Five players to watch
1. Carson Beck
Obviously. The Hurricanes’ hopes for 2025 largely rest on Beck’s shoulders. More specifically, they rest on Beck’s surgically repaired right elbow. Miami will go as far as Beck takes them. The former Georgia quarterback was successful at UGA, winning 24 of 27 games. If the Hurricanes can get the 2023 version of Beck, which propelled the standout to the top of early draft boards, then Miami will be in great shape. If UM gets the 2024 version, which was less accurate and had more turnovers, the Hurricanes’ ceiling may be lower than they’d like.
2. Jojo Trader
Miami needs to replace basically all of its pass-catching production from last year. They brought in some transfers to help fill the void, but they need some of their high school recruits to step up and take over bigger roles. Trader is perhaps the most promising of the young receivers, and he will have a chance to establish himself as a high-level receiver.
3. Rueben Bain Jr.
After an excellent freshman season in 2023, Bain was injured for part of the 2024 season and did not perform as well when he returned to the field. Now the junior is fully healthy and should be an anchor on UM’s defense. When he’s healthy, Bain can be one of the most dominant defensive players in the conference.
4. Wesley Bissainthe
Bissainthe was a highly touted, four-star prospect coming out of Miami Central. Since he arrived at UM, he has been a solid linebacker. But he was not asked to shoulder a massive load, as he was often playing alongside older players like Corey Flagg and Francisco Mauigoa. Now Bissainthe, a senior, is a veteran himself, and he is going to have to play a key role in new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s defense. Bissainthe expects to play a mix of middle and weak-side linebacker in Hetherman’s defense, and he will have to handle a lot of the communication duties in the defense, which was a problem for UM last year.
5. The entire secondary
It is impossible to single out one key player in the Hurricanes’ secondary. They need the entire unit to improve this season after struggling mightily last year. Miami added several players via the transfer portal, including Charles Brantley and Xavier Lucas, to a returning group led by sophomore OJ Frederique Jr. and Damari Brown. Miami needs several of those players to step up and make that group a strength instead of a liability.
Three keys to the season
1. Improve the defense
The Hurricanes’ defense was their biggest weakness last year, and it cost them a shot at their postseason goals. Miami’s biggest task in the offseason was to get more defensive talent onto the roster. UM appeared to do that, bringing in multiple defensive backs and a few new players in the front seven. The Hurricanes have the pieces for a strong defense. Now they have to prove it.
2. Dominate the trenches
Mario Cristobal builds teams to control the line of scrimmage. Entering his fourth year as UM’s coach, it looks like he has a team that can do exactly that. Francis Mauigoa is the star on an offensive line that returns five players who made starts last year (Markel Bell, Anez Cooper, Matthew McCoy, Ryan Rodriguez and Mauigoa), and the Hurricanes added transfer center James Brockermeyer, who started at TCU last year. On the defensive side of the line, Bain leads a unit that also includes returnees Akheem Mesidor, Ahmad Moten and Justin Scott. The group has the talent to torment opposing offenses.
3. Take care of business on the road
The Hurricanes’ two costly regular-season losses last season came on the road to Georgia Tech and Syracuse. UM goes on the road only four times this year, but those four games are crucial. Miami faces FSU on the road in early October, then goes to SMU, Virginia Tech and Pitt in November. The Hurricanes need to win those games.
Three key games
vs. Notre Dame, Aug. 31 OR vs. Florida, Sept. 20
The Hurricanes have two massive home games against rivals in the season’s first months. They open the year against the national runner-up, Notre Dame. Three weeks later, the Gators come down from Gainesville to play UM in a rematch of last year’s Miami blowout. If the Hurricanes want national respect and attention, they need to win one of these games. More importantly, if they lose both games, it would severely damage their case to earn a College Football Playoff at-large spot. If that happens, Miami would have to win the ACC to make the playoffs.
at Florida State, Oct. 4
No matter what state either team is in, this rivalry game is a big deal. The Seminoles had one of their worst seasons ever last year, but they likely will not be as bad again. They would surely love to announce to the rest of the nation that they are on the upswing with an early-season win over their rival. Facing a likely lively crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium, the Hurricanes will have to be on guard for a potential upset.
at Pittsburgh, Nov. 29
Last year, the Hurricanes needed a road win in their final game of the season against a northern conference opponent in order to secure a spot in the ACC title game and a spot in the playoffs. They lost to Syracuse. Will Pittsburgh be the same obstacle this year? It’s impossible to know yet, but the Panthers should be a tough opponent.
