Safety Mishael Powell will be one of the leaders for Miami on defense. Miami significantly improved its depth and experience through the transfer portal. As many as seven transfers could start for Miami in 2024. Miami returns 10 starters from 2023. The five other projected starters are returnees to Miami as opposed to freshmen.
More often than not over the past 20 years Miami has failed to live up to its preseason ranking. The consensus nationally is this year is different. Skeptics will say every year is different for Miami. The addition of Ward provides Miami with an elite QB they have not had for most of the past 20 years.
Crawford highlighted Miami too often falling short of expectations. Miami's season opener at Florida has been pointed to as a game between two coaches who have failed expectations in their first two seasons. Cristobal is 12-13 in two years at Miami. Billy Napier has led Florida to an 11-14 record in two seasons.
"MIAMI HURRICANES (UNDERRATED)Brad Crawford, CBS SP
AP Poll ranking: No. 19
There's a fine line between being overrated, underrated and properly-rated in preseason polls and Miami's track record under Mario Cristobal as a conference champion-hopeful is not stellar...The Hurricanes are hoping to avoid an ending all too familiar for a program itching to return to national prominence that falls well short of expectations...Miami's first test is later this month in Gainesville against the Gators.
A loss at Florida would toss Miami out of the national rankings after Week 1 and supplant the Gators with unexpected love as a result...On paper, Miami's roster is playoff-capable and we're believers in the Hurricanes, but there's still a hint of "show, don't tell" at a program that's not handled offseason praise that well in the past."