![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, left shakes hands with Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal after the Hurricanes defeated the Gators during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_7841,h_4410/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/200/01jwxmkv8y39msyc4s62.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, left shakes hands with Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal after the Hurricanes defeated the Gators during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
Miami is ranked ninth in the ESPN Football Power Index released on Tuesday. Notre Dame, which is seventh, is the only 2025 Miami opponent ranked ahead of the Hurricanes in the 2025 ESPN FPI. Miami opens the season versus Notre Dame at Hard Rock Stadium on August 31.
Miami is projected to have 9.7 wins and 2.8 losses, a 4.7 percent chance to go undefeated, 98.1 percent to win six games and become bowl eligible, 30.5 percent to win the ACC, 46.3 percent to earn a college football playoff berth, 6.2 percent to make the championship game and 2.7 percent to win the title.
Miami has the 41st toughest strength of schedule. The ESPN FPI does not list non-conference strength of schedule. With Florida in week four in addition to Notre Dame, Miami has one of the most difficult non-conference schedules nationally in 2025. Florida is 18th in the ESPN FPI.
Miami hosts Bethune-Cookman on September 6 and South Florida on September 13 in their other two non-conference games. Bethune-Cookman is not ranked in the ESPN FPI as an FCS team and South Florida is 68th. Miami does not play Clemson, the second-highest ranked ACC team in the FPI.
Date | Opponent | Ranking | Projected wins | CFP Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
8/31 | Notre Dame | 7 | 9.3 | 45.6 |
9/6 | B-C | N/A | N/A | N/A |
9/13 | South Florida | 68 | 6.9 | 6.5 |
9/20 | Florida | 18 | 6.4 | 14.5 |
10/4 | At Florida State | 48 | 6.0 | 2.5 |
10/17 | Louisville | 41 | 6.7 | 4.4 |
10/25 | Stanford | 64 | 4.7 | 0.5 |
11/1 | At SMU | 20 | 8.5 | 21.1 |
11/8 | Syracuse | 62 | 4.6 | 0.5 |
11/15 | NC State | 57 | 6.2 | 2.2 |
11/22 | At Virginia Tech | 26 | 7.9 | 12.5 |
11/29 | At Pittsburgh | 58 | 5.9 | 1.5 |
Notre Dame is the only 2025 Miami opponent projected to be a serious College Football Playoff contender entering the season. A lot will change as the season progresses. SMU was one of several teams to earn a surprise College Football Playoff berth in 2024.
Miami has a very advantageous 2025 schedule. The Hurricanes are home for six of their first seven games and do not play outside of Florida until November 1 at SMU. How well Miami finishes the season with the final two 2025 games at Virginia Tech and at Pittsburgh could determine their ACC Championship and College Football Playoff fate.