Miami Ranked as one of the Top Five “Dirtiest” Teams in the Nation

Trinton Breeze

Aug 9, 2025 2 min read

Miami Hurricanes are Ranked as one of the Top Five “Dirtiest” Teams in the Nation the last five years, the Hurricanes have had two head coaches: Manny Diaz, and Mario Cristobal. Under both coaches’ leadership, the Hurricanes have maintained one consistent theme — they have been among the dirtiest teams in college football.

“Dirtiest” here doesn’t refer to perceived cheap shots or unsportsmanlike behavior, but rather to teams with the most penalties. According to Action Network, the Hurricanes rank fifth nationally from 2020–2024 on the “dirty score” meter, which measures discipline using four metrics: penalty yards per game, penalties per game, penalty first downs per game, and penalties per play.

This is not a top-five ranking worth celebrating. The Hurricanes trail only New Mexico, UAB, Toledo, and Pittsburgh.

In the four measured categories, Miami has averaged 7.06 penalties per game and 64.88 penalty yards per game over the last five years. They’ve averaged 2.42 penalties per game that result in first downs and one penalty every 0.05 plays.

For comparison, Iowa has been the most disciplined team in the nation during this span, averaging 3.92 penalties per game, 33.80 penalty yards per game, 1.36 penalties resulting in first downs per game, and one penalty every 0.03 plays.

The Hurricanes have often beaten themselves over the past five seasons, and their place in the top five on the “dirty meter” is proof of it. Reducing penalties in 2025 will be a key area for improvement, one that could directly translate into more wins.

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clg003

Aug 9, 2025

Trinton Breeze said:
Miami Hurricanes are Ranked as one of the Top Five “Dirtiest” Teams in the Nation the last five years, the Hurricanes have had two head coaches: Manny Diaz, and Mario Cristobal. Under both coaches’ leadership, the Hurricanes have maintained one consistent theme — they have been among the dirtiest teams in college football.

“Dirtiest” here doesn’t refer to perceived cheap shots or unsportsmanlike behavior, but rather to teams with the most penalties. According to Action Network, the Hurricanes rank fifth nationally from 2020–2024 on the “dirty score” meter, which measures discipline using four metrics: penalty yards per game, penalties per game, penalty first downs per game, and penalties per play.

This is not a top-five ranking worth celebrating. The Hurricanes trail only New Mexico, UAB, Toledo, and Pittsburgh.

In the four measured categories, Miami has averaged 7.06 penalties per game and 64.88 penalty yards per game over the last five years. They’ve averaged 2.42 penalties per game that result in first downs and one penalty every 0.05 plays.

For comparison, Iowa has been the most disciplined team in the nation during this span, averaging 3.92 penalties per game, 33.80 penalty yards per game, 1.36 penalties resulting in first downs per game, and one penalty every 0.03 plays.

The Hurricanes have often beaten themselves over the past five seasons, and their place in the top five on the “dirty meter” is proof of it. Reducing penalties in 2025 will be a key area for improvement, one that could directly translate into more wins.

Im proud to be a Hurricane...
because at least I know I aint a little whiny FN B!

Fart Keyhole

Aug 9, 2025

CANESCANES said:
The metric isn’t stupid at all

We tracked four stats per team:

Penalty yards per game

Penalties per game

Penalty first downs per game

Penalties per play

The metric is poorly named.

Each of those stats tells a different story. What is the utility in combining them into a single score?

RF-4CCane

Aug 9, 2025

Trinton Breeze said:
Miami Hurricanes are Ranked as one of the Top Five “Dirtiest” Teams in the Nation the last five years, the Hurricanes have had two head coaches: Manny Diaz, and Mario Cristobal. Under both coaches’ leadership, the Hurricanes have maintained one consistent theme — they have been among the dirtiest teams in college football.

“Dirtiest” here doesn’t refer to perceived cheap shots or unsportsmanlike behavior, but rather to teams with the most penalties. According to Action Network, the Hurricanes rank fifth nationally from 2020–2024 on the “dirty score” meter, which measures discipline using four metrics: penalty yards per game, penalties per game, penalty first downs per game, and penalties per play.

This is not a top-five ranking worth celebrating. The Hurricanes trail only New Mexico, UAB, Toledo, and Pittsburgh.

In the four measured categories, Miami has averaged 7.06 penalties per game and 64.88 penalty yards per game over the last five years. They’ve averaged 2.42 penalties per game that result in first downs and one penalty every 0.05 plays.

For comparison, Iowa has been the most disciplined team in the nation during this span, averaging 3.92 penalties per game, 33.80 penalty yards per game, 1.36 penalties resulting in first downs per game, and one penalty every 0.03 plays.

The Hurricanes have often beaten themselves over the past five seasons, and their place in the top five on the “dirty meter” is proof of it. Reducing penalties in 2025 will be a key area for improvement, one that could directly translate into more wins.

Wonder where we would rank last year without JG?

BALLHAWKU

Aug 9, 2025

JamesQuall said:
Not sure being one of the most penalized teams in the nation is a point of pride

Long as they’re head shots on QBs and wr catching the ball across be middle . Complete knock out hits

Last edited: Aug 9, 2025

Page305

Aug 9, 2025

So they are too lazy to just say "Most Penalized Teams"?

Because nothing about a false start or delay of game correlates with the word "dirty".

