ESPN considers Hurricanes as potential contenders for top 10 position in the…

ESPN, in their article titled “100 days to college football: Top games, players, contenders,” highlighted the Miami football team as a potential candidate among “Ten first-time playoff teams.” The addition of Cam Ward as quarterback has notably bolstered Miami’s prospects for the 2024 season.

Ward’s transfer from Washington State facilitated Miami’s acquisition of transfers Damien Martinez from Oregon State as a running back and Sam Brown as a wide receiver this spring. The opportunity to play alongside Ward is seen as appealing, suggesting that Miami could boast an elite offense in 2024, with Ward supported by a seasoned offensive line.

Analysts have identified a favorable schedule for Miami during the offseason, positioning them as strong contenders for a berth in the ACC Championship game and potentially as dark horses for the College Football Playoff. Notably, Miami’s ACC schedule excludes matchups against Clemson or North Carolina and includes hosting Florida State and playing at Louisville.

The return of key receivers Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George, in addition to Brown and Martinez, presents a wealth of talent for Miami to utilize. Miami’s offensive performance showed significant improvement in their first season under coordinator Shannon Dawson in 2023, and it is anticipated that the Hurricanes will continue to progress in 2024.

Miami, led by experienced transfer quarterback Cam Ward, benefits from a seasoned offensive line and bolstered depth from the transfer portal. They have a favorable schedule in September, staying in Florida for all their games. Their first month includes matchups against Florida, Florida A&M, Ball State, South Florida, and Virginia Tech.

Following their game against Virginia Tech on September 27, they won’t leave Florida until they face California on October 5. The pivotal stretch in October sees Miami playing Louisville and Florida State, which could determine their path in the 2024 season. If they perform well, particularly by winning or splitting these games, Miami could emerge as a strong contender for the ACC Championship game and even a College Football Playoff berth.