Miami opens its season Friday night at Stanford, and that means Hurricanes fans get a full weekend to size up the teams that could matter later - whether that’s in the ACC race, a possible conference title game, or even the playoff picture.
The league already gave Miami a little something to chew on in Week 0, when the ACC went 3-0 in non-conference play. Virginia’s 34-8 win over NC State in Charlottesville stood out, and the Cavaliers at least looked like they belong in the conversation.
But the real fun starts now, with a slate full of games that should tell us a lot about Miami’s biggest threats.
Clemson at LSU on Saturday night is the headliner. If Clemson can pull the upset in Cajun Death Valley, the Tigers instantly become another ranked team sitting on Miami’s schedule.
LSU brings its own appeal as a possible playoff team and a potential future opponent, which gives this one plenty of weight beyond the usual early-season hype. And then there’s Lane Kiffin, who remains the walking clown show known for catering to the lowest common denominator.
Sunday night brings another one Miami fans will be locked in on: Notre Dame against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. The big question there is how the Fighting Irish look right out of the gate against a tricky opponent.
CJ Carr is under the microscope, especially with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price not there to carry the offense. If Miami and Notre Dame both look like top-5 teams this weekend, the countdown to November 7 gets a lot more real.
Louisville vs. Ole Miss on Sunday night is another one packed with Miami relevance.
Louisville is one of the few ranked ACC teams and a possible opponent in the ACC Championship Game, while Ole Miss still has plenty of pieces left from its playoff run last season and might still be dangerous under Pete Golding. There are still more questions than answers for both teams, which is exactly why Sunday night in Nashville should help show how worried the Hurricanes need to be about either one.
That matchup has already drawn notice elsewhere, too. Greg McElroy, who is set to be on the call, said on The Pat McAfee Show: “I’m telling you, Louisville is so dangerous, guys.”
Then comes Monday night, when Florida State meets SMU. Last week was a rough one for the Seminoles, and Mike Norvell’s hot seat is already getting uncomfortably warm. A win over the Mustangs would change the tone quickly as Florida State moves into a brutal stretch over the next two months.
SMU, meanwhile, enters with serious expectations of its own. The Mustangs are viewed as one of the main ACC challengers behind Miami, and Kevin Jennings and company still have to prove they’re ready to take the next step and contend for a conference championship.
There are a few more ACC games worth watching, too.
Georgia Tech plays Colorado on Thursday night, a useful test for the Yellow Jackets under Brent Key now that Haynes King is gone. Colorado will always get attention as long as Deion Sanders is on the sideline, no matter how good the Buffaloes are.
Pittsburgh opens against Miami, Ohio on Saturday, and the RedHawks should offer a decent barometer for Mason Heintschel’s sophomore season with the Panthers.
Duke takes on Tulane on Saturday afternoon, and there’s some curiosity around how the Blue Devils look without Darian Mensah running the offense. Tulane, under whoever is coaching it, is never a freebie.
Virginia Tech closes the list with its matchup against VMI on Saturday night. James Franklin’s debut in Blacksburg should be an easy one, and his teams usually handle the games they’re supposed to win. The trouble tends to come when the talent level evens out.
In Other News...
Mario Cristobal Could Finally Push Back If Jimbo Fisher Returns
Jimbo Fishers name is back in the coaching conversation after the former Texas A&M and Florida State head coach said he is open to returning to the sideline, and he has already shown interest in the Auburn opening. For Miami, the storyline matters because Fisher has long been a familiar figure in South Florida recruiting circles, where any experienced coach with SEC ties can still complicate the Hurricanes efforts to keep local talent at home under Mario Cristobal.
Fisher has also been mentioned as a possible fit at places like North Carolina, Maryland and UCF, but for now he remains in the analyst role with no new job lined up. Even so, the possibility of him re-entering the market adds another layer to a recruiting battleground Cristobal has been working to control, especially if Fisher lands somewhere that gives him a direct path back into the region Miami cares about most. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Tight End Situation Just Took Another Turn Before The Opener
With Miamis opener approaching, Alex Bauman has become the latest player to push the boundaries of college football eligibility. The Hurricanes tight end is filing for a temporary restraining order against the NCAA as he looks to pursue a fifth season, arguing for that extra year through an age-based eligibility theory after spending three seasons at Tulane and one in Miami.
Bauman is also planning to enter the transfer portal, adding another layer to a situation that could ripple beyond one roster spot. For Miami, it is another reminder that the tight end room is still unsettled in the final stretch before the season begins, and the legal fight around Baumans future is now part of the backdrop. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Could Suddenly Have A Familiar Tight End Decision To Make
Former Miami tight end Alex Bauman is back in the spotlight after filing for a temporary restraining order in an effort to enter the transfer portal and pursue another season of college football eligibility. Bauman spent one year with the Hurricanes after transferring from Tulane, and his presence gave Miami a useful combination of blocking toughness and receiving ability at a position that often asks for both.
The timing is what makes this situation feel especially familiar and potentially complicated for Miami. The Hurricanes are past the drop/add deadline, which makes an immediate return to the roster unlikely even if the legal side of Baumans request moves forward, leaving the program to monitor a decision that could affect its tight end depth in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]