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The college fast-fashion epidemic

Tori Lopes
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The college fast-fashion epidemic

Being a University of Miami student means constant involvement in events, like football tailgates, Greek life parties, a night out at Space and so much more. With everything students have going on in their life, it always boils down to one question: “What am I going to wear?!”

These events  and social media pressure call  for an intense need for more outfits which can become very expensive. For some, cheap “one-time wear” outfits have become a necessity to keep up, and many have turned to fast-fashion for answers.

The term “fast-fashion” is a hot search item on social media, and refers to cheap clothing that is mass produced, sometimes using harmful methods. Popular fast fashion brands include Shein, Forever 21, Cider, PrettyLittleThing and H&M.

Fast-fashion pressures students into constant overconsumption, but normalizing outfit repetition offers a practical solution that reduces financial strain and challenges the influence of social media. 

It’s no secret that social media is a huge part of Miami culture. Everyone has it, everyone is always active and most have let it drive their decisions, like the outfits they wear in order to post. And God forbid someone saw you with the same outfit in a different post! 

A 2022 Forbes article stated that 72% of college students shopped fast fashion that year, with a recent Uniform Market article stating that fast fashion became a $150.8 billion industry in 2024, with the number on the rise in the coming years.

So yes, having 30 “going out” tops from Shein is considered a problem. Fast-fashion raises serious ethical labor and environmental sustainability concerns. The BBC recently released a piece on Shein’s suppliers’ use of child labor in foreign countries to produce their clothing. Environmental impact, labor exploitation and financial strain are still often overlooked by students in the rush to stay trendy.

“I see so many UM girls here that have brand deals with FashionNova or PrettyLittleThing, so it’s pretty difficult not to see fast-fashion everywhere on our social media,” says UM junior Mia Farnesi. “In Greek life too, we always have so many themed events, so unfortunately getting one-time outfits is sometimes necessary.”

It’s clear that digital culture, and maybe Miami culture as well, is driving college students toward fast fashion pieces. A large reason can be due to “micro-trends” that come and go within weeks, pushing students towards cheap, disposable clothing to keep pace. Another can be our surrounding city of Miami in general, which is notorious for its party scene and luxury living. And the social pressure is real, as a 2023 Corporette article highlighted that close to 50% of women ages 18 to 25 felt required to wear a different outfit every time they went out, especially if they were taking pictures that might be posted on social media.

But even with the social pressure and ethical concerns of excessive fast-fashion among college kids, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Some may argue that with fast-fashion pieces being cheap, having “more” for “less” is justified, rather than finding staple pieces, to which I say, this is the perfect time to head a change!

With sustainable and financial alternatives on the rise, especially a climb in thrifting popularity, the so-called “necessity” of consistent overconsumption can be combated. Or a simple fix: rewear your clothes, people! We have washers and dryers on campus for a reason! Breaking the fear of rewearing your clothes will shorten the need to constantly need new ones.

By shifting toward more mindful shopping habits and embracing rewear culture, we as students can begin to resist the social media-driven push for constant consumption and redefine what it means to be fashionable on campus.

‘Canes volleyball continues historic run with road sweep against Wake Forest

Emma Best
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‘Canes volleyball continues historic run with road sweep against Wake Forest

On Sunday afternoon in Winston-Salem, the No. 18-ranked Miami Hurricanes volleyball (14-1, 4-0 ACC) took down the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-8, 1-3 ACC), continuing a historic run.

The Hurricanes’ 14th-straight victory on the season marked the team’s longest win streak since 2002, when the ‘Canes went 15-0 to start. Miami has not lost a set in five matches, sweeping every opponent in the ACC thus far.

UM’s dominance was on full display as they took the court at Reynolds Gym, opening on a 7-0 run fueled by setter Ariana Rodriguez. The redshirt sophomore earned three aces as the Hurricanes took an 11-4 early lead. 

Building on their previous momentum, the ‘Canes secured another 7-1 run, this time leading the way with two blocks by senior Dalia Wilson. 

Leading by 12, zero errors by the Hurricanes and a .478 hitting percentage was what ultimately sealed the deal in a 25-11 first set victory.

Though the first set indicated a smooth sailing match for Miami, the Demon Deacons fought back throughout the remainder of the game.

Following two aces by senior Naylani Feliciano, the ‘Canes led the second set 9-6.

Answering back, Wake Forest made a 5-1 run of its own, tying the game at 13, and eventually taking a 20-17 lead behind 12 kills in the set.

