The Miami football program was highlighted by Brad Crawford of 247 Sports as one of five teams nationally facing pivotal 2023 seasons. Miami has regained some momentum with a top 10 2023 class following a subpar 5-7 inaugural season under Mario Cristobal. Development and production is the next step.
Miami has routinely signed top 20 classes. Far too frequently a lack of development has led to constant mediocrity on the field. The Hurricanes have won nine games only four times since 2006. Miami finished 10-3 in 2017 to earn their sole berth in the ACC Championship Game since joining the conference in 2004.
The 2017 season was also the only 10-win season Miami has had since 2004. The 2017 season followed up a 9-4 2016 campaign. Those were the only back-to-back seasons of nine wins for Miami since 2005. Ten-win seasons used to be the norm for the Miami football program, not the exception.
Miami is reportedly paying Cristobal $80 million over 10 years. Cristobal would be the first to say that a 5-7 season is not acceptable. Miami finished 5-7 and did not qualify for a bowl since 2007. Cristobal and his staff have begun turning over the Miami roster. Twenty or more Miami football players will enter the transfer portal.
"MIAMI HURRICANES“Considering the resources Mario Cristobal has at his disposal at Miami and the seemingly endless funds being pumped into NIL from South Florida attorney and entrepreneur John Ruiz, one would assume the luster of his hiring will start to wear off if the Hurricanes post another disastrous five-win season in 2023.This wasn’t supposed to be a full rebuild after all. Cristobal is set up to exceed and doing what he can in recruiting to ensure that happens with a signing class this cycle approaching the top five nationally entering the February period.Losing five-star cornerback Cormani McClain — the No. 1 player at his position — to Deion Sanders and Colorado undoubtedly was a major blow, however.”"
One of the main goals for Cristobal, when he was hired, was to update the facilities. Miami announced earlier this month that they will be building a 215,000-square-foot football operations center. That’s a few years away. Miami needs to start producing on the field to validate new facilities.
The return of quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was expected to be a building block in 2022. Injuries to Van Dyke and inconsistencies from backups Jacurri Brown and Jake Garcia contributed significantly to the 5-7 2022 season. At the very least Miami needs to flip their 5-7 season around in 2023.