CBS Sports names Miami football formidable Clemson challenger

The Miami football program was named a formidable challenger to Clemson by CBS Sports in their “ACC expert picks 2022: Most overrated and underrated teams, projected order of finish, bold predictions.” Miami is projected as the Coastal Division winner by six of the seven CBS Sports experts.

Longtime CBS Sports college football analyst Dennis Dodd went a step further and projects Miami to win the ACC over Clemson. All seven CBS Sports College Football analysts project Clemson to win the Coastal. A Clemson versus Miami ACC Championship game would be a rematch of the 2017 title tilt.

The 2017 ACC Championship game appearance was the only one in program history for Miami. Mario Cristobal took the head coaching job at Miami to return home after rebuilding Oregon over the last four years. The Ducks won two Pac 12 titles and had three championship game experiences with Cristobal as head coach.

Cristobal is putting the structure in place to implement his culture and the offensive and defensive systems from his coordinators. The expectations are high entering the 2022 season, but it will likely take Cristobal a few years for the Miami football program to consistently reach the level of success Oregon consistently produced.

"“But the Tigers may be staring down a formidable challenger — not just this season but for years to come — if a Miami program optimistic about a return to prominence actually succeeds with one of its own, Mario Cristobal, leading the charge.”"

Chip Patterson of CBS was confident in the future of the Miami football program in his comments above while being hesitant about how close Miami can get to Clemson this season. Miami will play at Clemson on November 19 in what could be the Hurricanes’ biggest test during the 2022 season.

"“Miami: There is a scenario where the combination of young talent from last year’s squad and the influx of transfer talent gel immediately with the arrival of Cristobal. But I’m much more concerned about the returning production at wide receiver and the potential of that aforementioned gelling.The Hurricanes could likely play down to the competition and still compete for an ACC Coastal title, but I still think Cristobal is two recruiting cycles away from closing the gap with Clemson. — Chip Patterson.”"

Dodd is the only one who picked Miami to win the ACC. He did so twice. With four of the other six college football experts focusing on Clemson, Dodd explained why he picked Miami to win the ACC. Dodd elaborated further on the overall picks for ACC Champion. Winning the Coastal will likely be the initial goal for Miami in 2022.

"Bold predictionsDennis Dodd: This is the Canes’ time — Miami will win the ACC. Cristobal has become the East Coast version of Lincoln Riley in flipping the roster. A bunch of transfers and an already talented roster maturing at the right time make it so. Tyler Van Dyke is a budding star at quarterback.Cristobal is building an SEC-like program in South Florida, just like he did at Oregon.”ACC championMiami: Cristobal and polarizing Miami attorney John Ruiz have torn up the timeline for a customary turnaround and sprinkled it on the 50-yard line of Hard Rock Stadium. The Canes are returning well ahead of schedule because Cristobal knows Miami, knows Dade and Broward County and knows his legacy.The Canes ride the arm of Van Dyke to the ACC crown. — Dodd"

Miami added 11 transfers to the 2022 roster with seven on defense. Five transfers could potentially start on the Miami defense with three on the defensive line. Miami will begin their 2022 journey on September 3 versus Bethune-Cookman at Hard Rock Stadium to attempt to prove Doddd correct that they are ahead of schedule.