Miami football crashes out of top 10 to 19th in both polls

The Miami football team crashes out of the top 10 to 19th in both polls following a 62-26 loss to North Carolina on Saturday.

Following their 62-26 loss to North Carolina on Saturday the Miami football team fell from eighth in the USA Today Coaches Poll and ninth in the AP Top 25 to 19th in both polls on Sunday. The plummet by the Hurricanes was the biggest of the week and one of the biggest of the year in the polls.

Miami allowed a program high 778 yards to UNC in a loss that potentially cost them a spot in the Orange Bowl and almost definitely a New Year’s Six bowl berth. The Hurricanes fell a spot behind Louisiana in the USA Today poll. The Rajun Cajuns are 9-1 with a victory over Iowa State and a loss to undefeated Coastal Carolina.

Miami is a spot behind Iowa in the AP Top 25. The Hawkeyes and Louisiana are inversed in the two polls. Miami is off next weekend after their scheduled game against Georgia Tech was canceled following a COVID outbreak with the Yellow Jackets. The Hurricanes will find out their bowl destination next Sunday.

The Hurricanes are expected to play in either the Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando or the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. The whooping from North Carolina as a reality check as the Hurricanes will not be spending the holidays at home later this month. Miami has lost its last three bowl games after winning the Champs Sports Bowl in 2016.

The Champs Sports Bowl is now the Cheez-it Bowl. The 2016 victory is the only Bowl victory Miami has had in their last 10 postseasons and in the last 13 seasons. Head coach Manny Diaz stressed the importance of finishing the season strong following the devastating defeat to UNC on Saturday.

Miami began the season unranked. Nineteenth is the highest Miami has been ranked this late in the season since the 2017 ACC Coastal Divison Champions were 11th after finishing the regular season 10-2 with a 38-3 loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. Miami finished the 2016 season ranked 20th.