixth in scoring defense — has racked up eight sacks against Miami's shaky protection all year. Miami's own offensive ranking (27th) got dismissed as a "phantom" number padded by the Central Connecticut State blowout, and the defensive numbers were flagged as the real concern given the missed-tackle epidemic. NC State also leads the nation in third-down defense, which Larry Frank warned would put punter Lou Hedley to work early and often.
Manny's Clock and the Coaching Carousel
The conversation pivoted hard to Manny Diaz's job security. The panel agreed the administration is riding it out to the end of the season rather than eating a second midseason firing in six years, with any move likely coming right after the Duke finale. From there it turned into a wide-open coaching search debate — Lane Kiffin got defended over an audience objection ("that clown has Ole Miss ranked number 12"), Ed Orgeron got torched over his post-2019 record, and Billy Napier and Hugh Freeze both got floated as preferred targets.
A Moment of Emotion
One thread stuck with the room: quarterback Tyler Van Dyke visibly broke down after last week's late interception, and Devin couldn't recall the last Miami player to show that kind of emotion after a loss — going back to Ken Dorsey in 2004. The panel read it as a sign of investment and leadership from a player they're hoping builds real chemistry with the receiving corps down the stretch.