Miami’s place in the preseason conversation hasn’t changed much, and that’s the problem if you’re looking at the Hurricanes through a national lens. On3 dropped its preseason top 25 on Tuesday, and Miami checked in at No. 7 in a staff poll of 11 college football writers.
The Hurricanes did get some real respect: they were one of six programs to earn a first-place vote, with Jake Crain putting Miami at No. 1 on his ballot. Texas led the way overall with four first-place votes, Oregon picked up three, and Georgia, Indiana and Notre Dame each landed one.
Still, Ohio State came out on top at No. 1 without a single first-place vote, built instead on showing up near the top of every ballot. In all, 37 schools received votes.
Miami’s No. 7 slot also stands out because it feels like the lowest end of the range for a team being talked about as the ACC’s clear favorite. SMU is the only other ACC program in the top 25, landing at No.
- Clemson and Virginia Tech are among the teams receiving votes, while Florida State is nowhere to be found.
There’s also a clear sense that On3 is not exactly out on a limb with its rankings. Eight teams are in the exact same spots as they were in the Coaches Poll: Ohio State is first, Oregon second, Notre Dame fifth, Indiana sixth, Miami seventh, BYU 15th, Michigan 16th and Utah 21st. No team that appears in both polls moved more than three places.
The biggest mismatch between the two rankings is Alabama, which sits 11th in the coaches’ poll and 14th in On3’s. Georgia and Texas simply flip third and fourth. Texas A&M is eighth with the coaches and 10th with On3, which bumps Oklahoma and Ole Miss down one spot each.
The overall conference makeup is the same in both polls as well: nine SEC teams, eight Big Ten teams, four Big 12 teams, three ACC teams and Notre Dame.
The only real differences come at the back end. The coaches included Clemson at No. 23 and Missouri at No. 25, while On3 chose Louisville at No. 22 and Florida at No.
- That left Clemson and Missouri among the schools receiving votes instead.
In Other News...
Miami Suddenly Has A Fall Camp Battle Fans Can't Ignore
Special teams has become one of the more intriguing parts of Miamis fall camp, and the spotlight is falling on a kicking competition that is still very much unresolved. The Hurricanes brought in two transfer options to sort it out, with one coming from Northwestern and the other from FSU, and Mario Cristobal has pointed to the unit as an area he feels good about as camp moves along.
Cristobal also spent time talking about Jordan Lyle, whose recovery and improved conditioning have been part of the programs broader August conversation. The coaching staff clearly believes there is value in having him healthier and better prepared entering the season, but for now the kicking job remains one of the quieter battles that could end up mattering a lot once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Miami May Be Unlocking Even More From Transfer WR Cooper Barkate
Cooper Barkate has spent the second week of Miamis fall camp trying to turn a promising addition into something more complete. The senior transfer wide receiver has talked about sharpening his physicality and rounding out his game, which fits the tone of a Miami pass-catching group that seems to be pushing itself daily. Barkate has also pointed to the competition in the Hurricanes receiver room as a real advantage, saying the environment around him is helping bring out more from his own development.
For Miami, that matters because the Hurricanes are not just looking for another body at receiver, they are looking for players who can raise the level of the room and give the offense more options. Barkate appears to believe there is still another gear to find, and his optimism extends beyond this season to the idea that a stronger year in Coral Gables could improve his NFL Draft standing. The interesting part is how much more the Hurricanes can unlock before camp gives way to the real test. [Read more 🡒]
Former Miami Standout Could Reopen A Hurricanes Roster Debate
Malik Reneaus name is back in the college basketball conversation, and for Miami fans it brings a familiar what-if back into focus. After three years at Indiana, Reneau transferred to Miami and put together a career season, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team honors while giving the Hurricanes the kind of frontcourt production that can reshape a roster discussion in a hurry.
Now, after going undrafted and signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic, Reneau is pursuing the possibility of another college season following a recent court ruling that opened the door for certain athletes to regain eligibility. The move raises an intriguing question for Miami circles: if that path stays open, would the Hurricanes have a place for a player who already proved he can change the look of a team in one year? [Read more 🡒]