Predicting 5 significant college football turnarounds in 2022

Miami

Every team on this list is projected to win at least three more games than they did last season. That’s kind of our minimum standard for calling it a turnaround.

Miami is sort of an interesting case because the Hurricanes weren’t terrible last season. They won seven games and didn’t even fire their head coach until very late.

That’s because the Hurricanes probably weren’t going to make a move unless Mario Cristobal became available. Cristobal already had a good job at Oregon, but he’s a former Hurricane and when Miami made it clear it was investing in the program, the U got their guy.

And Cristobal got his guy when he was able to hire away Broyles Award Winner (top assistant coach) from Michigan in OC Josh Gattis.

Add Gattis to potential first-round quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and there’s a valid reason to be excited about the Miami offense in 2022. The Hurricanes had a top-25 scoring offense, the issue has been the defense and that’s Mario’s specialty.

Not only is Cristobal a Nick-Saban disciple but Miami football, like Florida, is one of the 15 teams that according to 247 sports’ blue-chip ratio, is talented enough to win the national title in 2022.

You can scoff at that if you want but Miami is the only team in the ACC on the list outside of Clemson. North Carolina State isn’t on it; Wake Forest is miles away and the fact is, Miami has the talent to win the ACC in 2022.

Clemson should be the favorite. But Miami gets Pittsburgh at home and the Hurricanes should win their division and get another shot at Clemson which will beat the U in the regular season.

But outside of Clemson and A&M, I don’t think it’s crazy (at all) to project Miami to win 10 games. The Hurricanes will win their division and possibly a New Year’s Six Bowl.

Projected turnaround: 7 wins to 10