Where UM could end up playing. And Frederique’s feat, who can still redshirt and notes

A six-pack of Miami Hurricanes notes on a Friday:

▪ If the Hurricanes advance to and win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, they likely will not need to travel far for their first playoff game.

In that scenario, UM would have a first-round bye and there’s a good chance that UM would play a national quarterfinal playoff game in Atlanta at 1 p.m. on Jan. 1, which is a Wednesday.

Action Sports Network’s Brett McMurphy recently reported that the ACC champion definitely would play its first playoff game at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium).

Asked via email about that report, a CFP executive responded: “That isn’t set in stone. We start with the No. 1 seed and assign by historical ties. In all likelihood based on geography, the ACC champ would end up in Atlanta assuming they are the 3 seed, but again it isn’t guaranteed.”

UM, which is 9-0, will make the ACC title game if it wins its final three regular-season games. Here are some other scenarios where the Canes could make the ACC title game if they lose a game.

▪ How impressive has freshman cornerback OJ Frederique been?

Consider that he has allowed an almost unfathomable 25.3 NFL passer rating in his coverage area, which is third best in the country among all FBS cornerbacks who have been targeted at least 20 times.

Last Saturday, he held Duke to no receptions in five targets against him, with an interception. His overall numbers this season are staggering: 8 completions in 24 targets in his coverage area, for 74 yards.

Frederique has “been incredible... as impactful as any player we’ve had on the team,” coach Mario Cristobal said.

Frederique said this week that he has “made a jump” since arriving at UM: “Me being prepared, me watching film every day, me getting great work from our receivers... Week by week, I’m improving.”

▪ With players permitted to redshirt if they appear in no more than four games, here are some notable Canes players who can or will redshirt, based on participation information provided by UM:

1). Quarterbacks Emory Williams (one appearance so far) and Judd Anderson (one).

2). Defensive linemen Armondo Blount (three appearances so far), Artavius Jones (one), Daylen Russell (none), Elias Rudolph (one) and Joshua Horton (four).

3). Freshman edge player Marquise Lightfoot (three appearances).

4). Safety Isaiah Thomas (no appearances) and cornerback Ryan Mack (one).

5). Receivers Chance Robinson (three) and Ny Carr (two); running back Chris Wheatley-Humphrey (one) and offensive linemen Nino Francavilla (two) and Deryc Plazz (one).

6). Cornerback Damari Brown will be able to count this as a redshirt year, because he has played in only one game due to an early season injury and because playoff games do not count toward redshirt calculations. In other words, Brown could play in two regular-season games and the playoffs and could still redshirt.

Cristobal said Brown is close to returning but won’t play against Georgia Tech.

Guard Ryan Rodriguez, the other UM starter who has missed most of the year with an injury, already has redshirted previously.

▪ There’s one other potential redshirt worth monitoring. Freshman edge player Booker Pickett has played the maximum four games but might be needed the rest of the season.

With No. 4 defensive end Elijah Alston sidelined by injury, Pickett had a sack in his only pass-rushing opportunity against Duke. He has three pressures in 18 pass-rush snaps this season, the best ratio on the team, albeit in a very limited sample size.

▪ Quick stuff, Part 1: UM’s one Class of 2025 quarterback commitment, Milton, Georgia-based Luke Nickell, has had a solid season, with 2,312 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions....

UM’s 2025 running back commitment, Seffner Armwood’s Gerard Pringle, is averaging 8.2 yards on 123 carries, with seven TDs....

Cristobal loves highlighting great downfield blocks in film review with the team. On his weekly TV show with Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr., he noted this week how “Jacolby George is throwing his body around to make sure we get extra yardage. We made a big deal of it in meetings...

“On the screen pass to Sam Brown, Mark Fletcher gets in front of the linebacker and cushions him off to make sure we have a path to the end zone. Plays like that deserve so much publicity and credit. Those are the types of plays that can change the season.”

▪ Quick stuff, Part 2: Cam Ward said improving ball security remains paramount. He threw one reckless interception against Duke in an otherwise masterful performance. “In college, [if you] want to get to the next level, ball security” [is critical]. That’s something coach [Shannon] Dawson preaches to me.”...

ESPN assigned Bob Wischusen and Louis Riddick to Saturday’s UM-Georgia Tech game at noon.