Another pair of aces by star setter Rodriguez along with 15 kills by the frontline pushed the Hurricanes just ahead of the Demon Deacons, securing the second set 25-23. 

Moving into the third and final set of the night, the Hurricanes looked to secure both the sweep over Wake Forest, and the No.18 spot in the ACVA Rankings.

It was the Demon Deacons this time that stepped on the gas fast, accelerating to a 7-4 lead over the ‘Canes to start set three.

Taking over the game by herself, Senior Flormarie Heredia Colon led the way for the Hurricanes with four straight points. The six-foot outside hitter tallied one kill, one ace, and two blocks to propel Miami’s comeback.

Heredia Colón continues to make her presence felt during Miami’s 14-match win streak, being named ACC Co-Offensive player of the week. The Santo Domingo native currently leads the NCAA and the ACC in points per set and leads the conference in kills per set, total points, total kills, total attacks, and is second in the ACC in aces per set and total aces.

Continuing her solid first season with the ‘Canes, freshman hitter Amina N’Diaye added key third-set kills to accompany the Hurricanes’ powerhouse.

As the final point commenced, it was Miami’s wall at the net by Wilson and Heredia Colón that earned the Hurricanes the match victory, 25-22.

This road win both secured the Hurricanes’ top-20 position in the ACVA Rankings, and sealed the deal on a historic run for the team. 

Returning home for a two-game stint, the Hurricanes will take on Pitt on Oct. 10, and SMU on Oct. 12, before returning to a set of road games on the West Coast.

Understanding the 2025 government shutdown

Vivian Amoia
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Understanding the 2025 government shutdown

The federal government shut down Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 12:01 a.m. after the Senate failed to pass funding for the upcoming fiscal year after back-to-back votes. 

When Democrats and Republicans cannot agree on a spending proposal, they each block the other’s stopgap spending proposal.

This time, the disputes primarily occurred over health care subsidies and proposed medicaid cuts. Republicans also suggested cutting government funding, like the extension of tax credits making health insurance cheaper. 

Specifically, the Republican’s bill did not extend Obamacare subsidies or restore Medicaid funding, while the Democrat’s bill added over $1 trillion in spending. 

In an effort to create a continuing resolution with some adjustments, the House passed a short-term funding bill through November 21, but the Senate rejected it.

As a result, thousands of federal workers will be furloughed, or temporarily laid off without pay. 

The agencies that are being hit the hardest are the Environmental Protection Agency, with 89% of their employees furloughed, Education with 87%, Commerce with 81%, Labor with 76% and Housing and Urban Development with 71%. 

Just these agencies alone are furloughing over 64,000 federal workers. 

While the government is shut down only mandatory spending programs and essential services may continue to function.

Federal grants and loans, like Pell Grants and FAFSA, are considered mandatory spending, so they will continue unaffected. However, since the Department of Education is furloughing 87% of its workforce, delays can be expected in customer service at FAFSA help centers. 

“I don’t think there is going to be that much of an impact,” said a University of Miami student who wishes to remain anonymous. “If anything, maybe withdrawal of certain disbursements of financial aid. That might happen, it might not happen. It depends on what this government is going to consider as an essential service of the government.”

Payments for on-campus student jobs are tied to school-administered funds, but if a school relies on federal staff, payment reports could be delayed. Private institutions like UM, are not federally funded and do not rely on federal staff. Therefore student employees payments will continue to be reported. 

However, students interning at federal agencies may be furloughed. 

“I have heard that people have had federal jobs lined up and then they were taken away, so I think that is going to cause problems,” said a UM student who will remain anonymous. “I’m also curious how this is going to impact federal work study, as a federal work study student.”

A federal work study is a federally funded program that provides part-time, on-campus jobs for both undergraduate and graduate students on a need basis, to help pay for their school expenses. 

The effects of a government shutdown on the federal work study program depend on how prolonged the shutdown becomes. Students will continue to receive paychecks for the current semester, but if the shutdown continues, students risk disruptions for the upcoming semester, as well as delays in program administration.

Research programs will experience paused grants and a freeze on approvals. The shutdown also limits research visits to national parks and access to federal library archives.  

The shut down might also cause travel delays and longer TSA lines due to FAA furloughs. Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, this could affect those with travel plans for the upcoming fall break. 

“I’m not very worried about flying home over this fall recess. I have a strong belief in our government that we will figure out a policy in place within the next week, so I’m very confident that everything will go very well with the TSA in two weeks, said Luke Ryan, a UM student.

For the time being, airports will remain open, student loans will continue, National Parks will remain partially open and Social Security benefits and Medicare benefits will continue at least to the end of the year, but nothing is certain with a government shutdown.

