Clemson vs Miami Q&A with State of the U

Miami Gardens, Florida - September 26, 2026 - Clemson rides a three-game winning streak, and the ACC's hottest team, Miami, is coming to Death Valley for an under the lights showdown. To break down Miami at Clemson, we're joined by Justin Dottavio from "State of the U." Dottavio, a football writer for State Of The U, is also a former high school football coach and strength and conditioning coach.

The main event is Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney from Miami defending against Clemson's NFL-caliber defensive backs. Mensah and Toney are a tough matchup, and Dottavio believes Miami has the edge in this area. Clemson has NFL talent at wide receiver, but Tait Reynolds is still developing. Clemson's run defense has been a weak point, but it's improving.

Miami's rushing attack is still a work in progress, and Clemson's run defense will be a good matchup against Miami's run game. Miami's fans are eager to end their ACC Championship drought, and Dottavio believes winning the conference is crucial for Miami's playoff hopes. Head coach Mario Cristobal is under immense pressure to win the national championship, but he has advantages like local recruiting, NIL backing, and a strong staff.

If Clemson were to pull off the upset, Dottavio thinks it would be due to a strong run game from Clemson, a few deep shots from Manning, or a kicking game mishap for Miami. Dottavio predicts Miami will win by 14, as Manning is an elite quarterback and defense is key in close games. To find Dottavio's work, check out his IMFB_Blog on X and YouTube channel, where he provides All-22 reviews of games.