On3 Ranks Miami No. 20: Are the Hurricanes Undervalued Heading Into 2025?

The Miami Hurricanes have trended up in Mario Cristobal’s first three seasons, from 5-7 to 7-5 and last year’s 10-3. So the Canes are on the rise nationally, right?

Well, not so fast.

The perception out there remains mixed. And the latest example is On3’s post-spring Top 25.

Miami is ranked 20th, which on face value means not much of an improvement from a year ago when the Canes just missed the playoffs. And that’s despite Cristobal working hard to build this roster, including adding 19 portal pieces (with eight in the second portal window).

The explanation from On3’s Ari Wasserman, who compiled the rankings: “It’s hard to figure what to make of Miami. This feels like it could be too low, but I’m admittedly not the guy who thinks Carson Beck is going to will Miami to the CFP. If the Hurricanes couldn’t do it last year with Cam Ward, Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George and Damien Martinez, why would they this year? Well, the Hurricanes should have nasty lines and they did some work plugging holes in the spring portal window. If Miami has a much better defense, maybe they’ll start lower and finish higher than last year’s team.”

Wasserman hits on some key threads to the season, of course. The defense will be improved … but HOW much improved is going to be the key. It’s possible this could be a top 20 D after it ranked 70th in scoring defense a year ago considering star DE Rueben Bain is back fully healthy after missing time last year and then not looking quite right and with other key returning pieces like CB OJ Frederique, DE Akheem Mesidor and LB Wesley Bissainthe. Plus there’s young talent waiting to break out (5-star DT Justin Scott is a prime example) and a ton of portal talent added led by DT David Blay, two key LB additions in Kamal Bonner and Mohamed Toure, CB Xavier Lucas, nickel Keionte Scott and safety Zechariah Poyser.

So with the assumption the defense will be significantly better, it really it becomes a question of how the offense will fare after it was the nation’s top attack under Cam Ward. Yes, Ward’s loss was of course huge. You don’t just replace the NFL Draft’s No. 1 pick. But Carson Beck can conservatively be called one of the nation’s top 10 returning QBs after coming in from Georgia, and as noted by Wasserman the offensive line will be a strength. RB Mark Fletcher has started games, TE Elija Lofton is looking to be a breakout star and the big question is if the wide receiver room will be up to par. There will be bigtime competition for reps there in fall camp between younger guys like JoJo Trader and three ultra-talented freshmen (Malachi Toney, Josh Moore and Daylyn Upshaw) vs. portal window arrivals Tony Johnson, Keelan Marion and CJ Daniels. If a few of those guys pan out, watch out.

Of note: The top 5 in the On3 rankings are … in order … Penn State, Texas, Clemson, Ohio State and LSU.

Clemson is the only ACC team ranked ahead of Miami, but it sure says something to put them at No. 3.

“For some reason, Clemson has the eighth-best odds to win the national championship and is sitting at around 20-1 to win it all,” Wasserman writes. “That’s value, because when you look at the Tigers, there’s a lot to like. They almost feel like a virtual lock to win the ACC. Quarterback Cade Klubnik returns after seeing it click last year, he has a group of talented receivers to target and the Tigers have the best defensive line in the country. Dabo Swinney won the ACC last year with a solid team. What will he do with a loaded one?”

Miami doesn’t play Clemson in the regular season but will face four other teams ranked on the list: No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 11 Florida, No. 21 SMU and No. 22 Louisville.

Both the Irish and Gator games are in the first four of the season.

So we’ll find out every quickly just where Miami deserves to sit in the national picture. And if some in the national media are sleeping on the Canes.