The last government shutdown was under the Trump administration’s first term in 2018, becoming the longest government shutdown in history lasting 35 days, and cost the U.S about $600 million per week.

This shutdown was caused by disputes over funding for the wall between the U.S.-Mexico border. After lots of debate, it finally came to an end when Trump reached a temporary deal with congressional leaders so that the government could reopen for three weeks while negotiations continued. 

Trump claims this government shutdown is a great opportunity to cut programs and people that Democrats like. According to The New York Times, Trump said that “A lot of good can come down from shutdowns.”

The government has been shut down for six days and it is unknown how long the shutdown will last. The government reopening depends on how willing the parties are to compromise and Congress’s eagerness to act.

Miami moves back up to No. 2 in Week 7 AP poll

Omar Pinto
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Miami moves back up to No. 2 in Week 7 AP poll

The Miami Hurricanes slid back up to No. 2 in the AP poll following yet another statement win – this time over rivals No. 18 Florida State in Tallahassee.

In the Week 7 AP Poll, 21 of the 66 writers voted the Hurricanes as the nations best team. The only team with more first place votes is the reigning national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, with 40.

Following the win of their in-state rival and claiming the unofficial “Florida state champions”, the Miami Hurricanes hold three ranked win on the season, the most in college football. This marks the first time since 2009 the ‘Canes have earned three ranked wins in their first six weeks, after beating No. 5 Notre Dame in Week 1, No. 18 South Florida in Week 3, FSU on Saturday.

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer – Fans celebrate a big road win against FSU on October 4, 2025.

Miami jumped out to an early 28-3 lead on the Seminoles and was able to hold on after a late FSU resurgence, winning 28-22.

The biggest heroes on the day for the ‘Canes were Carson Beck and his all-star receiving core, who were able to pick up the slack when the ‘Noles bottled up their usually dominant running back core.

True-freshman phenom Malachi Toney was all over the field, getting consistent separation from whoever guarded him, which earned himself seven receptions for 107 yards and two scores, not including an electric 52-yard breakaway touchdown, which got called back because of a penalty. Toney showcased his elite route-running, speed, and ball-tracking abilities all game, proving that he is not only one of the best freshmen, but one of the best players in the entire nation.

Quarterback Carson Beck did what he does best – take care of the football and make veteran decisions. He threw for four touchdowns on a 74% completion rate – a category in which he leads the conference – and committed no turnovers, putting together a near-flawless performance.

Breakout star C.J. Daniels also had a strong showing, reeling in five grabs for 78 yards and finding pay-dirt twice on the night.

Defensively, Jakobe Thomas was the standout, snagging a leaping interception and recording a sack. True freshman Bryce Fitzgerald also notched an interception, his third of the season.

The one big sign of concern for the Hurricanes is their lack of ability to put teams away, a problem which plagued them last season, and was ultimately one of the biggest reasons for their disappointing ending.

After dominating the first three quarters, UM went into game-management mode, allowing FSU to do as it pleased on offense and lazily repeating punts when it had the ball. Miami was outscored 19-0 in the fourth, making the game seem much closer than it was. Had Miami kept their foot on the gas, the ‘Canes could have moved up to No. 1 in the AP Poll.

The ‘Canes did the same thing in both of their other close matchups this year, as they let both Notre Dame and Florida hang around much longer than they should have. Up to this point, they have not faced any repercussions from their late-game complacency, but if they aren’t careful, this will eventually catch up to them.

For now, the Hurricanes are undefeated, battle tested, and have the best resume of any team in the country. Vibes are good in Coral Gables, and hopes are as high as ever. Miami will rest up on a bye this week before hosting conference rivals Louisville on Friday, Oct. 16.

‘Canes volleyball blow by NC State, notch 13th straight victory

Ansel Mello
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‘Canes volleyball blow by NC State, notch 13th straight victory

The Miami women’s volleyball team kept its dominant run alive Friday night, sweeping NC State in convincing fashion. The Hurricanes traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, and took care of the Wolfpack in straight sets.

The win marked Miami’s 13th consecutive victory, pushing the Hurricanes to a program-best 13-1 overall record and a perfect 3-0 start in the ACC. 

Miami displayed their dominance, posting 40 kills, 38 digs, and eight aces in the match. Senior standout Florimarie Heredia-Colon lead the Hurricanes’ charge, tallying up 17 kills in another great performance. 

