Paul Finebaum isn’t buying Miami as a wire-to-wire top-10 team. In a segment on The Paul Finebaum Show, the SEC analyst identified the Hurricanes as the most vulnerable program in the preseason AP top 10 and predicted UM would finish outside that tier. He also added that he expects “nine-plus” wins but sees Clemson as the ACC favorite.
Finebaum’s skepticism comes shortly after Miami opened at No. 10 in the AP poll and No. 10 in the Coaches poll.
"I think the most vulnerable team is Miami."Paul Finebaum
Preseason Top 25 AP Poll
- Texas Longhorns
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Clemson Tigers
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Oregon Ducks
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- LSU Tigers
- Miami Hurricanes
Finebaum’s point isn’t exactly new for Miami. The Hurricanes surged back into the national conversation last fall and now face a year that will test them. Still, Miami’s baseline is stronger than a year ago.
Carson Beck’s addition is one reason national opinion on Miami is split. On Wednesday, On3 named Beck the quarterback on its 2025 Preseason All-Transfer Portal Team, billing him as an “instant difference-maker”. But concerns loom from last year where Beck appeared to have taken a step back with Georgia.
"I think Miami will go nine plus. I don’t think they’ll win the ACC. I do believe Clemson will. I don’t see a lot of losses on Miami’s schedule, but maybe one or two."Paul Finebaum
Miami will have an early opportunity to challenge that narrative. The Hurricanes host Notre Dame in a top-10 Week 1 matchup that doubles as a referendum on just how quickly the offense can hum with Beck. The general opinion is that Miami is a top 15-25 team in the country, but skepticism still remains on whether they will be a true playoff team.