In their "2025 ACC football schedule breakdown: Predicting the first loss for all 17 conference teams" CBS Sports projects Notre Dame will beat Miami in the August 31 season opener. Miami has one of the toughest non-conference schedules nationally that also includes Florida on September 20.
The outcomes of the games versus Florida and Notre Dame will have a major impact on determining if Miami earns a College Football Playoff berth. If Miami loses to Florida and Notre Dame, they would likely have to win the ACC to earn a CFP berth.
The Notre Dame game will be the Miami debut for Georgia transfer quarterback Carson Beck. Beck should be ready for the moment with his experience in big games and 24-3 record as a starter at Georgia. Beck was injured in 2024 when Georgia played Notre Dame in the CFP.
Miami has a mostly advantageous schedule with all four non-conference games at home. Bethune-Cookman is at Miami on September 6 and South Florida on September 13 in the other two Miami 2025 non-conference games.
"Miami HurricanesBrad Crawford, CBS Sports
First loss: Notre Dame, Aug. 31
Unless Miami wins the ACC, the Hurricanes must split nonconference litmus tests against Notre Dame and Florida during September. Those are two clashes the selection committee will be taking under consideration in November when the Hurricanes are clinging to a spot around the top 15, per our bowl projections. Unfortunately for Carson Beck, going up against one of the nation's elite defenses in Week 1 is a tall order."
Miami will not play its first 2025 road game until October 4 at Florida State. Miami does not leave Florida until they play at SMU on November 1. Games at Virginia Tech on November 22 and Syracuse on November 29 close the season and are the only other road games Miami plays in 2025.
Notre Dame was ranked fifth in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, released on August 4. Miami is 10th in the coaches poll. Among the other 2025 Miami opponents, SMU is 16th in the coaches poll, and Florida is 17th. Louisville, Syracuse and FSU were 2025 Miami opponents who were among the others receiving votes.
Anything less than a CFP berth will be a disappointment for Miami in 2025. After starting 9-0, Miami lost three of its final four games, including two of its final three in the regular season in 2024. The first two Miami losses eliminated the Hurricanes from an ACC Championship game and CFP berth.