The first set established the tone early for Miami. Freshman setter Mariam Mushkudiani sparked the Hurricanes’ momentum with a key kill block that gave the team a 12-8 lead.  Miami capitalized on several Wolfpack errors, stringing together seven straight points to pull away. The Hurricanes controlled the pace from start to finish, closing out the set 25-16. 

The second set proved more competitive as NC State matched Miami point for point through the opening rallies. However, freshman Aminia N’Diaye took control at the service line, recording multiple aces during a six-point Miami run. The game’s momentum shifted and quickly the Canes were up 14-9. The Hurricanes’ front line, led by senior Dalia Wilson and redshirt sophomore Ariana Rodriguez, put up key blocks down the stretch to seal the set 25-20. 

Set three followed a similar storyline; very contested but ultimately in Miami’s favor. The Hurricanes led 15-13 midway through, tallying 18 kills while staying disciplined and committing just four errors. In the end, Miami held off NC State’s final push to close the match 25-22. This game marks Miami’s fourth consecutive sweep against opponents. 

With the victory, the Hurricanes extend their best start in recorded program history. This victory further solidifies their No. 1 rank in the ACC and reiterates their No. 22 nation-wide AVCA poll ranking. 

Next up, Miami travels to Salem, North Carolina, for another conference showdown against Wake Forest. Sunday’s contest will be at 1 p.m.

Security doubts for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Ian Sauer
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In this episode, Ian breaks down the chaos surrounding the CONCACAF Final and what it revealed about major security lapses during the tournament. From crowd control failures to on-field disruptions, he examines what went wrong, how it affects the image of U.S. soccer, and what FIFA and organizers must do to ensure the 2026 World Cup doesn’t face the same issues.

Who to root for this season on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Hannah Valdivia
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Who to root for this season on ‘Dancing With the Stars’

“Dancing With the Stars” has broken viewing records for years. It hit a new high when TikTok influencer, Charli D’Amelio, took the stage and won the Mirrorball Trophy. Now, it’s expected that University of Miami alum Alix Earle is set to be the face of the show’s 32nd season. 

However, it seems some surprising first night performances shook the rankings and left the spotlight open to any dancer. 

The 32nd season’s‘One-Hit Wonders’ theme brought some amazing performances, some less impressive moments and two eliminations. While Derek and Bruno are both fine judges, I thought I would share my personal rankings, from stiff and yawn-inducing, to captivating and inspiring. 

14. Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson’s Cha Cha

The costumes doomed this performance before it even started. 

Choosing a completely neon salmon suit was not the best idea, but the overly sexual innuendos throughout the entire performance made it worse. It felt like the duo was forcing a lot of these moments and avoided dancing an actual cha cha altogether. 

While I can’t fault Corey for the choreography he didn’t create, I appreciate that he tried his best and did deliver on the facials. 

The performance fell flat and left me feeling “meh” by the end of it. While I was sad to see anyone eliminated, it had to be them. 

13. Andy Richter and Emma Slater’s Tango

I have definitely become one of Andy Richter’s biggest fans, only because I love an underdog. However, the performance itself lacked that “wow” factor that fans love to see. 

I love that Emma understands his age and range of mobility, so I couldn’t give them last place for a clean, solid tango. I also adored Richter’s facials and overall excitement to be on stage. 

I am excited to see how they improve and explore with different styles throughout the season, but I’m afraid they will probably be eliminated early. 

12. Baron Davis and Britt Stewart’s Samba

I absolutely loved the song choice for this dance and the way the costumes and overall vibe of the stage all tied together. What I did not love, however, was seeing the multiple very noticeable awkward moments throughout the performance. 

I’ve seen this a lot throughout dances, but I think the pro’s need to start teaching their partners how to properly go down the stage stairs while also making it an exciting part of the performance. 

I also noticed the very sloppy turns and certain moves where it seemed Baron and Britt were just not connecting as dance partners. 

So, although it was a sad — and apparently controversial — goodbye, I don’t think they had the best performance.

11. Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten’s Jive

With the overwhelming number of jives we saw during Week Two, I had to judge each one a little more critically and Elaine’s was not one of my favorites.  

Don’t get me wrong, I love her as an actress and I think she’s an absolute icon, but she seemed very stiff throughout the whole performance. Her facials definitely make up for the messy parts of their dance, but it didn’t do much to save her in this ranking. 

I am definitely excited to see if there is some ability for growth as the season progresses, but I’m not sure she’ll make it very far in the process. 

10. Lauren Jauregi and Brandon Armstrong’s Foxtrot

With “Lovefool” being one of my all-time favorite songs, I felt disappointed after watching this dance. I definitely saw a lot of improvement after last week’s performance, but it still fell a bit flat for me. 

