Miami Hurricanes Getting a lot of National Respect

The Miami Hurricanes have started 5-0 and have back to back last second victories. That has gotten them a lot of respect from the National Media. The Hurricanes moved up to seventh and eighth in the latest national polls.

After moving up to their highest ranking in four years, the Miami Hurricanes are continuing to gain national respect. Miami was ranked 18th to begin the season. They have moved up almost every week in the polls.  The exception was the first of two weeks they were off because of Hurricane Irma.

Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt said that this is the most fun he has ever had coaching. The Hurricanes pulled out a victory with six seconds left against Florida State a week ago Saturday. They topped that with a game-winning field goal with four seconds remaining in this past Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech.

Next up for the Miami Hurricanes is Syracuse. The Orange just defeated then number two Clemson on Friday night.

Accolades are coming in from across the country. Miami has started 5-0 this season after finishing last season with a five-game winning streak. The Hurricanes have now won ten in a row. That’s the nation’s second-longest winning streak. South Florida’s 11 game winning streak leads the country.

According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Miami Hurricanes are projected to have the best chance to win the ACC per ESPN’s Sports Analytics Writer Seth Walder.

The win moved the Miami Hurricanes up to fourth nationally in 2017 in Strength of Record.

In a list of 25 bullet points summarizing this past weekend, the Miami Hurricanes were the subject of two and included in the third. Associated Press writer Ralph Russo projects Miami in the college football playoff the ways things are this week. He said:

"5. Who is living better than No. 11 Miami and coach Mark Richt? A second straight week of pulling one out in the final seconds has the Hurricanes the only unbeaten team left in the Atlantic Coast Conference.6. The Hurricanes are piecing things together with several key players injured and a first-year starting quarterback in Malik Rosier who has been up and down. Miami might not be one of the 10 best teams in the country, but the Hurricanes will be ranked among them come Sunday when the new AP Top 25 comes out.25. Top four right now: Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, TCU. Projecting the playoff: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Miami."

So far in spite of the adversity, the Hurricanes dealt with because of Hurricane Irma it has been a magical season thus far. Sports Illustrated’s Eric Single posed the possibility that Miami just can’t lose.

"“It’s entirely possible that Miami can’t lose. A handful of ranked teams take on that aura around midseason every year, where it’s nearly impossible to tell whether they are very good or very lucky. After a second consecutive last-minute victory over a quality ACC opponent, punctuated by a second consecutive improbably clutch Darrell Langham catch, the Hurricanes are there.”"

David Hale of ESPN was asked via Twitter what makes Miami a contender in the ACC by an always skeptical Virginia Tech fan(base). His response:

Miami’s defense currently ranks 46th nationally in total defense and 20th in scoring defense. The overall numbers are a bit skewed by the fact that Miami has faced Georgia Tech’s second-ranked rushing offense prior to Saturday.  They also played Toledo and their highly ranked passing offense.

Miami “held” Georgia Tech to 226 yards rushing. That was 170 below their per game average. It also lowered their season average by 34 yards per game.

Next: Mark Richt Wants Miami Hurricanes Fans at Hard Rock Stadium Rain or Shine

Next up is Syracuse’s fast paced high powered passing game. It’s a big challenge a week after facing Georgia Tech’s methodical triple option. The Orange are 14th in the country in passing offense.