CFB analyst projects ACC regular-season Co-championship for Miami and every game

Cody Nagel of 247Sports projects Miami to finish 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference to earn a share of the regular season title in his "College football predictions: Every ACC team's final record in 2024." Nagel predicts every game each ACC team will win and lose in 2024.

Nagel predicts Miami to be the only team in the ACC to finish the regular season with one loss. Miami will share the ACC regular season championship with Florida State per Nagel. Nagel predicts Florida State to finish 10-2 overall with losses to Miami and Notre Dame in a three-week span.

The only loss Nagel predicts for Miami during the 2024 regular season is at Louisville. With identical 7-1 ACC records, Florida State and Miami would play in the conference championship game for the first time versus each other since the Hurricanes joined the league in 2004.

The winner between Florida State and Miami in the ACC Championship Game would earn a bye in the College Football Playoffs into the quarterfinals. Miami could probably afford a loss to Florida State in the ACC Championship Game and still earn a College Football Playoff berth based on Nagel projecting them to go 11-1 in the regular season.

"Miami Hurricanes
Projected record: 11-1, 7-1
Losses: Louisville
The word: This is a massive "prove it" year for Mario Cristobal and Miami. With a combined losing record in the past two seasons, the time is now for the Hurricanes to finally take that next step with a loaded roster. Miami made big moves in the transfer portal, landing one of the top transfer quarterbacks of the cycle in former Washington State standout Cam Ward and securing one of the top running backs this spring in Damien Martinez from Oregon State. Two games against rivals Florida and Florida State could be what separates the Hurricanes from reaching the College Football Playoff."

- Cody Nagel, 247Sports

With a 12-13 record in two seasons with Miami, Cristobal needs to lead the Hurricanes to a breakout season. Miami has to nearly match their win total in Cristobal's first seasons with the Hurricanes. With the expansion of the College Football Playoffs to 12 teams, Miami is expected to contend for a berth.

In addition to the games at Florida and Florida State, Miami's September 27 game versus Virginia Tech and October 19 game at Louisville is are expected to be pivotal games in the ACC race involving Miami this season. If Miami wins the game they are expected to emerge victorious they should compete for an ACC title game berth.

Martinez and Ward lead the Miami 10th-ranked 2024 transfer class. In addition to Martinez and Ward, Miami has as many as seven other transfers who could start in 2024. Ward was joined on the preseason All-ACC team by wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, kicker Andres Borregales, edge rusher Rueben Bain and linebacker Francisco Mauigoa from Miami.

ACC media varied slightly from Nagel's picks. Florida State is picked to finish first, Clemson second and Miami third. Florida State received 81 first-place votes, Clemson 55 and Miami 17. Eight different teams received first-place votes to win the conference in voting by the ACC media.

If Miami is going to reach its 2024 projections, Ward has to come close to living up to what is expected of him. Miami will have a great chance to earn an ACC Championship game berth if Ward is the ACC Player of the Year. Bain and Mauigoa could also contend to be the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.