College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2018
By Zach Bigalke
After winning 10 straight to start the season, it looked like The U might be back. But a three-game backslide kept the Hurricanes at 10-3 to end the year. The loss to sub-.500 Pitt in the final game before the ACC championship game hurt. Then they were blown out by Clemson, ending any shot at the conference title or a spot in the College Football Playoff.
That still meant a spot in the Orange Bowl, playing with a home-field advantage against Wisconsin. The battle of losing conference finalists offered a shot at redemption for both sides. Wisconsin seized that opportunity, as Alex Hornibrook threw four touchdown passes and freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor finished with 130 rushing yards.
Still, it was a comeback season for the Canes, and it could bode well for future success down the road. Malik Rosier is back at quarterback, and they will also get back key running back Mark Walton after an ankle injury put him out all season. The Hurricanes will once again be the favorite in the ACC Coastal.
They open the year with a statement opportunity against LSU, and if they get past the Tigers the Hurricanes will vault up the AP Top 25. Miami will open up somewhere between No. 9 and No. 12, even when taking into consideration the recency bias of ending the year on a losing streak.