**CORAL GABLES, Fla.** — The University of Miami is among just 22 programs featured on the midseason honor roll for the Joe Moore Award, which honors the best offensive line in college football, as announced by The Foundation for Teamwork on Thursday morning.
The tenth midseason honor roll includes teams from eight conferences and one independent program, featuring three from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“The offensive line position requires time to develop cohesion, and teams are finding their rhythm later in the season than usual,” said Cole Cubelic, lead analyst for the SEC Network. “While more teams are demonstrating flashes of physicality and skill, the overall consistency of play has been less steady than what we typically observe at this point. This is something to monitor moving forward, especially with depth likely facing unprecedented challenges due to the extended postseason and the effects of player transfers and roster changes.”
Despite dealing with injuries that have resulted in seven different offensive linemen starting games, the Hurricanes’ offensive line has been a key element of Miami’s success.
With one of the top offensive lines in the nation, Miami leads in total offense, averaging 583.8 yards per game, and ranks second in total scoring with 286 points through six games.
The Hurricanes also feature the top passing offense and rank 16th in the FBS for rushing yards per carry.
As a unit, the offensive line has allowed the fewest tackles for loss in the ACC and stands 20th nationally.
Miami is off to its best start in seven years, with quarterback Cam Ward emerging as a Heisman contender largely thanks to the protection provided by the offensive line.
The line is anchored by veteran players, including sophomore right tackle and Outland Trophy candidate Francis Mauigoa, who has not allowed any sacks and has given up only one quarterback hit in 269 pass-blocking snaps.
The Joe Moore Award voting committee consists of 14 experts in offensive line play, including former linemen, coaches, talent evaluators, and media analysts. This committee conducts thorough evaluations by reviewing game footage each week of the season to analyze both the fundamentals and nuances of offensive line performance.
After semifinalists and finalists are determined, the 2024 Joe Moore Award winner will be selected through a vote involving over 200 members, including current Division I/FBS offensive line coaches, former players and coaches, colleagues of Coach Moore, and select media representatives.
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