Miami has the seventh hardest 2025 schedule in the ACC, according to Chip Patterson of CBS Sports. Miami does not play its first road game until October 4 at Florida State. At SMU on November 1 is the first time Miami will leave Florida during the 2025 season.
Four 2025 Miami opponents are ranked in the CBS Sports Way Too Early Top 10. Notre Dame is seventh, Florida 10th, Louisville 23rd and SMU 24th. SMU is the only one of the four Miami will play on the road. Miami opens the season on August 31 versus Notre Dame at Hard Rock Stadium.
Florida is at Miami on September 20. Miami will host Louisville after a bye week on October 17. Miami will only play two of the top six teams in the ACC preseason poll. SMU is picked to finish third behind Clemson and Miami and Louisville is picked fifth.
Among the other 2025 Miami ACC opponents, Florida State is picked to finish seventh in the conference, Pittsburgh, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech and Syracuse are picked ninth through 12th in that order and Stanford is 17th and last.
"The Hurricanes typically do a good job of putting at least one high-profile nonconference game on the schedule. This year they have two with the second leg of a home-and-home against Florida and a massive season opener against Notre Dame in Week 1. Both of those games are at home, which takes some of the teeth away from the challenge, but those opponents raise Miami's schedule to a respectable strength rating -- especially when you add in games against both Louisville and SMU in conference play."Chip Patterson, CBS Sports
Florida, Louisville, Notre Dame and SMU are critical for Miami's schedule this season when compared to the other eight games. A lot can change as the season develops. Georgia Tech, SMU and Syracuse were all surprise teams in 2024, as Miami knows all too well with the first two teams.
Florida State is the ACC opener that are preceded and followed by a bye week. Miami plays Florida in the game before Florida State and Louisville in the game after. Louisville begins a seven-week stretch of consecutive games for Miami to finish the season.
Miami hosts Stanford on October 25 before playing at SMU. Syracuse is at Miami on November 8. North Carolina State will play at Miami in the final home game of the season for the Hurricanes on November 15. Miami finishes the season at Virginia Tech on November 22 and Pittsburgh on November 29.
With eight of the first 10 2025 games at home, getting off to a good start is critical for Miami in 2025. As an ACC team, Miami likely has to win 11 games to make the College Football Playoff. Expect Miami to have to win the ACC Championship or at least appear in the title game and only have two losses to earn a CFP berth.