Miami football projected to new year’s six bowl in 2021

The Miami football program is projected to play LSU in the 2021 Peach Bowl by 247 Sports in an article earlier this week“Predicting 2021’s New Year’s Six, College Football Playoff.”  The projecting of having Miami to the Peach Bowl gives a nod to the Hurricanes ahead of North Carolina in the ACC Coastal Division.

Miami finished third in the ACC in 2020 that did not utilize divisions. Notre Dame won the regular season with a 9-0 conference record. Clemson finished second at 8-1 with their lone loss to the Fighting Irish. Miami was third with blowout losses to the Tigers and Tar Heels to finish 7-2 in the ACC and 8-2 overall in the regular season.

Miami will have one of its most difficult schedules in recent seasons and most difficult opener when they play Alabama at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on September 4. Miami hosts Appalachian State on September 11, Michigan State on September 18 and Central Connecticut State on September 25 before ACC play.

The ACC schedule will not be released until later this year. The Miami football team will host North Carolina State in their rotated crossover game after defeating the Wolfpack 44-41 in Raleigh in 2020. The Hurricanes will also host Georgia Tech, Virginia and Virginia Tech in ACC play in 2021.

Miami will play at Duke, Florida State, North Carolina and Pittsburgh in 2021. As it was in 2020, the Miami North Carolina game could have a New Year’s Six berth on the line in 2021. Despite finishing a half-game behind Miami in the ACC standings in 2020, the Tar Heels earned a spot in the Orange Bowl after a 62-26 victory.

"PEACH BOWL (DEC. 30, 2021)Projected matchup: LSU (at-large) vs. Miami (at-large)Surprise! Two teams who ultimately fell short of where they wanted to be during the 2020 campaign bounce back in a big way to square off in Atlanta. The Tigers and Hurricanes have met 13 times with their 2005 game coming in the same Peach Bowl setting. (In a 40-3 LSU victory)LSU’s major coaching staff changes should pay off for a team that’s talented, but lacked experience in 2020. Miami welcomes back quarterback D’Eriq King, who has a shot to be one of the ACC’s best players overall. Two teams who could also be in play for this matchup from the ACC and SEC include North Carolina and Florida."

Miami last played LSU in the 2018 season opener. The Tigers defeated Miami 33-17 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas in a game that was not as close as the final score. Miami last played in a New Year’s Bowl game in 2017 34-24 loss in the Orange Bowl. The Miami football team has not won a major bowl game since the 2004 Orange Bowl.

The Hurricanes defeated Florida State 16-14 on January 1, 2004. Miami played in the Peach Bowl the two subsequent seasons before it became a major bowl game. Following the 2005 loss to LSU in the Peach Bowl, the Hurricanes defeated Florida 27-10 in Atlanta. Miami brings back a very experienced team led by King.