The 5 Most Telling Stats for the Miami Hurricanes This Season

The Miami Hurricanes have already clinched bowl eligibility, one simple step in continuing their trek toward perennial relevance once again.

However, taking a close look at a handful of stats provides clear reasoning for why Al Golden's team has fallen from Coastal Division contention and out of favor among many fans.

When Miami wins, it emits the appearance of a program legitimately on the rise. But when the 'Canes fall, the fingers begin incessantly pointing and obnoxious banners start flying.

Some numbers may lie, but these don't.

Winning at Home

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There might be empty seats, but Miami typically doesn't leave without a victory.

Sure, the attendance isn't great—that's not factually incorrect at all. But what doesn't follow those dated, unoriginal jokes is the recognition of how much better Miami performs at home.

The 'Canes are 5-0 at home this season yet just 1-3 away from the somewhat-empty and friendly confines of Sun Life Stadium. While a portion of that success can undeniably be attributed to weaker opponents heading south, it doesn't tell the whole story.

Golden's squad has averaged 371.8 yards and 22.8 points per outing away from Sun Life but tallied 489.0 yards and 41.2 points at home.

Florida State will travel to Miami on Nov. 15, a rivalry clash primed to challenge that home-field advantage for all its worth.

Earning an Edge in the Turnover Battle

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Start with the full-disclosure outlier: The Hurricanes committed three turnovers compared to Florida A&M's two during a 41-7 victory over the Football Championship Subdivision squad.

In each of the three contests when Miami has lost the turnover battle, the 'Canes have fallen to a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent.

In five wins against top-level foes, though, "The U" has wasted fewer possessions, winning the category four times and tying once.

Coaches always discuss the importance of not wasting possessions, and Miami is clearly a much better team when it protects the pigskin.

Yes, it's a basic notion, but fundamentals win games, too.

Succeeding on the Ground

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As the spread, uptempo and pass-happy offensive systems start to dominate the college football landscape, it might be safe to conclude that the running game is dying. But if the Hurricanes want to win, their ground attack is very much alive.

Of course, it typically helps to have Duke Johnson speeding out of the backfield. The superstar junior has raced to 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns to date, moving into second place in the Miami career record books.

Behind Johnson, Joe Yearby and Gus Edwards have combined for 724 yards and six scores on 114 carries. Additionally, three times have the 'Canes recorded a pair of 100-yard rushers in one day.

Miami's three lowest rushing outputs—70 at Louisville, 76 at Nebraska and 107 at Georgia Tech—each occurred during a loss, an average of 84.3 yards per game. Throughout the Hurricanes' six victories, Johnson and Co. have racked up 256.8 yards—nearly triple the amount during Miami losses.

Imagine that.

Not Giving Up Explosive Plays

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Though constantly chided for poor scheme or lack of execution, the Miami defense has actually significantly reversed a glaring part of its past struggles.

Limiting explosive plays was a key to victory against North Carolina, and it's been a stalwart of the Hurricanes so far in 2014.

• Allowed 23 plays of 20-plus yards—No. 4 in the FBS
• Allowed 10 plays of 30-plus—No. 6 in the FBS
• Allowed five plays of 40-plus—No. 15 in the FBS
• Allowed zero plays of 50-plus—One of three FBS teams (Duke, UCLA)

In the respective categories last season, Miami ranked an unspectacular 76th, 66th, 41st and 29th.

What that ultimately means is the 'Canes are forcing opponents to sustain drives instead of surrendering field position on a single snap. Granted, the bend-but-don't-break possessions are a tantalizing way to watch Miami lose (see Nebraska), but there's an obvious fix for that, too.

Not Allowing 3rd-Down Conversions

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The principal rule of defense: Get off the field.

When the Hurricanes win, they do just that. When they fall short, however, most problems can be aimed at opponent efficiency on third down.

Throughout three losses, Miami has allowed 23 of 39 third downs (59.0 percent) to be converted. During six victories, the 'Canes have allowed just 29 of 99 attempts (29.2 percent) to gain the needed distance.

For comparison's sake, the latter mark would be the ninth-best clip in the nation. Had Miami achieved a few more third-down stops to this point, the 2014 team is conceivably 7-2—or even 8-1.

Shockingly, the Hurricanes have the makings of an above-average defense. Therefore, their success will remain a matter of collective consistency and production, especially against third downs.

But those aren't things statistics can directly affect. Encouraging numbers are solely the effect of on-field performance.

Note: Stats courtesy of CFBStats.com and B/R research.

Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.