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USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll released, has five opponents ranked ahead of Miami Hurricanes

On3 imageby:Matt Shodell•08/07/23•

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(photo courtesy of Miami Athletics)

The preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll was released today, and it was no surprise that Miami off a 5-7 season wasn’t in the top 25. Miami was among the “Others Receiving Votes,” which some quick math shows that UM is ranked in a tie with Minnesota at No. 40 based on the voting points of the poll (16 points).

Also what can be gleaned from the poll is the perceived difficulty level of some of the Hurricanes’ opponents.

First, topping the poll was Georgia at No. 1, Michigan at No. 2, Alabama at No. 3 and Ohio State at No. 4, with a significant drop off in points based on voting to No. 5 LSU.

As for Miami’s opponents in the rankings?

Florida State and Clemson both cracked the top 10, with FSU No. 8 (1,145 points) and Clemson No. 9 (1,078 points). Miami faces the Tigers in Game 7 at home Oct. 21, then Florida State three games later on the road Nov. 11.

The third-highest ranked team Miami faces is North Carolina, which was ranked No. 20 just five points behind Oklahoma and six ahead of Wisconsin. Miami plays at UNC just before returning home to face Clemson seven days later.

A fourth opponent that cracks the top 25 – barely – is Texas A&M. The Aggies are right at No. 25, just four points behind No. 24 Texas Tech and 27 points ahead of No. 26 Iowa. Texas A&M, of course, is going to be Miami’s first “real” test of the season following the home opener against Miami (Ohio) Sept. 1.

An opponent in the “Others Receiving Votes” section that’s also ahead of Miami is NC State, which will be on the road Nov. 4 (the week before the game at FSU). The Wolfpack is five spots ahead of Miami with 19 total votes.

So, if you want to use the poll as a benchmark for the season’s results, then Miami would finish with a 7-5 record (with five teams ranked ahead of the Canes in this poll). The Canes certainly plan on besting that and moving up in the poll as the season moves along with a reshaped roster and new coordinators on both sides of the ball.

But, it appears, some national coaches aren’t convinced of UM’s progress just yet.

Oh, and for those that are still interested in the program that Mario Cristobal helped build up at Oregon: The Ducks are ranked No. 15.

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