One Major Advantage Boosting Miami's Hopes for the 2024 College Football Season

As the 2024 college football season approaches, the hype surrounding the Miami Hurricanes continues to grow. Many are predicting that this year's Hurricanes could be the best team Miami has fielded in decades.

Some of college football's most well-known analysts are projecting the Hurricanes to finish with a 10-2 or 11-1 record, win the ACC Championship for the first time, and secure a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff.

Miami football hasn't won 10 games since the 2017 season, and they haven't notched 11 wins since the 2003 season, their final year in the Big East Conference.

For the past 20 seasons, Miami has not fielded a roster that could legitimately claim to be a 10- or 11-win team. Even in 2017, the ACC schedule and a bit of luck were on their side. Three of their 10 wins were decided by five points or less. The roster then was nowhere near as talented as this year's group.

We'll have to wait and see if luck will be on their side again in 2024, but the schedule certainly appears favorable once again, even more so, really.

Miami is one of seven Power 4 conference teams that play just one preseason-ranked opponent. The others are Cincinnati, Iowa, Kansas, Pitt, Rutgers, and SMU.

The Hurricanes' one ranked opponent will be their archrival, Florida State, which enters the season ranked No. 10 in the country.

Miami hasn't beaten Florida State since the 2020 season. That game was at the Hurricanes' home stadium, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, the site of this year's matchup.

Last year, the Hurricanes started off 4-0 before losing six out of their last nine games. They faced a then-ranked three opponents: No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 12 North Carolina, No. 4 Florida State and No. 9 Louisville. They went 1-3, beating an Aggies team that finished 7-6 and unranked. The Tar Heels also finished unranked.

Hurricanes third-year head coach Mario Cristobal is looking for a benchmark season, hoping to capitalize on all the advantages seemingly in place for the first time in his tenure. He has a stacked roster built through highly rated recruiting classes and transfer portal additions. Couple the talent with an advantageous schedule, and the Hurricanes could return to prominence once again this season.