Miami football gets highest preseason ranking since 2005

Coming off a 10-3 season with 15 starters returning the Miami football team received its highest preseason ranking since 2005. The Hurricanes are ranked eighth in the Amway USA Today Coaches poll that was released on Thursday afternoon.

The Miami football program’s ranking of eighth in the preseason poll was their highest since being in the same spot in the 2005 preseason poll. It’s also the first time that Miami is in the preseason top ten since 2005. Miami is ranked higher in the preseason poll than all of their opponents this season.

The Miami football team also received the highest ranking in the ACC Coastal Division and second highest in the ACC. Clemson who is the overwhelming favorite to win their fourth consecutive ACC Championship is ranked second as predicated. Alabama is first.

Three of Miami’s 2018 opponents are ranked in the preseason top 25. Virginia Tech is 17th, Florida State 18th and Miami’s season-opening opponent LSU is 24th. Virginia Tech is picked second in the ACC Coastal behind Miami. Florida State and LSU had disappointing seasons in 2017.

The Hokies won the Coastal in 2016. The Coastal Division title for Miami likely goes through Blacksburg. The winner between Miami and Virginia Tech has won the Coastal the last two seasons. The Hokies were 9-4 last season

If the season plays out as expected the Miami football team will go into their meeting with Florida State on October 6 as the higher ranked team for the third consecutive season. The Hurricanes ended a seven-game losing streak to FSU last season.

Florida State had a near-disastrous season in 2017. As everyone is likely well aware by now the Seminoles were 7-6 last year. Jimbo Fisher got out of Dodge and became the highest paid Coach in College Football at Texas A&M. Fisher received a ten-year, $75 million contract to coach the Aggies.

LSU matched Virginia Tech’s 9-4, 2017 season. It was considered a disappointing year for the Tigers. One of LSU’s losses was 24-21 to Troy at home. The Trojans were the Sun Belt conference champions last season, finished 11-2 and won the New Orleans Bowl over North Texas.

Still, Troy is not a team who LSU, that is usually expected to be an elite program in the SEC should be losing to. LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron is the betting favorite to be the Head Coach to be ousted according to SportsBettingDime.Com.

Two of the Hurricanes 2018 opponents came in under others receiving votes. Boston College who the Hurricanes play on Friday, October 26 in Chestnut Hill received 23 points in the coaches poll and are ranked 34th.

Miami plays Duke at Hard Rock Stadium eight days later. The Blue Devils received five points in the preseason poll and are ranked 46th.

USA Today administers the Coaches poll for Amway who is the sponsor. The paper wrote up a short synopsis on all of the teams in the top 25. Among the ranked teams was Central Florida. Noticeably absent is Florida.

"“8. Miami (Fla.) (10-3, 2017)Points: 1,091. Previous ranking: 13. Opens: Sept. 2 vs. No. 24 LSU in Arlington, Texas (ABC, 7:30)Outlook: The Hurricanes had a dream start last season with 10 consecutive wins before ending with a thud. LB Shaq Quarterman is part of an athletic defense that should be improved. The question is if the offense can do its part. Better play from QB Malik Rosier is pivotal.”"

The brief observations of the Miami football team entering 2018 is mostly fair. There were reasons that that ending 2017 with a thud. It can’t be debated that is what happened though.

The biggest thud came in the season’s final regular season game against Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes were favored by 12 points over. The ESPN Football Power Index gave Miami an 82 percent chance to win at kickoff.