The good news for the Miami Hurricanes is that they are the clear favorites in the ACC. The bad news for Mario Cristobal is that the Hurricanes are the clear favorites in the ACC.
Cristobal is focused on the now as Miami heads into training camp with expectations as high as they have been in the past 20 years. The Hurricanes have an appearance in the CFP under their belt, advancing all the way to the championship game. But Cristobal knows the only way to guarantee a return to the 12-team bracket is winning the ACC and, as the coach told Eric Mac Lain of ACC Network, it'll be a tougher task than some might expect.
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Let’s talk CANES! @coach_cristobal joins us to preview @CanesFootball upcoming season.
— Eric Mac Lain (@EricMacLain) August 3, 2026
💪TRENCH TALK who steps up on the LOS
🏆 The sense of urgency this team has
🏈 So much skill on the perimeter https://t.co/fSHAnPzAA7 pic.twitter.com/GYgHfguUoJ
"There's a lot of good teams, a lot of good quarterback play, the trenches are better for everybody. Coaching acumen. There's some really good play callers, enhanced rosters. It's going to be another big year for the ACC," Cristobal said.
Mario Cristobal wrestles with Miami's status as ACC favorite
Cristobal comes from the school of Nick Saban, so this is basically him telling his players not to swallow the "rat poison," and I get it. They've heard for the past six months that their you-know-what doesn't stink. Miami has the best recruiting class in the country. The Hurricanes got the best quarterback and pass rusher out of the transfer portal. Malachi Toney is the best playmaker in the country.
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When everyone tells you how great you are, it's easy to believe it. Cristobal doesn't believe it and he won't believe it until the proof is put in front of his face.
"That's why I'm always a big advocate of let's settle stuff on the field. Let's really not engage in discussion about beauty contests," Cristobal added.
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Miami didn't settle the ACC discussion on the field last year
The Hurricanes' deep playoff run and subsequent success in the offseason have almost made people forget that Miami didn't win the ACC last year. Was Miami the best team in the conference? Absolutely, but it didn't get the job done on the field. Losses to Louisville and SMU almost derailed the train before it was comfortably on the tracks.
In many ways, the Hurricanes needed a perfect storm (pun sorta intended) to get to the playoff. They needed Duke to upset Virginia and some other things out of their control to shake their way, so the committee could focus on the one thing they did control, which was the Week 1 win over Notre Dame.
Cristobal's hope is that the expectations will keep the Hurricanes hungry rather than weigh them down. The fact that Miami has never won an ACC football championship is something that should be the driving force behind this team. Being the clear favorite is worth acknowledging and embracing at times, but the only way to justify the hype is by proving it on the field.
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