With Florida and Notre Dame playing at Hard Rock Stadium in 2024, ESPN chose a surprising team for Miami in "The anticipated archvillains for every top 25 college football team." ESPN chose Syracuse as the archvillain of Miami after they knocked Miami out of the ACC Championship game in the 2024 regular season finale.
Andrea Adelson of ESPN said, "We could go with the obvious "traditional arch nemesis" Notre Dame, which is visiting South Florida for the first time since 2017. But there is another team that gets to wear the villain hat." The other team is Syracuse.
Syracuse is at Miami on November 8 in the penultimate home game of the season for the Hurricanes. Miami is at SMU a week before in their first game of the 2025 season outside of Florida. The only road game for Miami in the first two months of the season is at Florida State on October 4.
The season opener versus Notre Dame on Sunday, August 31, Florida on September 20 and the game at SMU are pivotal games for Miami in determining if the Hurricanes are a serious contender in the ACC and for a College Football Playoff berth.
"Georgia Tech is not on the schedule this year or that would be the slam dunk choice...If only for this season: Syracuse...The team that beat Miami 42-38 in the 2024 regular-season finale to keep the Hurricanes out of the ACC championship game visits Hard Rock Stadium on Nov. 8. While both rosters have turned over since that game, the head coaches remain the same, and there might be some added fuel to the fire."Andrea Adelson, ESPN
Syracuse recently received a commitment from Miami Northwestern wide receiver Calvin Russell. Although Russell will not be on the Syracuse roster until 2026, his commitment to the Orange adds more to the rivalry with Miami.
ESPN picked Miami third and Syracuse sixth in the ACC earlier this week. Miami and Syracuse both finished 10-3 in 2024. Miami finished 6-2 and third in the ACC in 2024 and Syracuse had a 5-3 record to tie with three other teams in a surprising fourth-place finish.
Miami will have a different look in 2024 with Carson Beck replacing Cam Ward at quarterback, the loss of their top six receivers from last season, almost an entirely new defensive coaching staff and secondary. Most of the key players for Miami in 2024 are not returning in 2025.