In the days leading up to their 52-mile trip north, Hurricanes mantra was constant.
Focus on ourselves. Don’t get caught up in the emotion. Take this as the next game on the schedule. And don't take the Owls lightly.
FAU, meanwhile, embraced the excitement of hosting its first sellout and playing on national television against an established opponent it so desperately wanted to upset for a seismic victory.
For a good chunk of the night, it appeared that emotional investment might make the difference.
A banged up Owls team that lost both starting quarterback Jaquez Johnson and top running back Jay Warren early gave the Hurricanes all they could handle Friday night before Miami pulled away en route to a 44-20 win over an announced crowd of 30, 321 fans at FAU Stadium on Friday night.