As Mario Cristobal continues to steer "The U" back into the limelight of national title contention, the Miami Hurricanes are once again stirring up mixed feelings across the college football landscape. Known for their storied past and polarizing presence, Miami is making waves as one of the most talked-about programs in the sport today.
In the world of sports, every league has its team that fans love to hate. In MLB, it's the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The NBA has its Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. The NFL?
The Kansas City Chiefs. But when it comes to college football, who wears the villain's crown?
With Nick Saban's retirement from Alabama in 2024, the college football scene has undergone a seismic shift. The changes brought by the transfer portal, NIL deals, and a revamped College Football Playoff format have opened doors for new powerhouses. Enter the Miami Hurricanes, who have taken full advantage of this new landscape.
Over the past couple of seasons, Miami has posted back-to-back double-digit-win campaigns and even made it to the National Championship game. This resurgence has fans and pundits alike wondering if "The U" is truly back. Yet, with success comes scrutiny, and Miami's rise has rekindled some of the old animosity they faced during their heyday.
According to CFBSelect on X, the Hurricanes are currently the fourth-most disliked team in college football as we approach the new season. They're trailing only behind Notre Dame, USC, and Michigan in the rankings of most-hated programs.
Under the leadership of Coach Cristobal, Miami is not just aiming for the top spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference but is also setting its sights on a National Championship. Despite losing standout players like All-Americans Rueben Bain Jr. and Francis Mauigoa, the Hurricanes are not planning on slowing down.
Historically, Miami's victories have never been about flair but rather grit and toughness. The current squad embodies this ethos, focusing on dominating the trenches. Last season, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor were a formidable duo on defense, while Francis Mauigoa anchored one of the nation's top offensive lines alongside Markel Bell, Anez Cooper, and James Brockermeyer.
Matthew McCoy and Samon Okunlola also played pivotal roles at left guard, contributing to a unit that allowed just 20 sacks all season, placing them among the elite in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Even with the departure of key players, Miami has adeptly filled these gaps through strategic moves in the transfer portal and developing homegrown talent. Coach Cristobal's unwavering approach has kept the Hurricanes on a steady path toward contention.
Love them or hate them, one thing is clear: Miami isn't planning on fading from the national conversation any time soon. "The U" is here to stay, and they're ready to make their mark once again on college football's grandest stage.
In Other News...
Miami Just Lost A Chaminade-Madonna Playmaker To A Bitter Rival
A familiar South Florida recruiting name came off the board with a choice that will sting plenty of people around Coral Gables. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Armani Strong, a four-star prospect in the 2028 class, is headed to Florida after drawing serious attention from Miami, USC, Notre Dame and Michigan, giving the Gators an early win in a battle that had plenty of local significance for the Hurricanes.
For Miami, the miss is especially notable because Strong has long been part of the South Florida talent stream the program works so hard to keep home. He enters the cycle as one of the more highly regarded receivers in the country and in Florida, while Floridas new staff under Jon Sumrall gets its first commitment of the 2028 class. Even this early, the recruiting board is already starting to show which battles the Hurricanes can afford to lose and which ones they probably cannot. [Read more 🡒]
EA Sports Just Sent Miami Fans A Clear Message About This Roster
EA Sports latest College Football 27 ratings offer a pretty clear snapshot of where Miami sits in the national conversation heading into the games July 9 launch. The Hurricanes come in at 88 overall, tied with LSU and Ole Miss and trailing a group that includes Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, Notre Dame and Texas, which is the kind of placement that suggests respect without quite reaching the sports top shelf.
The bigger takeaway for Miami fans is how much talent the roster carries beneath that team number. The Hurricanes have 15 players rated 85 or better, with the group split across both sides of the ball, a sign that this is not just a team built around a few headline names. Early access opens July 6 for eligible players, so plenty of fans will be getting their first close look at how the roster is stacked and where the game thinks Miamis strengths really lie. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Lost Ground In A Key 2027 Recruiting Battle
Miamis push for one of the countrys top 2027 tight ends hit a setback this week when Anthony Cartwright III came off the board after a recruiting process that had included a look at Coral Gables. The Detroit Country Day standout had taken official visits to Miami and Oregon in June, and his profile as a Rivals four-star prospect made him a priority name for a Hurricanes staff trying to build early momentum in the class.
Cartwrights decision matters for Miami because he had been one of the marquee targets on the board at his position, and the Hurricanes had spent June trying to make a strong impression on him. His final group also included Michigan, LSU and Michigan State, so the interest was broad and the competition was real, but Miami now has to turn the page and keep working a tight end board that was already starting to take shape. [Read more 🡒]