A pair of prominent national college football sites project the Miami football program to play in the Orange Bowl for the second time in four seasons in early bowl projections.
The College Football News and 247Sports both project the Miami football program to make their second Orange Bowl appearance in the last four seasons in their early bowl projections for 2020. Miami lost 34-24 to Wisconsin in the 2017 Orange Bowl. The 2017 Hurricanes appeared in their first ACC Championship Game.
Miami enters 2020 after a disappointing 6-7 2019 season with losses in their last three games. The addition of new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, quarterback D’Eriq King and defensive end Quincy Roche has created optimism for the 2020 Hurricanes. Miami will be among of the favorites in the ACC Coastal Divison.
North Carolina and Virginia Tech are as likely as Miami to receive prognostications to win the ACC Coastal in 2020. Miami hosts North Carolina October 24 and plays at Virginia Tech November 14 in what will likely be the Hurricanes two biggest games of the 2020 season. Miami hosts Florida State November 7.
The College Football News projects Miami to play Boise State December 30 at Hard Rock Stadium. Brad Crawford of 247Sports projects Miami to play their third bowl game in the last four seasons against a Big 10 team. Miami also lost to Wisconsin in the 2018 Pinstripe Bowl.
In years that they do not host a national semifinal, the Orange Bowl will always be the highest-ranked ACC team not in the College Football Playoff against the highest-ranked, non-champion from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame according to Orange Bowl VP of Communications Larry Wahl as told to 247Sports.
Miami and Boise State have never played. The Hurricanes and Nittany Lions have an extensive history. Miami and Penn State have only met once in a bowl game. Penn State upset Miami 14-10 in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win the 1986 National Championship. The Nittany Lions lead Miami 7-6 in all-time meetings.
Miami won the last meeting 33-7 to open its legendary 2001 season. After losing four of the first five in the series, Miami has won five of the last meetings. Miami has won twice in Happy Valley and has a victory over number one Penn State in 1980. A Miami-Penn State matchup would be far more intriguing than one with Boise State.