Miami Hurricanes in a good spot coming out of week 1 in college football power rankings

While Bethune-Cookman perhaps wasn’t the most daunting opening game opponent, the Miami Hurricanes easily took care of business by racking up 305 rush yards and 300 passing yards in a 70-13 win.

That was pretty much expected going into the weekend.

Other teams around the country also got a chance to show what they have. And now, with the Weeek 1 unveiling over, ESPN has come out with its new power rankings.

The Canes?

They check in at a very healthy No. 13.

And just ahead of Miami might be a surprise to some fans: Clemson at No. 12.

Yes, maybe just maybe the Hurricanes can be right there with Clemson in that game.

The AP Poll also was released today, and Miami’s not far off the ESPN power ranking at No. 15. Miami opponents ranked by the AP include Clemson at No. 5, Texas A&M at No. 6 and Pitt at No. 17 (with FSU among others receiving votes at No. 30).

Topping the ESPN list? Georgia followed by Alabama and Ohio State. Those three are pretty widely considered by far the top teams in the nation, and it’s Oklahoma No. 4 with Michigan checking in at no. 5.

Of particular interest to Canes fans: Texas A&M, the game 3 opponent, is No. 7.

The ESPN writeup of the Aggies states “The Aggies opened a season of big expectations with a 31-0 shutout of Sam Houston, their first in an opener since 1993. It wasn’t always pretty and included a nearly three-hour rain delay, but the biggest story was the offensive output under Haynes King, who was making just his third start after being lost for the season last year after two starts. King had 364 passing yards, the second most in a season opener in Texas A&M history, including two TD passes of more than 60 yards (one of which was Yulkeith Brown’s first career reception of 66 yards) — the first time an Aggies QB has accomplished that since Ryan Tannehill in 2011. The defense is loaded. If the A&M offense can remain explosive, the season outlook looks much brighter.”

Also ahead of UM in the power rankings, albeit only slightly is Clemson.

That ESPN writeup: “If you were looking for convincing evidence that Clemson fully left its offensive woes in 2021, Week 1 did not provide it. The Tigers pulled away late for a 41-10 victory over Georgia Tech — thanks in part to one score set up by a blocked punt and another led by blue-chip freshman QB Cade Klubnik — but starting QB DJ Uiagalelei still went through long stretches of ugly play, the receivers still struggled to get separation downfield and the O-line failed to create much room for the ground game against a Yellow Jackets defense that, on paper, is one of the easier tests Clemson should expect in 2022. The good news is the Tigers’ defensive front looks as good as advertised, and as long as K.J. Henry, Barrett Carter & Co. continue their dominance, Clemson will be in every game.”

Pittsburgh also made the top 25, checking at No. 18. That game with the Panthers at the end of the regular season could determine the Coastal winner.

“The renewal of the Backyard Brawl after an 11-year hiatus certainly lived up to the billing, though Pitt did not make it easy in front of the home crowd in a 38-31 victory over West Virginia,” ESPN wrote. “Still, the Panthers found a way to score two touchdowns in the final 3:41 of the game to pull out the win. Pitt quarterback Kedon Slovis played inconsistently but led a 92-yard game-tying drive. M.J. Devonshire scored the winner on a 56-yard pick-six on the following West Virginia series. Slovis finished with 308 yards passing in the win, but there is plenty for Pitt to clean up headed into Week 2.”

A fourth opponent, FSU also cracked the list at No. 24 after an upset win at LSU.

“Playing what was ostensibly a road game in New Orleans against LSU, the Seminoles hung tough, particularly quarterback Jordan Travis, who evaded the Tigers’ pass-rush and took a number of shots on the way to an impressive 260 yards and two touchdowns through the air,” the ESPN writeup states. “And the defense and special teams made it an all-around performance, generating four sacks, blocking a pair of kicks and recovering two fumbles in the 24-23 win. While it might have been a little too close for comfort in the end, coach Mike Norvell will take a 1-point win and a 2-0 start to the season.”