Pro Football Focus ranks Miami football 16th nationally

The Miami football team is ranked 16th in the “Way-too-early 2022 college football top 25 rankings” from Pro Football Focus. Miami began the 2021 season ranked 12th. The Hurricanes finished the 2021 season 7-5 and unranked after a 2-4 start. Three of Miami’s 2022 opponents are in the PFF rankings.

Clemson is ranked fourth, Texas A&M sixth, and Pittsburgh 17th. Wake Forest who is 10th and North Carolina Carolina State who is 17th are the only other ACC teams in the rankings. Mario Cristobal left Oregon in good shape. The Ducks are 25th in the PFF Rankings. Miami plays at Clemson and Texas A&M in 2022.

Miami has a favorable schedule to get off to a good start in 2022. The game at Texas A&M on September 17 is the only one in the first six weeks that Miami plays on the road. Miami had a similar schedule to begin the 2021 season. The Hurricanes opened against Alabama in Atlanta followed by four straight home games.

Miami was blown out by Alabama and added losses to Michigan State and Virginia in games they were favored. Miami will be big favorites this season in their other non-conference games at home against Bethune-Cookman on September 3, Southern Mississippi on September 10 and Middle Tennessee State on September 24.

The Miami football team begins ACC play on October 8 against North Carolina. Miami plays at Virginia Tech a week later for its first non-conference game of the 2022 season. Oklahoma finished 16th in the final 2021 rankings with a 10-2 record. Cristobal led Oregon to 10-3 2021 season and 14th in the final rankings.

Miami finished the 2021 season 8-3 and 22nd in both polls. The Hurricanes will be challenged in the inaugural season under Cristobal. The return of Tyler Van Dyke at quarterback helps set the foundation of expectations for Miami to be ranked in the top 25 entering the 2022 season. Miami needs to focus on getting better.