A top-tier roster, fueled by offseason changes, the Miami Hurricanes aim to conquer the ACC and secure a playoff destiny after a near-championship run.
The Miami Hurricanes had an impressive resume to make the College Football Playoffs: four wins against ranked opponents, including a head-to-head matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The program has yet to win an ACC championship, but that could change after offseason modifications, most notably the addition of quarterback Darian Mensah.
However, the upcoming schedule seems weaker than last season's, which would make it more difficult to convince the Selection Committee to let them into the 12-team bracket by simply winning. The Hurricanes would need to win the ACC championship to claim an automatic bid to the College Football Playoffs.
The Duke Blue Devils are the reigning ACC champions after a 27-20 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers in overtime. However, with five overall losses on the season, they virtually had a small chance of making the College Football Playoffs. The Hurricanes were the only ACC team looking to get in, and with a 27-24 win over the Fighting Irish in week one, it gave them the nod to claim the final at-large bid.
The team could've claimed the ACC, but after losing to the Louisville Cardinals and SMU Mustangs, the idea was essentially out of the picture. The Hurricanes had to play desperately with postseason chances on life support. They managed to carve out a dominant four-game win streak to close the regular season, all against ACC opponents and a ranked Pitt Panthers team, which helped in making the College Football Playoffs.
The Hurricanes arguably have one of the best rosters in the nation. They secured a top-market quarterbacck for a third consecutive season. The program retained all running backs, especially Miami star Mark Fletcher Jr. Also, the wide receiver core improved around Malachi Toney with the additions of Cooper Barkate, Vandrevius Jacobs, and Cam Vaughn.
The offense could be more explosive as the defense looks to remain strong, despite a few key departures, such as edge rushing stars Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr.
After suffering a heartbreaking 27-21 loss in the National Championship against the Indiana Hoosiers, the Hurricanes have strong hopes to finish what was started. Claiming the ACC will play a crucial role in their path, which could provide an automatic bye from the first round, depending on the Selection Committee's final rankings.
The margin of error is slim, but the Hurricanes have the capabilities to control their own destiny. It's a marvelous turnaround for coach Mario Cristobal and the program.
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