Miami football: Canes roster compared to college football playoff teams

The Miami football team ranked 12th in the 2023 Team Talent composite rankings by 247Sports. Among the four College Football Playoff teams, Alabama is first in the Team Talent composite rankings, Texas is sixth, Michigan is 14th and Washington 26th. Chris Hummer of 247Sports examined "How the College Football Playoff teams were built."

In addition to the Team Talent Composite rankings, Hummer examined the number of five-stars players on a roster and if a team meets the Blue Chip Ratio of a roster having at least 50 percent of their scholarship players four or five-star as prospects. Hummer also listed key signees and transfers for each CFP team.

Alabama has significantly more talent and blue-chip players on its roster than the three other CFP teams and Miami. The Crimson Tide has 18 five-star players, 56 four-stars and 10 three-stars. Alabama has the most five-star players nationally and is second to Ohio State which has 63 four-star players.

Texas has the sixth-ranked roster overall and with nine five-star players on its 2023 roster. The Longhorns have 47 four-star players on its roster and 27 three-stars. Texas exceeds the critical important blue-chip ratio. The vast majority of CFP teams have had a blue chip ratio of at least 50 percent.

Michigan has two five-star players on its 2023 roster, 45 four-stars and 38 three-stars. The Wolverines exceeded the blue-chip ratio. Michigan had only the third most talented roster in the Big 10. Ohio State which had the third-best 2023 roster nationally and Penn State which is 13th, are ahead of Michigan,

Washington has zero five-star players, 27 four-stars and 49 three-stars on its 2023 roster. The Huskies only have the fourth-best roster in the Pac-12. USC has the eighth best 2023 roster nationally, Oregon is 10th and UCLA 24th. Washington enchanced its roster with star transfers like quarterback Michael Penix and running back Dillon Johnson.

Alabama, Michigan and Texas all added transfers with varying degrees of impact on their 2023 seasons. Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton, Texas QB Quinn Ewers and WR Adonai Mitchell, Michigan center Drake Nugent and edge rusher Josaiah Stewart were key performers this season.

In comparison to the CFP teams, Miami had four five-star players, 42 four-stars and 36 three-stars on its 2023 roster. Center Matt Lee, left guard Javion Cohen and middle linebacker Francisco Mauigoa were critical additions for Miami in 2023. Miami has a roster that should be competitive in a 12-team playoff.

Alabama led the nation with a cumulative score of 1,015.43 for the players on its roster and a 94.49 average. Texas roster totaled 913.24 with an average of 90.96. The Miami roster had 860.27 total points with an 89.96 average. Michigan was at 850.43 with an average of 90.51 and Washington was 751.12 and 87.60.

Talent has never been the issue for Miami. Since 247Sports began tracking roster talent in 2015, Miami has consistently been inside the top 20. The Hurricanes need better development and production. Miami players drafted in the NFL have not matched where they were ranked as recruits.

Mario Cristobal will elevate the talent on the Miami roster from 12th to the top 10 in the next year or two. Miami has signed the seventh and fourth-best classes in the first two full recruiting cycles under Cristobal. The development and production on the field need to match the recruiting rankings.