The Miami football team dropped to 22nd in the AP Media Top 25 and 24th in the USA Today Coaches poll following their 44-13 loss to Alabama on Saturday. Pro Football Focus is one of the national media sites still rating the Hurricanes highly. Miami is 12th in the Week Two poll by PFF writer Anthony Treash.
The blowout loss to the Crimson Tide was comparable to the outcome most teams in the season opener against Alabama at neutral sites have occurred. Ohio State was only two points better against Alabama in the National Championship Game with a 52-24 loss at Hard Rock Stadium in January.
The Alabama passing game was continually able to find open looks. Miami did not get past the 50 yardline on offense until Alabama had already built a 27-0 lead. Alabama contained elusive Miami quarterback D’Eriq King. King was 23-30 for 179 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and ran nine times for 10 yards.
Alabama controlled both lines of scrimmage which prevented the Miami offense from creating any big plays. Crimson Tide QB Bryce Young was able to get the time he needed to complete 27-38 for 344 yards, four TDs and no interceptions. Alabama was an obvious choice as number one. Treash ranks Miami 12th.
"12. MIAMI HURRICANES (-3)It was David versus Goliath as quarterback D’Eriq King and the Hurricanes took on the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 1. And the giant had its way with the ACC program.King tied for the third-lowest-graded game of his career and completed only four passes over 10-plus yards downfield. Outside of putting pressure on Alabama quarterback Bryce Young via blitzes — which Miami used 56.1% of the time — there was no single facet where the Hurricanes performed even average in.Next week will tell us more about the gap between Alabama and the rest of the pack, but as of now, there’s seemingly only a couple of teams that can even hang with the powerhouse."
Saturday’s game against Appalachian State will tell us as much about the Miami football team as it will Alabama. The response Miami has against the Mountaineers will show us the make-up of the players on Miami and their potential for the remainder of the season. Appalachian State is an excellent Group of Five program.
Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma are the only FBS programs in the last seasons with a better winning percentage than Appalachian State. The Mountaineers are 63-15 since 2015 under three different head coaches. Miami was able to win the games they expected to last season. That needs to continue in 2021.
Highest % chance to make the CFB Playoff 🏆
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 8, 2021
1. Alabama - 72%
2. ??
3. ??
4. ??
5. Clemson - 27%
6. Texas A&M - 18%
7. USC - 17%
Alabama made a huge statement in the National Championship Game in January about how big the gap is between them and everyone else. The 28 point margin against Ohio State showed Alabama is significantly better than the rest of college football. Miami rebound and make their own statement about their program.
Miami can still be a top 15 program as currently rated by PFF. Wins over Appalachian State this week and Michigan State next week The Mountaineers and Spartans will present a challenge defending the run. Miami showed improvement against Alabama holding the Crimson Tide to 3.9 yards per carry.
All of the teams on the Miami football schedule are behind them in the PFF rankings. Virginia Tech is the highest-ranked team by PFF at 16th, North Carolina who lost to the Hokies on Friday night is 17th and North Carolina State is 22nd. Miami plays the Tar Heels and Wolfpack October 16 and 23 and the Hokies on November 20.