Despite winning three national championships in the last 35 years, the Miami football program is in the top 10 "College football rankings: Most overrated programs over last 35 years" by Brad Crawford of 247Sports. Miami is eighth-ranked in the formula used by research company Stassen.
Stassen compared preseason rankings to the final rankings of every season and compiled where teams stood accumulatively. Miami has 11 seasons since 1989 finishing with a higher ranking than they started. Miami had 17 seasons where their ranking fell. The other seven years Miami was unranked in the pre and/or the postseason.
Miami is penalized slightly for beginning seasons so highly ranked in 1989, the early 1990s and 2000s. Miami began their 1989 National Championship season ranked first, fell to as low as seventh and finished first for a net rating of zero. Teams with high rankings don't have much room to move up.
Miami began the 1990 season first in the preseason rankings. After two losses Miami fell to as low as 10th after losing to BYU. Miami finished the 1990 season ranked third after defeating Texas 46-3 in the Cotton Bowl. Despite finishing third nationally, Miami still lost two points in the net ratings.
Number of different seasons in which power conference programs (and Army) have reached #1 in the AP Poll 🥇 pic.twitter.com/T5ica3rMkt
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) June 15, 2024
"6. MIAMI HURRICANESBrad Crawford, 247Sports
Total spots dropped in final poll vs. preseason poll since 1989: 99.5
Dennis Erickson, Butch Davis and Larry Coker all led ferocious teams at Miami, but multiple coaching regimes since have yet to bring the Hurricanes back to national prominence. Manny Diaz had one top 25 finish — the same number combined as Randy Shannon and Al Golden. Mario Cristobal enters his third season in 2024 with the most-talented roster this team has had in over a decade with preseason expectations to contend for a championship in the ACC. If it doesn't happen, the cycling of head coaches may continue."
Miami began the 1991 season ranked third, moved up to second and eventually first where they stayed in winning the national championship for a net of two towards their total ranking. In 1992, Miami began the season first, fell to second and regained the top ranking before losing to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and finishing third.
For the next five seasons, Miami finished below their preseason ranking. Miami finished 20th in 1998 after being ranked 25th in the preseason. After being ranked 12th in the preseason and finished 15th in 1999, Miami began a two-year upward trend in 2000. Miami began the 2000 season ranked fifth and finished second.
In 2001 Miami was ranked in the preseason, moved up in week three, fell in week seven and went back up to second in week eight where they remained for the rest of the season winning the national championship with a 12-0 season. Miami did not finish a season with a higher ranking than they started until 2009 after 2001.
Mark Richt's first two seasons in 2016 and 2017 are the only years Miami has finished with a higher ranking than they started since 2009. Mario Cristobal will have a chance to change that in 2024. Miami is ranked 19th in the USA Today Coaches Poll that was released on Monday.