The three-year Mark Richt era was one full of streaks. Except for the end of the 2018 season, all of the Miami football team’s winning and losing streaks were at least four games during Richt’s tenure coaching his alma mater.
The Mark Richt era with the Miami Football team began in 2016 with four consecutive wins. The Hurricanes followed that up with four straight losses and then five straight wins to finish his first season 9-4. The Hurricanes extended the winning streak to 15 games overall by winning their first ten games of the 2017 season.
The end of the 2016 season also included the first bowl victory in ten years for Miami. They defeated number 16, West Virginia 31-14 in the Camping World Bowl in Orlando. They finished the season 20th in the rankings. It was the first since 2009 they ended the reason in the polls.
The 10-0 start in 2017 vaulted Miami to second in the country after they defeated Notre Dame week nine. Their 10th victory was a shaky win over Virginia on Senior Day at Hard Rock Stadium. The Hurricanes had to rally from 14 down twice in the game to earn the victory. Virtually no one saw what was coming next.
Undefeated and a win away from reaching the ACC Championship showdown with Clemson, Miami suffered a huge letdown and lost at 4-7 Pittsburgh 24-14 in the regular season finale. A week later the Hurricanes were taken apart by Clemson in a 38-3 loss in the ACC Championship game.
Getting to the ACC Championship game marked a season of milestones for Miami. The Hurricanes won their first ACC Coastal Division title and made their first ACC Championship game appearance. Their invitation to the Orange Bowl was Miami’s first since they defeated Florida State in the Orange Bowl after the 2003 season.