ESPN Calls Miami A Team To "Buy Buy Buy" In SP+ College Football Rankings
The Miami Hurricanes are earning respect in another important preseason ranking.
Will 2024 mark the beginning of a sustainable future for Mario Cristobal's team? The Hurricanes have signed top ten recruiting classes in consecutive years and have just landed highly touted transfer quarterback Cam Ward. ESPN's Bill Connelly has rated Miami 21st in his winter SP+ rankings.
Connelly bases his SP+ formula on returning production, recent recruiting, and recent history. Miami is strongly in the first two criteria, having come off a disappointing 7-6 year.
Connelly puts 21 Miami, 13 Texas A&M, 22 Iowa State, 5 Michigan, 6 Alabama, and 12 Florida State in his "Buy Buy Buy" category. These are teams ranked higher in his formula than in ESPN's "way too early top 25." Miami was ranked 24th in the way too early.
On Miami's place in the SP+, Connelly writes:
"Oh hey, look, another team you've probably been burned by buying into before. Mario Cristobal enters a big third season with a healthy number of returning starters, some interesting transfers -- Washington State quarterback Cam Ward, Washington nickelback Mishael Powell, Marshall edge rusher Elijah Alston -- and another highly ranked recruiting class. The Canes improved to 28th in SP+ last season, but a 2-4 record in one-score finishes held their record back."
Can the Hurricanes live up to, or even exceed, these expectations?
More: Do You Agree With ESPN's First 2024 College Football Poll?
