Fox College Football lead analyst Joel Klatt has the Miami Hurricanes at No. 8 in his 2025 way-too-early top 25. Fox primarily covers the Big Ten and Big 12. Klatt has four Big Ten teams, three SEC teams, independent Notre Dame and Clemson as the other ACC program in the Top 10 with Miami.
Notre Dame will open the 2025 season at Miami on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend. Texas at Ohio State and LSU at Clemson are other Week 1 games featuring Top 10 teams. Miami hosts Florida on Sept. 20 in another big non-conference game for the Hurricanes.
Games at SMU and vs. Florida State and Louisville with the dates to be announced by ACC on Monday are also marquee contests for Miami in 2025. Clemson, Miami and SMU are likely to be the favorites in the ACC in 2025. SMU surprisingly won the 2024 regular season title and earned a College Football Playoff berth.
Miami projects to have eight returning starters in 2025. All of the returning starters on offense are on the offensive line. Cornerback O.J. Frederique, defensive linemen Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe anchor the returning starters on defense for Miami in 2025.
WAY-TOO-EARLY TOP 10 IS HERE 🚨👀
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) January 23, 2025
Thoughts on @joelklatt's top 10 teams ahead of the 2025 season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/zbZByEmLAo
Joel Klatt has Miami ranked No. 8 in his early Top 25
Miami has the No. 4-ranked transfer class per the On3 rankings. Quarterback Carson Beck is the highest-ranked 2025 transfer. Beck transferred to Miami from Georgia to succeed Cam Ward. The addition of Beck was critical for Miami's projections entering the 2025 season.
Miami loaded up at CB through the portal with four of the top incoming transfers at the position. Jacksonville State transfer Zechariah Poyser is the No. 2-ranked safety in the 2025 portal. LSU transfer C.J. Daniels provides Miami with critical experience and proven production at WR entering the 2025 season.
Other transfers who provide Miami with experience are center James Brockermeyer from TCU and Louisiana Tech defensive tackle David Blay. Miami is also rebuilding nearly their entire defensive coaching staff. Defensive line coach Jason Taylor is the only returning coach to the Miami staff on defense.
Where Miami ranks in other way-too-early Top 25's varies widely. Miami is in most of the way-too-early Top 25s. The projected 2025 preseason Top 25s will evolve throughout the offseason. The spring transfer portal will have a great impact on the early 2025 preseason rankings.