ESPN names Miami football among top 3 2022 ACC storylines

The Miami football team was named the second-best storyline in the ACC entering the 2022 season by ESPN writers Andrea Adelson and David M. Hale on Monday. Being picked to win the ACC Coastal, the hiring of Mario Cristobal as head coach and return of quarterback Tyler Van Dyke were all mentioned in the summary of Miami.

Miami was picked to win the ACC Coastal entering the 2022 season by conference beat writers. Miami and Pittsburgh are in the top 20 entering the 2022 season in the Associated Press Top 25 released on Monday and USA Today coaches poll that came out last Monday. Miami is 16th AP Top 25 and 17th in the coaches poll.

Pittsburgh is 16th in the coaches’ poll and 17th in the AP. Clemson is the favorite to win the ACC and the highest ranked conference team in both polls. The Miami football team will finish the season at Clemson on November 19 and hosts Pittsburgh on November 26. Those two games could decide the ACC Coastal division.

The expectations for the Miami football program have been raised with the hiring of Cristobal. Van Dyke returning has also created a lot of buzz for Miami. Entering the 2022 season, Van Dyke has been named to multiple preseason award watch lists. Adelson and Hale summarized what to expect from Miami in 2022.

"2. What does Miami do in Year 1 under Cristobal?“There is one storyline that is undefeated year after year in the ACC: Is this the year Miami will compete for a championship? Media voters seem to think so, as they selected the Hurricanes as the preseason choice to win the Coastal Division and advance to the ACC championship game.Of course, this is the sixth time Miami has been the preseason choice; the Hurricanes have one division title in their history. This year, the expectations are high thanks to Cristobal and the return of quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who emerged last season after going through camp competing for the backup job.Cristobal has hired himself an elite staff, adding to the expectation level outside the program. But Cristobal wants nothing to do with where people think his program should be right now. He just wants his players focused on getting better.”"

Also in the ESPN “ACC college football preview: Breaking down the conference’s best players, games and more” the Miami game at Texas A&M was named one of the “Five must-see games,” Miami is third in the power rankings and three Hurricanes were named to the ESPN first-team preseason All-ACC.

Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, offensive tackle Zion Nelson and punter Louis Hedley were named first-team All-ACC. ESPN picks Clemson over Miami in the ACC Championship game. Only the Tigers and North Carolina State are ranked ahead of Miami in the preseason power rankings ahead of the 2022 season.