Miami was named by CBS Sports in "Picking the best college football team in each state entering the 2025 season." Miami finished 10-3 during the 2024 season when they beat Florida, Florida A&M, Florida State and South Florida.
Miami is ranked 10th in both preseason polls, while Florida is 15th in the Associated Press Top 25 and 17th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Florida State received eight points in both polls under others receiving votes.
Miami has been the best program in Florida throughout the 2020s. The Hurricanes are 37-24 since 2002. Central Florida is second among Sunshine State power conference programs in the 2020s with a 34-28 record, followed by Florida State at 33-27 and Florida at 33-33.
Miami finished the 2024 season with three losses in its final four games. Florida won its last four games of the 2024 season. Florida State had its third-worst season in program history, finishing 2-10. Central Florida finished 4-8, which tied for the fourth-worst record in their program history.
"Florida -- Miami: I hear you, Florida fans. But DJ Lagway starting fall camp in a walking boot after he was limited in the spring due to a shoulder injury is unsettling. Miami will regress some offensively after losing Cam Ward, all its top receivers and 1,000-yard rusher Damien Martinez. Still, the 'Canes look solid on both lines of scrimmage and play the Gators at home on Sept. 20 after beating Florida and Florida State by 20+ points each last season."David Cobb, CBS Sports
Miami entering the season as the best program in Florida should not be questioned after last season and the players on the 2025 roster. Carson Beck replacing Cam Ward at quarterback should provide Miami with an elite offense in 2025.
Miami returns Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle to replace Damien Martinez at running back. Transfer WRs C.J. Daniels, Tony Johnson and Keelan Marion, with returnee JoJo Trader, are expected to provide Beck with a talented receiving corps.
Miami added cornerbacks Charles Brantley, Xavier Lucas, Ethan O'Connor and Kelonte Scott and safeties Zechariah Poyser and Jakobe Thomas as transfers to rebuild a secondary that struggled most of last season. Sophomore O.J. Frederique should still have a major impact for Miami at CB.
With a quirk in the 2025 schedule, Miami will have a bye after they host Florida on September 20, play at Florida State on October 4 in their next game and have another bye week after Florida State. The byes should give Miami time to recover emotionally with three rivalry games in the first six weeks of the season.