As the favorite in the ACC Coastal, this season eyes are going to be on the Miami Hurricanes frequently each Saturday. Per Athlon two of their games rate among the ACC’s 15 must see games in 2017.
Five ACC’s teams enter the 2017 season ranked in the top 25. The Miami Hurricanes are 18th. Of the remaining four, the Hurricanes play only two. UM will travel to Tallahassee week three to play Florida State. Virginia Tech comes to Hard Rock Stadium to play the Hurricanes November 4.
Many are pointing to the game against the Hokies as a de facto ACC Coastal Division championship game. Last season’s 37-16 loss to Virginia Tech was the only game that Miami wasn’t competitive in last season.
The top eight games on Athlon’s list involve either Clemson or Florida State. They have been the two dominant teams. The Tigers and Seminoles have combined to win the last eight Atlantic Division Championships and last six ACC Championships.
Until their combined reigns come to an end the ACC’s must see football is going to be dominated by Dabo Swinney’s and Jimbo Fisher’s teams. The Miami-Florida State game is the lowest ranked game on the list featuring the Seminoles or Clemson. Athlon said:
8. Miami at Florida State (Sept. 16)
"This rivalry is still in the “baby steps” stages of being truly “back,” when these programs essentially did what Florida State and Clemson are doing now but to a much larger degree. Last year’s win by the Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium was decided by just a point. This year, the Hurricanes boast an elite front seven that will be able to keep this one within striking distance again."
Between September 16 and November 4, the Miami Hurricanes season could move forward under the radar. There is no denying how big the game against Virginia Tech should be.
11. Virginia Tech at Miami (Nov. 4)
"The prohibitive favorites in the Coastal Division both face similar quarterback quandaries but, by November, should have them figured out well enough to make this an even game. The Hurricanes fell apart at a similar stretch last season, in which the Hokies trounced them, 37-16, in Blacksburg. This will be a toss-up depending on how the passing games evolve by November."
Miami to use Athlon’s words “fell apart” in the game Virginia Tech last season in part because of injuries. Richt and Offensive Line Coach Stacy Searles had to shuffle the line around. It was deadly for quarterback Brad Kaaya. The Hokies got to Kaaya for eight sacks.
Miami also struggled defensively against Virginia Tech. They had by far their worst game of the season. The Hokies had 523 total yards. That included 251 yards on the ground.
The loss to Virginia Tech was the third in a four game losing streak. The streak came after UM began the season with four straight wins. Richt said at the end of last season he was proud of the way his team handled the adversity of the four game losing streak.
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After the four game losing streak, the Hurricanes finished the season with a five game winning streak. That included their first bowl win in ten seasons. Miami routed West Virginia 31-14 in the Russell Athletic Bowl.