Miami Hurricanes plummet in ESPN Football Power Index
The Miami Hurricanes fell 15 spots in the ESPN Football Power Index following their 38-17 loss to Michigan State on Saturday. Miami entered the season ranked 20th and is 35th after the dismantling by Michigan State. Among the teams ranked ahead of Miami is 2-1 Appalachian State who the Hurricanes defeated last week.
Michigan State moved up nine spots to 17th in the FPI after their win over Miami on Saturday. Miami ranks seventh in the ACC in the FPI. Clemson tops the ACC as the fifth-ranked team in the FPI. Miami is only fifth in the ACC Coastal behind number 12 North Carolina, 22 Virginia Tech, 25 Pittsburgh and 28 Virginia.
North Carolina State is the second-ranked team in the FPI in the ACC Atlantic Division behind Clemson. The Wolfpack is 23rd nationally. Miami has fallen quickly after three subpar performances to begin the season. The Miami Hurricanes started the 2021 season ranked 10th in the FPI.
Miami will have the opportunity to move up when they begin ACC play against Virginia on September 30. The Hurricanes falling to fifth in a bad trend to what began as a season with promise. Miami was projected to win every game except Alabama at the beginning of the season by the FPI.
In recent weeks, Miami was projected to be 9-3. After losing to Michigan State on Saturday, Miami is now favored in five of its last nine games. If that holds true, Miami would finish 6-6 in 2021. The FPI has Miami favored on Saturday over Central Connecticut State, Virginia, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Duke.
ESPN updates the FPI so this will change as teams win and lose games they are not favored and based on how they play. The FPI favoring North Carolina State and Virginia Tech at Hard Rock Stadium is particularly troubling. Duke and Florida State are the only two road games Miami is predicted to win by the FPI.
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The FPI gave Miami a 39 out of 100 in the season-opening loss to Alabama and 39 against Michigan State. In the win over Appalachian State, the Hurricanes received a 79. Georgia Tech at 58th, Florida State who is 81st and Duke who is 80th are the only FBS teams on Miami’s remaining schedule ranked behind them.