Miami football ranked 14th in AP Media Poll tops 16th in Coaches Poll
The Miami football program is ranked 14th in the AP Media Poll that was released on Monday. Miami is two spots higher than its 16th ranking in the USA Today Coaches Poll released last week. The Hurricanes earned 663 points in the AP Top 25, 65 behind in-state rival Florida and three ahead of USC.
The preseason ranking is the highest for Miami since the Hurricanes began the 2018 season ranked eighth. Miami was 17th in the 2020 preseason polls. The Hurricanes finished the 2020 season 8-3. Miami ended the 2020 season with two straight losses after beginning the year with eight wins in nine games.
Miami returns 19 starters including quarterback D’Eriq King in 2021. Tight end Brevin Jordan and defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche were the only starters Miami lost off its 2020 team. Kicker Jose Borregales also moved onto the NFL. Miami’s week one opponent Alabama is ranked first.
The Crimson Tide received 1,548 points and 47 out of 63 first-place votes. Number two Oklahoma who finished with 1,462 points and number three Clemson with 1,447 points each received six first-place votes. Number four Ohio State received 1,393 points and one first-place vote and number five Georgia, 1,364 and three.
No. 1 Alabama tops the preseason AP Top 25 while Oklahoma, Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia round out the top five. Cincinnati, Iowa State and North Carolina all make the top 10.
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 16, 2021
Full poll presented by @askRegions: https://t.co/7dTTUiSC1j pic.twitter.com/lQS5VIjDcU
Miami finished the 2020 season ranked 22nd after losing 37-34 in the Cheeze-It Bowl to Oklahoma State in December. The Hurricanes last opened a season against the top-ranked team when sixth-ranked Miami defeated Florida State 31-0 at the Orange Bowl in 1988. Miami last played a number one last season versus Clemson.
Number 10 North Carolina who Miami plays on October 16 in Chapel Hill is the only other ranked team on the Hurricanes schedule. North Carolina State with 31 points finished 31st in the rankings. The Wolfpack is the only other team on the 2021 Miami schedule to receive votes in the AP Top 25.
dark. Next. Miami national media reaction to coaches poll 16th poll ranking
Depending on its performance against Alabama, Miami will move in the first regular-season poll released the first week in September. A win would vault Miami in the polls and a blowout loss would plummet Miami. The unknown factor is how the media would respond if Miami has a close loss to the Crimson Tide.