I’m not sure how well the whole vibe matched the song, but Lauren danced gracefully across that stage, so I’ll give her some grace in the rankings. 

9. Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov’s Cha Cha

The subtly sexier vibe of this performance was absolutely perfect. From the costumes to the music, I think this dance really fit Danielle and she was able to shine a bit more than in her dance last week. 

While I am not a huge fan of overdoing tricks and flips, I thought this was a great balance of actual choreography and eye-catching spins. Yet, I think she was outshined by some of the other performers and didn’t really leave me wanting more. 

8. Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach’s Samba

After watching the hit show “Traitor,” it’s safe to say I knew I’d be a big Dylan fan from the very beginning of the show. His playful energy and exciting facials make him fun to watch, but I’m not sure this week’s performance really did him justice. 


There were quite a bit of awkward floor routine moments and attempts at tricks that the dance would have been fine without, which definitely brought his ranking down a bit. 

I know the whole point of the professional is that they are going to look better than their non-professional partner, but I felt like Daniella truly stole the show and outshined Dylan on this one. It was not a bad second performance, but could have been better. 

7. Robert Irwin and Witney Carlson’s Tango

It’s possible his ranking was this high because I, like every other girl watching this show, am in love with Robert Irwin. I mean come on, just look at him.

Jokes aside, I thought this was quite a strong performance from him, but didn’t pack as much of a punch as his opening night number.

After his “jungle Jive”, many commentators felt Irwin would be taking home the Mirrorball trophy, but this performance lacked a lot of the energy and cleanliness I saw last week. 

I definitely have hope for my man though, so don’t count him out yet. 

6. Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold’s Cha Cha 

These costumes were one of my absolute favorites and while yes it has nothing to do with their actual dancing ability, you can’t hate a girl for appreciating a good fit. 

The dance itself fell flat at certain parts, but the technicality was definitely there and made it an exciting performance to watch. Hoying has a lot of practice and work to do, but he’s starting off at a pretty strong spot for it only being week two of the season. 

There really isn’t much to say about this performance, which I guess is why it didn’t make the bottom three, but it wasn’t enough to make the top five either. 

5. Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko’s Tango

It seems Alec Baldwin’s presence at all of their practices has really been paying off. Don’t worry Alec, after Gleb’s last season, I’d be doing the exact same thing. 

While I don’t want to give Gleb any props for this week’s dance, I have to say the music, costuming and dance style all tied together really well and made it a very strong number. 

I really enjoyed watching Hilaria’s tricks throughout the performance, but I didn’t feel like it was so overdone that it took away from their actual dancing. Definitely a solid fifth choice in the ranking. 

4. Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa’s Jive 

Originally, I wasn’t going to rank this as high as I did, but Jordan’s abilities as a gymnast are really doing her well as a dancer and performer. 

I was captivated by her clean lines and impressive jump and split, so I had to give it a fourth place ranking. She definitely seems super confident on stage and after this week’s performance, I could definitely see her going farther in the competition. 

3. Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy’s Jive

This might be another biased ranking, but I gotta support my fellow ’Cane. 

I thought Alix’s energy was so fun to watch and I loved her big-blonde-hair moment and the gorgeous green sparkles she wore. I think her and Val are definitely my favorite pairing so far this season and I’m excited to see how well she does as she gets more comfortable on stage. 

While the intricacy and difficulty level were not all there on this performance, it was definitely very clean and strong. Their energy made up for it. 

2. Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik’s Quickstep 

I am so grateful to live in an era where Jan Ravnik is blessing my tv screen. The choreography itself was pretty strong, but I didn’t feel it matched the song very well, which seemed to be a consistent problem with this week’s performances. 

I did really love the jump off the table in the very beginning, it was definitely eye-catching and left me wanting more from their performance. 

1. Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas’ Cha Cha 

I promise I’m still rooting for Robert, but I do think there’s some competition for first place after this number. 

The costumes, song choice and dance all came together to create a stunning performance that I couldn’t peel my eyes away from. 

Whitney’s facials were perfect and her sharp movements make her a really strong dancer and performer. I also appreciated the perfect balance of dancing and tricks, which is why this performance scored so high on my ranking. 

Be sure to catch the next episode of “Dancing With the Stars,” streaming on Disney plus. Also, stop by the Rathskeller on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. for  “DWTS” watch parties to cheer on UM’s Day in The Life queen Alix Earle.

