Miami Hurricanes Pro Football Focus 18th metric ranking

In a simulation run by Pro Football Focus, the Miami Hurricanes came up as the 18th best team in the country according to their metrics. Miami returns over 90 percent of its production on offense and defense according to the ESPN Football Power Index. Quarterback D’Eriq King grades out as the best returning player for Miami.

Miami enters the 2021 season as the consensus second favorite in the ACC Coastal Divison behind North Carolina. The Tar Heels and Hurricanes are a distant second and third behind Clemson in the consensus odds to win the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2021. Miami was blown out by Clemson and UNC in 2020.

If the question if the U is back is ever going to be answered in the affirmative, Miami has to win the big games. The Miami Hurricanes were a three-point favorite against North Carolina in 2020. The Tar Heels literally ran over Miami with 554 rushing yards in a 62-26 victory to secure a berth in the Orange Bowl.

North Carolina is 11th in the PFF rankings and Alabama who Miami opens against in Atlanta on September 4 is not surprisingly first. Alabama is given a 23 percent chance to win the National Championship and 51 percent odds to win the SEC in 2021. North Carolina has odds of three percent for the national title and 18 percent for the ACC.

"“18. MIAMI (FL) HURRICANESNational Championship Win Probability: 1.0%Conference Championship Win Probability: 7.0%Highest-Graded Returning Player: QB D’Eriq King (90.6)Our simulation results fit in well with the betting market expectation for the Hurricanes, who are tied for the 14th-shortest odds to win the national championship.They are tied with North Carolina for the second-shortest odds to win the ACC championship game, as Clemson is once again a heavy favorite despite a completely remade offense.It’s not a significant stretch to say that D’Eriq King could be the top returning quarterback in the conference due to a playmaking ability unmatched by anyone in the ACC. That is enough of a reason to buy into Miami in 2021.”"

King was dynamic in 2020 with 2,686 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions, 538 rushing yards and four scores. King, UNC QB Sam Howell and Clemson signal-caller D.J. Uiagalelei will compete to be the All-ACC QBs in 2021. King is without question the best dual-threat QB in the ACC entering the 2021 season.

The Miami Hurricanes going to need others to step up in 2021. King often willed the Hurricanes to victory in 2020. Better defense and more consistency in the running game are critical for Miami in 2020. The addition of Oklahoma transfer Charleston Rambo gives Miami and King a deep threat in the passing game.

Defensive end DeAndre Johnson cornerback Tyrique Stevenson will help upgrade the Miami defense. The Hurricanes need Johnson and the Miami defensive line to be productive in 2021 after losing NFL Draftees Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche at DE. Miami returns the other nine starters on defense.