Miami football ACC Kickoff date announced

The Miami football program will appear at ACC Kickoff on July 23. Miami will be joined by California and Pittsburgh, Stanford, Virginia and Virginia Tech in Charlotte. The ACC Kickoff is a chance for the media to interview the head coaches, three players from each program and an unofficial beginning to football season.

Miami plays California and Virginia Tech among the teams who are appearing with them on the same day. The Hurricanes were the second team at the podium during the 2023 ACC kickoff. Head coach Mario Cristobal was joined by the now departed Kamren Kinchens, Matt Lee and Tyler Van Dyke.

Quarterback Cameron Ward, middle linebacker Francisco Mauigoa and defensive lineman Rueben Bain are the most likely players to join Cristobal in Charlotte this season. Ward is a key transfer from Washington State. Mauigoa was second-team All-ACC and Bain was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

ACC Kickoff will be four days for the first time with the additions of California, Southern Methodist and Stanford to the conference. The ACC Network will provide live coverage of the event for all four days. Miami will be among the favorites to earn berths in the 2024 ACC Championship on December 7 in Charlotte.

The preseason All-ACC teams and projected order of finish in the conference will be released about a week after the kickoff event concludes. Clemson, Florida State and Miami will be the likely top three teams in the league. Ward is potentially the first-team preseason All-ACC QB. Mauigoa will also likely be a preseason All-ACC.

Mauigoa and Ward were teammates at Washington State in 2022. Mauigoa transferred to Miami last season. Ward is only one of nine transfers Miami added during the portal window that opened in December. A second transfer portal window is open from April 16-30. Miami could add more transfers this spring.