CaneSport Roundtable: What is the biggest trap game on the Miami Hurricanes schedule?

CaneSport already has broken down each of Miami’s opponents this season, including the returning talent, portal additions and perceptions of each program. But every year there are going to be at least one or two opponents that are surprises, and some that sneak up on the Canes.

Most agree that Florida State and Louisville are going to be the toughest matchups for Miami this year, at least on paper talent-wise, and the Gators aren’t going to be sneaking up on anybody. What other game on the schedule could be a problem? Today CaneSport’s staff take turns breaking down what they see as the biggest trap game.

CANESPORT ROUNDTABLE SERIES: Is the season-opener a must-win game? …. Will the D finish ranked higher nationally than in 2023? … Who starts in the secondary, and is it an area that can get the job done? … Will Cam Ward break Miami’s passing records? … Who will be the No. 2 QB behind Cam Ward, and will that be an indication of the starting QB in 2025? … Does Damien Martinez surpass 1,000 yards and get past 1,500 to push Willis McGahee and Duke Johnson for school record? … Three true freshmen that will make the biggest impact for the 2024 Miami Hurricanes … Will Miami average scoring 39 or more points per game for the first time since 2002? … Why the top three Miami receivers that emerge matters, and our predictions … What is the biggest issue facing the secondary … and who will lead the team in INTS?

GARY FERMAN

I’m going to go with the Virginia Tech game. The Hokies are likely to go into this Friday night national TV matchup with a 4-0 record (with an easy early season schedule) after winning five of their last seven games last season and returning several pieces. The offense ranked No. 22 last year in the running game and quarterback Kyron Drones returns after starting the last nine games and throwing for more than 2,000 yards with 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. All five offensive linemen are also back along with most other skill players. So this is an offense that can give the Miami defense some problems. On defense, the Hokies ranked No. 20 in the nation in total defense and No. 50 in scoring defense and had 39 sacks. So this is a sneaky good team. Miami has the Hokies at home on a Friday night which will help. But this does figure to be one of those games that is hanging in the balance in the fourth quarter that everyone has penciled in as a victory in advance because that is what fans do. Get ready to be stunned and have elevated blood pressure.

GAME PREVIEWS: FLORIDA … FLORIDA A&M … BALL STATE … USF … VIRGINIA TECH … CAL … LOUISVILLE … FLORIDA STATE … DUKE … GEORGIA TECH … WAKE FOREST … SYRACUSE

MATT SHODELL

I honestly was a bit surprised when I took a closer look at all of Miami’s opponents this year, thinking there would only be a few tough opponents. But now I really only think there will be four “easy” games – against Ball State, Florida A&M, Duke and Wake Forest. So you can legitimately call anyone else outside of Florida, FSU and Louisville a “trap” game in the sense that Miami’s probably going to be expected to fairly easily beat USF, Virginia Tech (at home as probably the third-or fourth-toughest opponent along with UF, depending who you ask), Cal, Georgia Tech and Syracuse. I don’t really see the Hokies as a trap game because I think some nationally are starting to recognize they can be a top 25 type team, and I don’t think they are going to sneak up on Miami at home in the ACC opener. USF is out-talented by Miami at every position, pretty much. So I would go with either Cal, Georgia Tech or Syracuse as the trap games. All three of those teams I think can be sneaky good. If I’m forced to pick one? Well, I think the revenge factor after not taking a knee last year will make Miami really get up for the Yellow Jackets. And I think Syracuse will have issues up front on both sides of the line that Miami can take advantage of. So I’m going with traveling 3,000 miles across the country to play a Cal team that’s had four straight losing seasons and hasn’t won 10 games since all the way back in 2006. Coming off what promises to be a tough game vs. Virginia Tech the prior Friday won’t help Miami’s cause, and the Golden Bears should get strong play at QB and has a top returning RB in Jaydn Ott (1,315 yards last year), while on defense there’s enough LB/DB talent to make an impact if the DL can find some answers. If Miami doesn’t show up hitting on all cylinders, Cal will cause some problems.

IZUBEE CHARLES

When I look at Miami’s schedule this season, the one game that I would consider the “trap” game would be at Cal on October 5. The matchup against the Golden Bears will be the Hurricanes first road test outside of the Sunshine State, coming in week six of the regular season. It will also be the matchup following Miami’s duel against Virginia Tech, which I think will be a massive game against a program that is beginning to generate some national buzz as we inch closer to the 2024 campaign. Pairing an over 5,000-mile round trip with a dynamic running back in Cal’s Jaydn Ott coming off a 1,305-yard, 12 touchdown year, I think this may be a game some are overlooking a bit on the Hurricanes schedule. I went back and fourth between the Cal matchup and Miami’s game against USF, but I think the Golden Bears will come out with a chip on their shoulder as the new kids on the block in the ACC looking to prove something against the Canes.

STEPHEN WAGNER

I personally don’t really believe in the idea of trap games and instead believe in the idea of simply playing like crap as a result of poor game planning and a poor week of practice, but for the sake of indulging the idea, I’d call South Florida the biggest trap game on the schedule. Miami could be riding high after a potential 3-0 or 2-1 start and should be a top-25 team rolling into a road game against a Group of Five team for the second straight season (I don’t even want to ask why the heck this game was scheduled in the first place) playing with nothing to lose and everything to gain by potentially earning their biggest win since 2007. Remember, USF had Alabama on the ropes at home a season ago and should be improved this season, and Miami has had its share of scares against lower-level teams in the last five years. Miami needs to fully dominate USF to help us believe this team won’t play down to the level of its competition.

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