Miami native Lauren Jauregui eliminated from ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Nicole de Leon
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Miami native Lauren Jauregui eliminated from ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Lauren Jauregui was voted off the popular dancing show ‘Dancing with the Stars’ on Sept. 30. The show was only three weeks into its 34th season before Lauren got eliminated.

“Dancing with the Stars” is a competitive dancing show that airs on ABC Tuesday nights at 8p.m.. It features professional dancers competing in pairs with celebrities that have little tono experience in dance. 

These duos face off and get scored by judges, and most importantly, online votes from fans. The combined scores contribute to who gets voted off the show weekly. 

Fifth Harmony star, Lauren Jauregui, is the third member of the group to feature on the show. Her bandmates Ally Brooke and Normani Kordei competed on the show, both separately finishing in third place overall. 

Lauren’s last dance was a Cha-Cha to the band’s own hit “Work From Home” which earned 18 points from the judges.Her elimination was evidently a shock to her fellow competitors on the show. 

After the live announcement of her defeat, dancers and stars came over to console her with shocked faces and expressions. When asked her reaction about the decision, Lauren said she was, on air, “pissed.”

Lauren Jauregui is Miami born and raised, with outspoken pride towards her Cuban heritage. She was competing alongside familiar faces for the Miami community, such as Alix Earle. 

The show continues on with Earle and 10 other couples battling for the Mirror Ball trophy.

Best in the ACC: Takeaways from Miami’s win over FSU

Giovanni Alonso
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Best in the ACC: Takeaways from Miami’s win over FSU

The No.3 ranked Miami Hurricanes (5-0, 1-0 ACC) took the show on the road on Saturday night, defeating the rival No. 18 Florida State Seminoles (3-2, 0-2 ACC), 28-22.

As the season rolls into October, the UM look to continue to build on its success. But what have fans learned from the 70th all-time showdown between the ‘Canes and the Noles?

Freshman playmakers are the engine behind Miami’s success

While headliners like Carson Beck and Reuben Bain are the main focus of the media’s attention, Miami’s freshmen are solidifying their position as key contributors.

Malachi Toney continues to make an impact and establish himself as one of the premier playmakers in the ACC. Toney got started quickly with a 44-yard touchdown reception to put Miami up by double digits in the second quarter. The 18-year old did not wait long to get his second, as a 40-yard scamper put Miami up 21-3 six minutes into the second half.

Toney finished with seven catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns on the day. This doesn’t include a 52-yard touchdown that was called back after a penalty in the second quarter. But he wasn’t the only freshman to make an impact last night.

Safety, Bryce Ftizgerald, a Miami native who attended Christopher Columbus High School, has been steadily climbing the depth chart. On Saturday night, he showed why, picking off Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos in the second quarter. The takeaway halted a promising Seminoles drive, and set up Miami’s second touchdown of the night.

As Toney and Fitzgerald have shown, Miami’s freshmen aren’t just the future, they’re the present as well.

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer – Freshman Wide Reciever Malachi Toney runs toward the end zone against FSU on October 4, 2025.

Miami is the most complete team in the ACC

Florida State had one goal in mind defensively: stop the run. After combining for 196 yards and three touchdowns on the ground against Florida, Miami running backs Mark Fletcher Jr and Marty Brown struggled against the Seminoles, finishing with 3.3 and 2.4 yards-per-carry, respectively. Florida State decided to load the box and force Carson Beck to beat them through the air.

And he did.

Beck finished with 241 yards and four touchdowns with a 74.1% completion percentage. He completed big play after big play, with pass completions of 47, 44, and 40 during the game. Receiver CJ Daniels also had a significant impact, with two touchdowns and 78 yards of his own.

Miami’s win on the road in a raucous environment like Doak S. Campbell Stadium on a Saturday night shows one thing: the Hurricanes can win in a myriad of ways. When one area of the team isn’t producing as much as it usually does, others can pick up the slack. And that’s a major quality of truly great teams.

There should be no good reason for Miami to lose any game remaining on its regular season schedule, with most of what many consider to be its “toughest tests” now out of the way. However, doubts continue to hang over the ‘Canes.

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer – Fifth-Year Senior Defensive Back Jakobe Thomas throw up the U on October 4, 2025.

Miami’s conservative second-half approach will cost them a game

If Saturday night’s game was three quarters instead of four, Miami might have woken up this morning as the number one team in the country. The Hurricanes had held the nation’s number one scoring and total offense to just three points and 216 yards as the final quarter began, and led by a commanding 28-3 margin.

However, as some Seminoles fans filed out of the stadium with their heads hung low, their offense began to wake up.

