During an ESPN Sportscenter appearance on Sunday, longtime college football analyst Paul Feinbaum stated "I really believe its time for the U to return." Feinbaum has praised the Miami football team recently on the precipice of the 2024 season starting this month. Miami opens the season at Florida on Saturday.
Miami enters the season ranked 19th in the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll. The comments from Feinbaum about Miami were in response to a question about whether Clemson and Miami should be the expected teams to challenge Florida State in the ACC during the 2024 season.
Florida State was upset 24-21 by Georgia Tech on Saturday in their season opener in Dublin, Ireland. Miami will host Florida State on October 26. Florida State will host Clemson on October 5. Those will be two of the most important games in the ACC in 2024. Clemson and Miami do not play this season.
Miami's season-opening game at Florida will be overemphasized. With Mario Cristobal and Florida coach Billy Napier bringing losing records at their schools into the 2024 season, the loser will receive an overabundance of criticism and the winner will be proclaimed on their way back.
Feinbaum reiterated the likely overemphasis on the Miami season opener at Florida. His belief in Miami not just in the opener at Florida but "all season long" emphasizes the talent the Hurricanes have on their 2024 roster. Feinbaum stating Miami has the tools, the QB and complements shows his faith in them to compete in 2024.
The interesting schedule Feinbaum refers to is that Florida State is the only preseason Top 25 team Miami will play in 2024. Quarterback Cam Ward, running back Damien Martinez and several other top transfers are expected to elevate Miami this season. Martinez and Ward should be the best QB-RB tandem in the ACC.
The final statement by Feinbaum about winning a couple of games before declaring the U is back is accurate. Miami started the 2023 season 4-0, including a non-conference win over Texas A&M before finishing 3-5 in the ACC again. Miami needs to build a strong start in their non-conference games and continue that into their ACC schedule.
Miami hosts Florida A&M and Ball State before finishing non-conference play at South Florida. Virginia Tech visits Hard Rock Stadium for the ACC opener on Friday, September 27. Miami plays its first ACC road game of 2024 at California before a bye week.
Miami plays at Louisville, Georgia Tech and Syracuse in its other three ACC road games. Duke and Wake Forest come to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami's other two ACC home games. This is a pivotal year for Cristobal. Miami has built a roster that should be ready to compete in 2024.