Paul Finebaum, Heather Dinich make case Miami is underrated at No. 19 in 2024 preseason AP Poll

The Miami Hurricanes found themselves ranked 19th in the AP preseason poll. It’s a high spot to start in but college football analysts Paul Finebaum and Heather Dinich still made the case that Miami is coming into the 2024 season underrated at No. 19.

As Finebaum and Dinich explained on Get Up, Miami is a talented team that is in a position to make a lot of noise this season if the Hurricanes can figure out those close games.

“I think it’s Miami,” Paul Finebaum said. “They lost four games last year at the buzzer, one that the head coach Mario Cristobal simply gave away. Remember that game against Georgia Tech? They open the season at Florida and they’re gonna make Jeff Darlington [Florida graduate] a very unhappy man that first weekend. He’s gonna have to go back to the toilet looking for an iguana.”

The Miami Hurricanes are going into their third season under head coach Mario Cristobal. Through two seasons, he’s put together a 12-13 record while accumulating plenty of talent. This offseason, that was headlined by a few offensive players from the Transfer Portal, including quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez.

“Paul and I agree, it’s definitely Miami. Mario Cristobal has done an excellent job of recruiting. This is arguably the most talented team in the ACC. Paul is right, though, no one is ever going to forget that Georgia Tech game. Take a knee, please,” Dinich said.

“As long as you don’t do that and you parlay the talent into wins, this is a team capable of beating Florida State and winning the ACC. They only leave the state of Florida four times all season. They could be the unofficial state champs this year.”

Miami opens the season with a road game against the Florida Gators that will likely set the tone. From there, the schedule breaks Miami’s way, with some of the Hurricanes’ toughest ACC games on paper, like Florida State, coming at home.

Xavier Restrepo reveals what feels different about this year’s Miami team

Heading into the 2024 season, fifth-year senior wide receiver Xavier Restrepo shared what feels different about this season’s Miami Hurricanes team.

“I feel everyone’s ego is just thrown out the window,” Restrepo said.

“You know? Everyone has something to earn. Something to prove. We haven’t won like we’ve wanted to win here lately. So, I mean, we’re coming to work every single day. Hair on fire and a fuse lit up under us. So, we’re ready to make something happen this year.”