Longtime CFB writer Brett McMurphy ranks Miami football in his AP Poll top 10

Longtime college football writer Brett McMurphy ranks the Miami football team eighth in his preseason top 25. Miami is the highest-ranked ACC team in McMurphy's top 25. McMurphy ranks Clemson 13th, Florida State 15th and Virginia Tech 24th as the only other ACC teams on his top 25 ballot.

Murphy ranks Oregon first, followed by Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Penn State. Florida State and Virginia Tech are the only 2024 Miami opponents on McMurphy's ballot. Miami is ranked 19th in the USA Today coaches poll that was released on Monday.

Miami could be ranked higher in the Associated Press poll when it's released on Monday, August 12. The 247Sports preseason top 25 ranks Miami 16th. Miami signed the fourth-ranked 2024 class and the 10th-ranked transfer class. The new additions are expected to have major impacts this season.

McMurphy mentions the talent on the roster, praising the offensive and defensive lines and the top two transfers. Cam Ward should be the best Miami quarterback since at least D'Eriq King in 2020. Ward provides Miami with an elite passer who is an adept runner, especially in the red zone.

"Based on the amount of talent Cristobal has accumulated, it could be a breakout season. UM signed its best recruiting class in 15 years, the offensive and defensive lines will both be among the nation’s best and the Hurricanes added a plethora of impact transfers, most notably quarterback Cam Ward from Washington State and running back Damien Martinez from Oregon State.

“Cam Ward can either win the Heisman, or you’ll finish 6-6,” an ACC coach told me. There’s no way UM is headed for 6-6, but I’m not ready to give Ward the Heisman just yet. However, the talented playmaker...should be the perfect remedy for what was one of the nation’s worst red-zone offenses a year ago."

- Brett McMurphy

Ward and Martinez are expected to lead a loaded offense for Miami. Wide receivers Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George and Houston transfer Sam Brown all had over 800 yards last season. Tight end Elijah Arroyo is expected to be recovered from a knee injury and at full strength for the first time since 2022.

Pro Football Focus ranks the Miami offensive line eighth nationally and their WR unit seventh. On defense, PFF ranks the Miami defensive line seventh, Miami also returns a strong linebacking corps led by first-team preseason all-ACC Franciso Mauigoa, returning starter Wesley Bissainthe and Louisville transfer Jaylin Alderman.

A 6-6 season for Miami would be shocking and a near disaster. After finishing 12-13 in Mario Cristobal's first two seasons, Miami has to be a serious contender for an ACC title and College Football Playoff berth to exercise the demons of 2022 and 2023.

Most experts have pointed to Miami having a favorable schedule. Miami should be a solid favorite in eight of their 12 games. Florida, Florida State, Louisville and Virginia Tech are the potential exceptions. If Miami splits those games and wins out they will be close to accomplishing their goals,.,

Edge rushers Elijah Alston and Tyler Baron join Miami as transfers to give the Hurricanes one of the deepest groups of edge rushers nationally with Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. If the Miami offense can live up to expectations, that will put opponents in pass mode in the second half, letting the edge rushers loose.

This season could make or break Cristobal's Miami tenure. Miami needs to have an ultra-successful season or he will likely be on the hot seat entering 2025. The Hurricanes are on the verge of signing a third consecutive top-10 class in 2025. Miami is setting the foundation for a bright future, but they have to start winning big in 2024.