Miami Hurricanes vs LSU Tigers: breaking down the depth charts

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 30: Skyler Green #5 of the LSU Tigers returns a punt against the defense of the Miami Hurricanes during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 30, 2005 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty images)
ATLANTA - DECEMBER 30: Skyler Green #5 of the LSU Tigers returns a punt against the defense of the Miami Hurricanes during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 30, 2005 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty images)
1 of 5

The Miami Hurricanes have their biggest season opener since they lost at Louisville in the Cardinals inaugural ACC game and UM’s all-time leading passer Brad Kaaya’s first collegiate game in 2014.

The Miami Hurricanes 2018 season opener against LSU is their first against a Power Five and/or a ranked opponent since the 2014 opener against Louisville. The 25th ranked Cardinals defeated the unranked Hurricanes 31-13 to earn their first ACC victory.

The Tigers travel to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas with the nation’s 25th ranking in the AP Media Poll and 24th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The difference between Miami’s loss to Louisville in 2014 and this season is that the Hurricanes enter the game against the Tigers as the nation’s eighth-ranked team in both polls.

The Miami Hurricanes enter 2018 coming off their most successful season in more than ten years. The Hurricanes won their first outright ACC Coastal Division title and advanced to the ACC Championship game for the first time.

Miami’s Orange Bowl loss to Wisconsin was their first in a major bowl game since they defeated Florida State in the 2004 Orange Bowl after the 2003 season. Miami is favored to at least get back to the ACC Championship game this season.

The Hurricanes enter the 2018 season with 14 starters back and a lot of anticipation from the fanbase. Less than 1,000 season tickets remain. Miami is very close to selling out Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since they moved from the Orange Bowl for the 2008 season.

LSU enters 2018 with only ten returning starters. That number is a bit deceiving. The Tigers will be starting a new quarterback and running back and also are replacing their leading receiver from 2017.

Schedule

Schedule