Florida State scored a touchdown and two-point conversion with ten minutes remaining in the game. Then, seven minutes later, another touchdown and two-point conversion. After a fourth-down stop and a field goal, Florida State found itself one onside kick from having the chance to finish the comeback of a lifetime.

Despite recovering the onside kick and securing the six-point win, the near-collapse put a damper on what had been a dominant performance for Miami. The Seminoles had outgained Miami 188 to 17 in yardage in the fourth, and had outscored the Hurricanes 19-0.

The reason for this: conservative playcalling in the fourth quarter.

While Miami capitalized on big “chunk” plays throughout the first three quarters, the Hurricanes seemed to think the game was in hand. After completing 18 of his first 21 passes, Beck threw the ball just six times, completing it just twice for three yards.

Florida State’s run defense also stiffened while Miami’s playcalling creativity waned. The Hurricanes rushed for just 14 yards on nine carries in the fourth, an average of 1.6 yards per rush.

When Miami desperately needed to run the clock or get a big play to steal back momentum, the Hurricanes failed to convert a single third or fourth down. This, combined with Miami’s laid-back approach on defense, allowed the Seminoles to get back into the game.

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer – Sophomore Cornerback OJ Fredqerique Jr. lines up against an FSU reciever on October 4, 2025.

This is not a first-time issue, as Miami has had points of struggle against Notre Dame and Florida where games that seemed firmly in their control began to slip away due to play-calling and shifting momentum.

While Miami is more talented, on paper, than any other team remaining on their regular season schedule, the Hurricanes may find themselves in tougher positions than necessary if these issues are not resolved. And as we saw last season, issues that appear minor at the beginning of the year can have major consequences in November and December.

For now though, ‘Canes fans can enjoy an undefeated start and the, though unofficial, all-important Florida “state championship.”

Miami heads into their second bye week before facing off against the Louisville Cardinals (4-1, 1-1 ACC) on Friday, Oct. 17.

Influencer U: Welcome to Miami, but make it aesthetic

Nyema Davilmar
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Nyema dives into the glittering, ring-light reality of influencer culture at the University of Miami, where every latte, pool day, and study session could double as content. From “study with me” TikToks in Richter to curated Brickell dumps, Nyema explores how UM’s picture-perfect aesthetic can blur the line between living and performing. She shares what it’s like to feel behind both academically and aesthetically, and how she’s learning to trade WiFi clout for real connection.

Miami falls 3-0 to FSU after first-half rout

Harrison Steinberg
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Miami falls 3-0 to FSU after first-half rout

The University of Miami Women’s soccer team was shut out by Florida State University, falling 3-0 after conceding three first-half goals in Tallahassee

For the opening 10 minutes, the match remained even, with both sides exchanging attacks. The Hurricanes’ keeper Emily Bredek made an early save on a shot from FSU forward Solai Washington to keep the score level.

In the 11th minute, however, the Seminoles broke through.

Jordynn Dudley stripped the ball from Miami’s Emilie Simpson and laid off a pass to Washington, who finished from six yards out to the far post. It marked the fourth time in the last six games that Miami has conceded the opening goal.

FSU doubled its lead in the 29th minute when Nyanya Touray’s long-range effort deflected off Miami defender Sam Marella, catching Bredek off guard and bouncing into the back of the net. It was Touray’s first career collegiate goal.

Just 42 seconds later, the Seminoles struck again. After a failed clearance by Marella, Dudley calmly volleyed the ball out of the air from the center of the box into the bottom-left corner. The tally was Dudley’s 23rd career goal in 41 appearances for FSU, and her third in as many matches against Miami.

The second half was played to a stalemate, with neither side able to add to the score line. Miami rotated goalkeepers at halftime, as Bredek and Atlee Olofson each played a half and tallied six and five saves respectively. Teegan Melenhorst, Brie Stevens, and Allie Serlenga each recorded a shot on goal, but none could beat the Seminole defense.

With the loss, the Hurricanes (6-5-1, 0-4-1 ACC) remain winless in conference play. They return home to Coral Gables on Oct. 11 to face Syracuse at 7 p.m.

The match will be broadcast live on ACC Network.

“You find a way to get it done”: Miami repeats as State champions, takes down FSU 28-22

Shea Mcdonald
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“You find a way to get it done”: Miami repeats as State champions, takes down FSU 28-22

It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t clean, but it was a win.

