Joel Klatt explains Miami's ranking in way-too-early Top 10

Joel Klatt’s Way-Too-Early Top 10 is causing a stir in the college football world, especially in South Florida, after he ranked the Miami Hurricanes at No. 8.

With Carson Beck joining Mario Cristobal’s team for 2025, some believe Miami could contend for a national title next season. Klatt is understandably high on the Hurricanes, even if he’s of the belief that their quarterback will have to shine brighter than he did for Georgia in 2024.

“Next up is a team that I was high on early last year and that panned out, and now they’ve dipped in the same playbook,” Klatt stated, regarding his No. 8 ranking of the Hurricanes. “Miami has gone and gotten a very experienced quarterback. Carson Beck, heading to Miami, and he’s gonna be there with the Canes. I’ve got them at No. 8. He’s gonna come in to try to replicate, in a lot of ways, what Cam Ward was able to do this last year. Now, is Beck going to be as good as Cam Ward? I don’t know. Ward was sensational in so many ways. Is he going to be a really good option, maybe not quite Cam Ward, but a very good option? Yes.

“I kept saying this, last year with Beck at Georgia, I never felt like it was completely his fault. The skill position group for Georgia led the country in drops. As a quarterback, what are you supposed to do? Put handles on the ball? That’s what I used to say to my wide receivers. … That’s what Beck should’ve been saying to his Georgia wide receivers. … Is his play going to improve? Probably. He’s not going to have to force it as much. He’s going to be playing behind, I think, one of the better offensive lines in the country. That’s what Mario Cristobal has done really well, stockpile talent upfront at the line of scrimmage. So, that depth should pay off for the quarterback, and the offense overall.”

While Beck is a bit of a question mark, the more pressing matter is with the Miami defense. They sabotaged a tremendous offensive season for the Hurricanes last year, but Klatt is a fan of new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, as he thinks the freshly-minted coach can turn the unit around.

“The defense was a clear and obvious weakness last year,” Klatt added. “They went out and they hired Corey Hetherman from Minnesota. I like Corey Hetherman a lot. I know that he hasn’t been at like the top of college football, but I tell you what, Minnesota has been a very good defense for a long time.

“… He comes to Miami, and they’ve also hit the portal to address the defense, as well. They’ve brought in several players in the secondary, which they needed.”

All told, Klatt thinks how Miami starts the season will be a huge sign for things to come, as their schedule certainly isn’t an easy one come September: “This is a good team. They’ve got two really tough, non-conference games in September. This is — we’re going to find out everything we need to know about Miami early in the season,” he said.

“They’re going to host Notre Dame in the opener, and Notre Dame is a team that you’ll be seeing upwards in my Top 10. They also host Florida as well, and that’s a team that, of course, I just told you I considered in the Top 10. A tough first month for Miami, and Beck is going to have to hit the ground running there in South Florida.”

Time will tell if Miami can rise above and make a run at a title in 2025, with Carson Beck leading the way under center. Cam Ward set the stage, but the Hurricanes faltered in 2024 — it’ll be up to Mario Cristobal to steady the ship and help the program continue to ascend under his watch this coming season, and Joel Klatt thinks he can do it.