November 2017. That was the last time the Miami Hurricanes were ranked number two in the country in successive weeks. The Hurricanes program has steadily climbed back into national prominence. Thanks to an aggressive defense, physical offensive line, and playmakers who have the ability to score anywhere on the field, the Canes have finally joined the discussion of being a national acclaimed college football program once again.
After years of wallowing in mediocrity, the Miami Hurricanes have finally delivered on the quest to become "The U". The Canes came out the gate in 2025 much improved, particularly, in the program's area of weakness over the years, which was the defensive side of the ball. Now, that unit has helped propel the Miami Hurricanes to a second ranked position in the college football AP polls.
Last year, the Hurricanes were striving to create a winning culture from the genesis to the cessation of the college football season but came up short in the end. This season, it appears that the Canes have recaptured the winning formula that the Miami Hurricane football program is renowned for.
The high ranking the Hurricanes have obtained is the result of Cristobal's vision and experience of being one of the contributors to the Miami Hurricanes football program's success and mystique it enjoyed under the tutelage of knowledgeable and successful coaches and players, who were concerned about winning and "winning big."
Winning can become infectious, and the second ranked Hurricanes have earned the right to capture that ranking based on the program's ability to win in all phases of the game, with a physical style of play on offense and defense, which has become reminiscent of the Miami Hurricanes football program's glory and winning culture that dates back to the early 1980s.
Historically, in recent years, the Hurricanes teased fans and followers, when it came to recreating a top five, nationally ranked powerhouse. Not only are the Miami Hurricanes recreating its own identity and narrative, but based upon the team's consistent play, there is not any doubt that "The U" has "emerged from the ashes."