Mark Ingram makes case for Mario Cristobal as National Coach of the Year

When Mario Cristobal left Oregon for his hometown, promises were made to get Miami back at the top of college football. Those expectations are finally being met in the 2024 season as the Hurricanes are currently 9-0 and are fourth in the CFP rankings.

FOX’s Mark Ingram believes there is a case for Cristobal to be named the National Coach of the Year, highlighting the program’s success after a rough couple of decades. Cristobal is close to leading them to a place they have never been since joining the ACC.

“Got Miami 9-0 for the second time in 22 years,” Ingram said. “They’re looking to win their first-ever ACC Championship… They have never won an ACC Championship. Like, are you serious?”

Miami became a member of the ACC back in 2004 and as Ingram says, they have never won a conference title. Back during the 2017 season under Mark Richt, the Hurricanes did play in the ACC Championship game but lost by five touchdowns to a Clemson team that went on to the College Football Playoff.

Ingram sees a different Miami now, with Cristobal finding a way to win games. Not every result has been in blowout fashion but two road games have been tight wins in recent weeks. Miami was on the wrong side of those results in recent years, maybe even as recent as last season.

“He has them balling,” Ingram said. “You talk about those victories he had in a tough three-week stretch vs. Virginia Tech, Cal, Louisville. You drop one of those games, you’re easily out of the conversation. And he was able to rally his team to come back on the road at Cal, come back on the road against Louisville. They were able to win those games.”

Miami still has multiple games left on the schedule and is considered the favorite to win the ACC. If everything comes to fruition, INgram certainly makes a compelling case as to why Cristobal should be the National Coach of the Year.