Joel Klatt explains why Miami will have a bounce-back year in 2024

As the 2024 season creeps ever closer during the dog days of summer, analysts like FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt are providing some of their preseason predictions. Klatt has one that will get Miami fans leaning forward in their seats.

The Hurricanes are one of a handful of teams that Klatt projects as a “bounce-back” team this fall.

“7-6 a year ago and yet here comes Cam Ward and they come in and they’ve recruited at a very high level,” Klatt said on The Joel Klatt Show. “So that makes me want to go to the schedule, OK, what does their schedule look like? Manageable. Manageable. They could be 7-0 when they face FSU. In fact, likelihood that they’re 7-0.”

Of course, the big early test to get to 7-0 will be the season opener at Florida. Miami has played Florida tough over the years, though the Gators took the last meeting with the Hurricanes in 2019.

Get by that, though, and 7-0 definitely seems quite realistic. The toughest games figure to be Virginia Tech and California.

So schedule aside, what else has Klatt optimistic about the Hurricanes heading into the fall? Well, the transfer portal additions starting with Ward, for one. Ward was a terrific quarterback at Washington State and opted to come to Miami.

He’s not the only talented transfer to do so.

“They get Damien Martinez, the running back from Oregon State,” Klatt said. “He’s a really good player, so I like that pickup. And Cristobal needs a bounce-back. He’s gone 12-13 in his first two years. He was more successful than that at Oregon. I think Miami could have a bounce-back next year.”

Funny enough, Klatt offered some pushback for Miami fans even though he’s picking the ‘Canes to be a bounce-back team in 2024.

Apparently he’s gotten some pushback from Hurricanes fans in the past. He explained himself, especially in light of his favorable prediction this fall.

“I think Miami is interesting,” Klatt said. “And, as you guys know, Miami fans think that like I hate Miami. No, I don’t hate Miami. I think Miami has generally underperformed over the last few years, and I think that’s fair.”