JBCanes-NC

Aug 9, 2025

Cry over the dumbest ****. Miami commits some the dumbest penalties on Saturdays. Just watch all the other games. Clean the **** up.

KANE

Aug 9, 2025

Trinton Breeze said:
Miami Hurricanes are Ranked as one of the Top Five “Dirtiest” Teams in the Nation the last five years, the Hurricanes have had two head coaches: Manny Diaz, and Mario Cristobal. Under both coaches’ leadership, the Hurricanes have maintained one consistent theme — they have been among the dirtiest teams in college football.

“Dirtiest” here doesn’t refer to perceived cheap shots or unsportsmanlike behavior, but rather to teams with the most penalties. According to Action Network, the Hurricanes rank fifth nationally from 2020–2024 on the “dirty score” meter, which measures discipline using four metrics: penalty yards per game, penalties per game, penalty first downs per game, and penalties per play.

This is not a top-five ranking worth celebrating. The Hurricanes trail only New Mexico, UAB, Toledo, and Pittsburgh.

In the four measured categories, Miami has averaged 7.06 penalties per game and 64.88 penalty yards per game over the last five years. They’ve averaged 2.42 penalties per game that result in first downs and one penalty every 0.05 plays.

For comparison, Iowa has been the most disciplined team in the nation during this span, averaging 3.92 penalties per game, 33.80 penalty yards per game, 1.36 penalties resulting in first downs per game, and one penalty every 0.03 plays.

The Hurricanes have often beaten themselves over the past five seasons, and their place in the top five on the “dirty meter” is proof of it. Reducing penalties in 2025 will be a key area for improvement, one that could directly translate into more wins.

Damnnit! I was getting excited when I read the headline.

#1cane

Aug 9, 2025

Shooter McGavin said:
Well when you have players like George and James Williams who don’t have any discipline for their 3-4 years here then you will be mentioned in **** like this

Exactly. Penalties are one thing. Getting stupid personal fouls are totally unacceptable. First and goal on the Syracuse two and George gets a 15 yard penalty.

CaneFan79

Aug 9, 2025

As I Put in another thread...

How we see our 'Canes

How the Refs see our 'Canes...

If there was a ever a place for true "neutral learning" AI robot, college officiating is it. The biases and flaws of human beings are most easily illustrated by them. Terry Porter is the Prime Example.

N.M.B. Cane

Aug 9, 2025

Brains

Aug 9, 2025

Hurracanes said:
Embrace the hate, Mario. Miami is at its best as the bad boys.

Might as well. Articles like this are stupidickulous.

atlCanesFan

Aug 9, 2025

So according to the writer, Is it the dirtiest, or the most undisciplined ?
There is a big difference.

J
JgDaCane15

Aug 9, 2025

I wish that was true. I'd love to see a dirty scrappy miami team.

R
razrcane

Aug 9, 2025

This isn’t surprising. Mario’s teams at Oregon were also undisciplined with penalties.

Hold My Beer

Aug 9, 2025

The season can't get here soon enough

Shooter McGavin

Aug 9, 2025

#1cane said:
Exactly. Penalties are one thing. Getting stupid personal fouls are totally unacceptable. First and goal on the Syracuse two and George gets a 15 yard penalty.

Idc how he performed last year, Mario should have cut him loose after 2023. It was 4 years of stupidity.

SFbayCane

Aug 9, 2025

It'll balance out.

I have no doubt that we'll get all the close calls against Notre Dame later this month.

B
bacane

Aug 9, 2025

Trinton Breeze said:
Miami Hurricanes are Ranked as one of the Top Five “Dirtiest” Teams in the Nation the last five years, the Hurricanes have had two head coaches: Manny Diaz, and Mario Cristobal. Under both coaches’ leadership, the Hurricanes have maintained one consistent theme — they have been among the dirtiest teams in college football.

“Dirtiest” here doesn’t refer to perceived cheap shots or unsportsmanlike behavior, but rather to teams with the most penalties. According to Action Network, the Hurricanes rank fifth nationally from 2020–2024 on the “dirty score” meter, which measures discipline using four metrics: penalty yards per game, penalties per game, penalty first downs per game, and penalties per play.

This is not a top-five ranking worth celebrating. The Hurricanes trail only New Mexico, UAB, Toledo, and Pittsburgh.

In the four measured categories, Miami has averaged 7.06 penalties per game and 64.88 penalty yards per game over the last five years. They’ve averaged 2.42 penalties per game that result in first downs and one penalty every 0.05 plays.

For comparison, Iowa has been the most disciplined team in the nation during this span, averaging 3.92 penalties per game, 33.80 penalty yards per game, 1.36 penalties resulting in first downs per game, and one penalty every 0.03 plays.

The Hurricanes have often beaten themselves over the past five seasons, and their place in the top five on the “dirty meter” is proof of it. Reducing penalties in 2025 will be a key area for improvement, one that could directly translate into more wins.

If based on penalties, maybe title should be undisciplined.

S
Sugarcane521

Aug 9, 2025

Can't remember how many but several bs PI calls on OJ last year

caneforlifeforreal

Aug 9, 2025

CANESCANES said:
The metric isn’t stupid at all

We tracked four stats per team:

Penalty yards per game

Penalties per game

Penalty first downs per game

Penalties per play