Miami Football: 5 bold predictions for the Hurricanes in 2017

Miami football surprised fans and pundits alike in 2016 by finishing the season with a 9-4 record. But how much better could it be in 2017?

In 2016, the Miami Hurricanes turned some heads.

Under new head coach Mark Richt, who actually played quarterback for the Hurricanes from 1979-1982, Miami improved to a 9-4 record and even ended the season ranked as the No. 23 team in the nation by the AP Poll for the first time since 2009.

Going into the 2017 season Richt’s squad remains remarkably intact, after only losing only four starters — cornerback Corn Elder, guard Danny Isidora, quarterback Brad Kaaya and tight end David Njoku — to the NFL draft.

While some of these players will be harder to replace than others, this season’s Miami squad is loaded with veteran talent and looks primed to make a run at the relatively weak ACC Costal Division.

And it all starts on Saturday, Sept. 2, when Miami opens the 2017 college football season against Bethune–Cookman University at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

In a division where teams like Florida State, Louisville and Clemson get the majority of the national headlines, this could be the year that Miami forces itself into the conversation of the best teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and could even make some serious playoff buzz if things fall their way.

It’s been a while since the Miami played like The U, but this may be the year the team finally makes a return to form.

And with that in mind let’s take a look at five bold predictions for Miami’s 2017 season.