The Miami Hurricanes administration will back head coach Manny Diaz through the end of the season per Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports. Feldman responded to a question from Fox Big Noon Kickoff host Rob Stone when asked “How hot is Manny Diaz’s seat right now.” Feldman provided multiple reasons for Diaz’s job security.

Miami responding being down several starters and rallying from a 9-0 deficit on Thursday to get in position to win at the end of the game is a key factor for Diaz remaining through the end of the season. Quarterback D’Eriq King, three offensive linemen and linebacker Keontra Smith were all out against Virginia.

King and Smith have missed the last two games. Starting left guard Jalen Rivers is out for the season with a knee injury. Center Corey Gaynor and offensive lineman Justice Oluwaseun are out indefinitely. Backup running back Don Chaney Jr. who suffered a season-ending torn ACL is among several other key players out.

Defensive tackles Jared Harrison-Hunte and Jordan Miller also missed the game against Virginia. The Hurricanes’ depth took a big hit. Competing for the rest of the season will be important for Diaz to make it through at least December. The Miami Hurricanes football team will likely have to win for Diaz to keep his job.

“It is getting hotter, the UM fan base has definitely turned on Manny Diaz, so have several former star players. Sources tell me the UM leadership is expected to back Manny Diaz at least through this year. Unless they believe the team essentially quits on him and stops showing grit

The other day they had a lot of issues against them and showed resilience. A lot of teams in the past at Miami would have folded and did and ended up getting blown out of the building. That part of it at least Manny Diaz has on his side. The other thing he has and this is significant is the economic piece of this.

I am told Manny Diaz’s buyout right now would be North of $8 million, plus you have some assistants on multi-year deals. The economic piece of this would be a lot for Miami to navigate.”

If Diaz gets fired they will have to go through another round of paying two head coaches and staff. The buyout following the firing of Al Golden in 2015 resulted in him suing Miami. That seems unlikely from lifelong Miami Hurricanes fan Diaz, but he has to take care of his family. The $8 million buyout is hefty.

Miami hired Diaz less than three weeks after he was hired at Temple. That required a $4 million buyout. The rest of the season will likely dictate how Miami proceeds with Diaz. At 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the ACC, Miami is very much still in the race to win the Coastal Division Miami next plays October 16 at North Carolina.