Faced with adversity in their first road game of the season, Miami fought and found a way to win. The Miami Hurricanes played a dominant three quarters and braved out the Seminoles’ attempt to storm back. And at the end of 60 minutes Miami had another ranked victory and clinched its second straight State Championship with a 28-22 win. 

While the Hurricanes offense flashed for stretches again, it was the Hurricanes defense that stole the show.

The big question heading into this game: Could Miami hold down the explosive FSU offense led by the dynamic duo of Tommy Castellanos and Duce Robinson? 

Florida State’s offense tried its best to confuse Corey Heatherman’s defense with a multitude of formations, motions, and trick plays. While the Seminoles generated a few explosive plays, for every Castellanos scramble or chunk play, Miami was able to recover and not let things spiral. They rallied to the ball, forced turnovers, and played sound football under Heatherman’s system.

“I thought after the first drive, where they drove down and we held them to a field goal, we really got our cleats in the ground and started playing really good football.” head coach Mario Cristobal said. 

Leading the charge was safety Jakobe Thomas, who flew around the field all day. 

Miami’s big defensive plays came in the form of three turnovers, the highlight of which was a spectacular play by Thomas. He recovered and tracked a streaking Florida State receiver to pick off Castellanos, turning what would have been a walk-in touchdown into Miami’s ball. Just eight plays later the ’Canes turned that interception into a touchdown to give Miami its 25-point lead that it entered into the 4th quarter with. 

Thomas, with his activity around the ball, notched 5 tackles, one TFL, one sack, and that interception. He was the lightning that Miami needed to chase and track the shifty Castellanos, and throughout the game he showed why he was such a crucial offseason addition via the transfer portal. 

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer – Multiple defenders dive toward a loose ball against FSU on October 4, 2025.

Offensively the expectation was for Miami to pound the rock against an FSU team that was bullied by the Cavaliers on the ground, but early on that was unavailable to the Hurricanes.

Miami was faced with plenty of stacked boxes as the Seminoles dared Carson Beck to beat them through the air, and Beck and Shannon Dawson responded to the challenge to the tune of 241 yards and four touchdowns. 

Beck went to his go-to targets, transferring to CJ Daniels and freshman Malachi Toney early and often, combining for 185 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. Daniels got the Miami offense going after he beat his man on a deep post for a 47-yard connection, followed up a few plays later by a Daniels touchdown catch. 

On Toney’s end, he was reliable and explosive as always. The play after true freshman Bryce Fitzgerald took an interception across midfield, Beck lofted a pass off a flea-flicker into the hands of true freshman Malachi Toney for a 44-yard score. 

Between the flea-flicker and shot to Daniels, Miami showcased an explosive downfield passing attack. For Beck, having that element as part of the offense is exciting to see.

“Usually you hope for one of them to play a game, or you call one or two or three of them and you hit one of them.” Beck explained. “But to be able to hit some like we did today is always fun.”

The flea-flicker wasn’t the end of Toney’s day, though. In a critical opening drive in the second half, Miami was faced with fourth and short and dropped back to pass. Toney, as he has so many times, found the open spot in the defense and reeled in the conversion. Not satisfied, he turned upfield and turned on the jets, running past the defense to extend Miami’s lead for another 40-yard touchdown. It was another game that showed that Toney is far ahead of the curve as a freshman and is a superstar that the Miami fans will have for a long time. Beck praised Toney and how mentally he’s been as impressive as he’s been physically.

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer – Freshman Wide Reciever Malachi Toney reaches the ball over the goal line before stepping out of bounds against FSU on October 4, 2025.

“[Toney’s] such a smart kid.” Beck said. “Obviously he’s uber talented, but he puts in the work, and he deserves all the success he’s getting.” 

But after three quarters of domination, the game started to slip away from Miami. The Hurricanes managed just 17 yards in the fourth quarter. This let the Seminoles back into the game with multiple quick touchdown drives, with four explosive plays in the fourth quarter. It seemed that Miami had lost all momentum, unable to get a stop and unable to move the ball to burn the clock. 

But with the 25-point gap Miami built and with so little time, Florida State was unable to mount a comeback, and Miami again took home the title as the best in Florida. 

“It’s playoff football,” Cristobal said. “If you refuse to acknowledge the holes that need to be fixed in order to keep getting better. You’re not going to last very long.”

Miami can celebrate its road win against the Seminoles with this next week off. When they come back from their second bye, Miami will take on the 4-1 Louisville Cardinals back at home in Hard Rock Stadium Friday, Oct. 17th, at 7 p.m.

David Lebowitz, Staff Photographer – Fans celebrate a big road win against FSU on October 4, 2025.
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