ESPN named Miami as one of 11 teams on its "College football impatience index: The clock is ticking on these teams in 2025." Miami is listed in the "Return on investment" tier with LSU, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. ESPN lists three other tiers.
Florida and USC are in the "Seeking a CFP breakthrough tier." Penn State is alone in the "Championship or bust tier." The "Coach must deliver soon tier" has Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Wisconsin.
ESPN lists the coach, 2024 results, last national and conference titles and College Football Playoff appearance for each of the 11 teams on its list. Each team then has an extensive summary assessing the impatience.
ESPN began the summary of Miami saying the lull without a conference title is bewildering to those who followed college football in the 1980s. Miami dominated college football in the 1980s. From 1985 through 1992, Miami was 88-8 with three national titles and a game away from five more.
The pressure is on for some of college football’s biggest names 👀 @ESPNRittenberg on why the clock is ticking for these teams this season ⬇️ https://t.co/Row1QFT4db
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 4, 2025
ESPN continued that part of the reason Miami fell from dynasty to mediocrity was not spending up to the level of a national contender. Adam Rittenberg, who wrote the article for ESPN, said Miami fell behind FSU but also Clemson and occasionally, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Virginia Tech.
Rittenberg remarked hiring Mario Cristobal as head coach "marked a seismic change." The biggest reason for Cristobal returning to Miami was greater resources that have resulted in significant transfer additions like Cam Ward and Damien Martinez, per Rittenberg.
Miami has added quarterback Carson Beck and rebuilt its wide receiver corps and secondary with transfers to its 2025 roster. Rittenberg correctly stated Miami has yet to break through under Cristobal. Miami has improved each season with Cristobal as head coach.
Miami was 5-7 in the first season under Cristobal in 2022, 6-7 in 2023 and had a 10-3 season in 2024. After finishing 6-10 in the ACC during Cristobal's first two seasons, Miami was 6-2 in the conference in 2024. The inability to hold a lead late cost Miami ACC Championship Game and CFP berths.
Rittenberg expects Miami to be among the best in the ACC in 2024 with the addition of Beck and in his words, "a roster that, talent-wise, projects among the best in the ACC." Rittenberg closed by stating, "Miami's patience for a CFP appearance should be thin, as there is real pressure on Cristobal to deliver in Year 4."