College Football Playoff: Which Top 25 teams are contenders, pretenders?
The Miami Hurricanes are one of the most unusual teams in the AP Top-25 Poll. Currently one of only two undefeated teams left in the ACC Coast division behind only the Virginia Tech Hokies, Miami has only played two games this season. Their Week 2 game was cancelled and their Week 3 game against Florida State was postponed due to Hurricane Irma.
While the team has outscored lesser opponents Bethune-Cookman and Toledo by a combined score of 93-to-43, they have yet to face off against another ranked opponent, and will not until their Nov. 11 home game against No. 12 Virginia Tech.
In only two games, the Hurricanes’ offense is ranked sixth in the nation in total offense, behind the arm of first year quarterback Malik Rosier and junior running back Mark Walton, and have recorded 1,137 yards and 12 touchdowns in their limited time on the field.
While these numbers could change drastically as Miami enters their conference schedule in Week 5 against Duke, it is impressive none the less. However, after fielding the 20th ranked defense in all of college football last season, the Hurricanes 2017 defensive ranking (73rd in the nation) has been incredibly distorted by their abbreviated schedule.
Simply put, it’s impossible to tell just how good the Miami Hurricanes can be in 2017, and the only way of knowing if they will be able to win the ACC Coastal division and ultimately challenge Clemson for the ACC Championship is to see how they play in going forward.