Miami football CFP playoff darkhorse per ESPN CFB analyst Kirk Herbstreit

Speaking on the season premiere of College Football Gameday ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit picked the Miami football team as his darkhorse for the College Football Playoff.

The Miami football team could be a darkhorse for the college football playoff according to ESPN lead analyst Kirk Herbstreit on the season premiere of College Football Gameday on Saturday. The addition of graduate transfer D’Eriq King at QB is the reason that Herbstreit has confidence in the Hurricanes.

Herbstreit expanded on his comments and stated he believes that Miami has always had the talent but has been missing a quarterback since Ken Dorsey led the Hurricanes from 1999-2002. A lack of confidence in the QB play has hindered Miami for the last 20 years according to Herbstreit.

The former Ohio State QB feels that the addition of King will uplift the entire Miami football team in 2020. The Miami offensive line and running game were both among the 10 worst in college football in 2019. Herbstreit expects the addition of King to the Hurricanes roster to help them both improve.

King was outstanding in the final scrimmage for Miami on Friday night and looks ready to lead the revamped Hurricanes offense. King was 24-34 for 330 yards and six TD passes with nine carries for 84 yards. Miami hired Rhett Lashlee as their new offensive coordinator in the offseason to run an uptempo, power spread offense.

"I really think D’Eriq King going over to Miami, with the players he has to work with over there, I just feel Miami has always been missing a quarterback. If the Canes had a quarterback, it makes the defense play better, the offensive line can play better, the running game. Everything can be impacted by a belief in that position.It’s been since Ken Dorsey in like ‘02, ‘03…(since) Miami has had a quarterback that can really come through for them. I think D’Eriq King coming over from Houston is a guy who can create a lot of juice, a lot of belief so look out for the Canes as a potential surprise in the ACC this year.”"

Playing in a spread offense in 2018 with Houston, King was responsible for 50 TDs. King had 4,925 passing yards, 50 TD passes and 10 interceptions with 1,421 rushing yards and 28 TDs at Houston. He brings a dimension to the Miami football team the Hurricanes have not had a QB.

No Miami QB has had the ability to run and pass at the level that King brings this season. Opposing defenses are going to have to game plan for the ability King has to affect the game as a passer and a runner. That will make the rest of the Miami offense better. A more productive offense will take pressure off the Miami defense.

Miami begins the season on Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium against UAB. The scrimmage on Friday night was conducted with a game against the Blazers in mind. UAB won its season opener 45-35 over Central Arkansas on Wednesday. UAB had the nation’s eighth-ranked defense in 2019.