ESPN names Miami Hurricanes CFB’s 7th most entertaining team
The Miami Hurricanes have been named college football’s seventh most exciting team of 2017 by ESPN. Late game comebacks and the turnover chain woke up the U fanbase this season and answered the question about the U being back.
The Miami Hurricanes entered the 2017 season coming off of a 9-4 2016 season and with a five-game winning streak. The excitement over the return of running back Mark Walton, wide receiver Ahmmon Richards and the front seven defensively had many anticipating an exciting season.
The Hurricanes were picked to win the ACC Coastal Division in the preseason rankings. An early game at preseason number three Florida State was highly anticipated. To quote Styx, “Nothing ever goes as planned”.
Florida State lost their first two games and the matchup was postponed from September 16 to October 7 because of Hurricane Irma. Miami also had their second game of the season at Arkansas State canceled and the Georgia Tech game on October 12 pushed back two days.
The turnover chain made its debut in a season-opening 41-13 victory over Bethune-Cookman with a Malek Young interception. It picked up steam in the middle of the season when the Miami Hurricanes went four straight games with four turnovers forced.
They nearly set a record when they forced three in the fifth game against Virginia. No FBS team has forced four turnovers in five straight games.
ESPN ranked the watchability of college football teams this season. They released a preseason top ten and updated it following last weekend’s Conference Championship games. Five factors were used in determining the most exciting teams of 2017.
"7. Miami (19.6 points)(Preseason Rank: NR)“We couldn’t get enough of the Canes for most of the season. First, they were the Cardiac Canes, winning four straight by eight points or fewer. That was followed by consecutive wins over then-No. 13 Virginia Tech and then-No. 3 Notre Dame by a combined scored of 69-18.Oh, and then there was that beautiful, golden Turnover Chain. The way it glistened around players’ necks with such presence was an awesome sight for college football enthusiasts. The way other programs attempted to replicate the Canes’ new gimmick was pretty cute, too.Miami’s on-field excitement faded during back-to-back losses to Pittsburgh and Clemson, but the Turnover Chain lives on with no equal.”"
Malik Rosier has been maligned during the Hurricanes season-ending back to back losses to Pittsburgh and Florida State. His ability as a dual-threat quarterback was essential in Miami beginning the season with ten straight wins. They had a 15 game winning streak stretching over two seasons.
Miami had exhilarating back to back game winning drives in October over Florida State and Georgia Tech. The drives made Darrell Langham and Rosier heroes and legends in Miami history. Langham made spectacular catches in each game to preserve the undefeated season.
They followed that up with close victories Syracuse and North Carolina. The Hurricanes needed turnovers and defensive stands late in the fourth quarter to preserve the victories over the Orange and Tar Heels.
The excitement continued with blowout victories over Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. No game might have personified the turnover chain more than Trajan Bandy’s pick six at the end of the half against Notre Dame.
Miami finished it’s home season coming from 14 points down twice to defeat Virginia. A Jaquan Johnson pick-six tied the game up in the third quarter. That came in the middle of 30 unanswered points by the Hurricanes to earn a 44-28 victory.
Next: Miami Hurricanes have come full circle versus Clemson
Miami opened the Pittsburgh game well taking a 7-3 lead early. They could not keep the win streak going. The excitement should return in the Orange Bowl Game with the Hurricanes have a bonus home game this season. The turnover chain will get plenty of coverage from ESPN.