Miami gets its defense back for Florida State as Seminoles rule out eight

Coming out of its bye week, No. 3 Miami is as healthy on defense as it has been all season. The first availability report for Saturday night's game against Florida State clears cornerback Xavier Lucas, who has not played since an injury in the opener at Stanford. Linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin Jr., hurt at Wake Forest, is off the report entirely, and edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot, who left the Clemson game early, is not listed, according to Roundtable Sports and Canes Insight.

Cornerback Damari Brown, held to six snaps at Clemson, is also back. Mario Cristobal had already said as much on his Monday radio appearance, telling listeners that "Lightfoot is all the way back," per AtoZ Sports. The secondary has been the thinnest unit on the roster. It held up because Bryce Fitzgerald moved from safety to corner and freshman JJ Dunnigan stepped in at nickel. Now Hetherman's defense has its starters back.

Miami will still be missing players. Canes Insight lists receiver Joshua Moore, running back CharMar Brown, defensive backs JaBoree Antoine and OJ Frederique, guard Max Buchanan and tight end Luka Gilbert as out. Buchanan's absence matters most up front, since he left the Clemson game with a leg injury and is expected to miss an extended stretch. Right tackle Matthew McCoy looked hurt at Clemson but played the whole game, and he is not listed.

Florida State's list is longer. The Seminoles have ruled out running back Samuel Singleton Jr., receiver Devin Carter, defensive backs Karson Hobbs, Jamari Howard and Jordan Crutchfield, and linebackers Blake Nichelson, Izayia Williams and Daylen Green. Freshman linebacker Noah LaVallee, who has played in one game, is questionable. Defensive tackle Darryll Desir, cornerback Zae Thomas and interior lineman Paul Bowling are probable. With three linebackers and three defensive backs out, Florida State is short on exactly the players it needs against the nation's top scoring offense.

What it means for Saturday

The records already pointed one way. Miami is 5-0 and has won every game by at least 13 points. It is scoring 49.6 points a game and allowing 9.8, and its last outing was a 41-13 win at Clemson. Florida State is 3-3 and has lost all three games against strong opponents: by three to SMU, by 14 at Alabama and 44-20 at Louisville two weeks ago. Its three wins came against New Mexico State, Central Arkansas and Virginia. The Seminoles score 31 a game but allow 25.3, and 247Sports notes they have not won a true road game since November 2023. Miami has won the last two meetings, including a 28-22 win in Tallahassee last season.

The board for Florida State at Miami agrees with the records. Across 12 venues, Miami is favored by 21.5 points at Novig, priced at -100. The best Miami spread price anywhere is Pinnacle's -115 at -21, so the venues disagree by only half a point. On the moneyline, Novig has Miami at -1329 and Florida State at +1150. The total is 56.5 at Novig, with the over at +102 and the under at -106. Elsewhere it runs from 56 at Fanatics to 57.5 at theScore Bet. Sportsbook hold runs from 2.8% to 4.8% on the moneyline and 3.2% to 6.7% on the spread.

Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium is 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.