ESPN made its preseason playoff team predictions and bowl projections ahead of the 2024 season.

Here's where Miami is predicted to land by writers Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach.

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The hype train for Miami continues into the start of the season as the Hurricanes had 13 players named to the Senior Bowl Watch List.

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Miami ranked second among ACC schools only behind Florida State with 16 selections.

Plenty of freshmen are making some noise in training camp, but which player will see the field the most in 2024?

Many players are making a case, who makes the biggest impact and why?

From 17 August?

Statistical mega-site Pro Football Focus released its Top 50 players ahead of 2024 season.

39. EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)​

Bain posted the second-best pass-rush grade in 2023 by any Power Five true freshman since PFF began charting college football in 2014. Three of the other players in the top five are currently among the three best players in the NFL at their respective positions, while the other is the best linebacker in college football.

Highest pass-rushing grades by Power Five true freshmen in PFF College era | Since 2014, min. 150 pass-rushing snaps​

46. WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami (FL)​

Restrepo is the most productive returning slot receiver in college football. His 1,074 receiving yards from that alignment in 2023 were the second most among FBS receivers, behind only Virginia’s Malik Washington, who is now in the NFL. The junior finished this past season with an 87.5 PFF overall grade, ranking seventh among Power Five receivers. He is a reliable chain-mover who should be new quarterback Cam Ward’s best friend.

A look right here:

ESPN spoke with 11 recruiting and player personnel staffers across the Power 4 conferences, from winners across the country to the programs with questions and what comes next in the final months of the 2025 cycle this fall.

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ESPN favors the Gators over the Hurricanes for the season opener.

Miami is ranked 19th in both the AP and Coaches Poll.

The Gators are unranked in both polls.

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ESPN named its top 100 players going into the 2024 season and five hurricanes were named to the list. ​

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97. Jalen Rivers​

OL, Miami, Junior
2023 stats: 11 pressures allowed, 2 sacks allowed
2023 ranking: NR

Rivers is widely considered a potential first-round draft pick next year, but for now, he's locking down Miami QBs' blind side. Rivers allowed just 11 pressures and two sacks on 847 snaps at left tackle last season, while posting a 1.9% blown block rate that ranked second among ACC left tackles.

66. Xavier Restrepo​

WR, Miami, Senior
2023 stats: 85 receptions, 1,092 receiving yards, 6 TDs
2023 ranking: NR

Restrepo caught at least five passes in 10 of Miami's 13 games last season, finishing with 85 grabs for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns despite a revolving door at QB. Restrepo was Miami's safety blanket in the passing game, dominating the slot, including three games with at least 11 catches. Restrepo was just the second Miami receiver with at least 1,000 yards in a season in the playoff era.

56. Cam Ward​

QB, Miami, Senior
2023 stats: 3,735 yards, 25 TDs, 5 INTs
2023 ranking: 52

One of the biggest reasons expectations around Miami have skyrocketed is the addition of Ward, one of the most prolific passers in the country over the past several seasons. In two years at Washington State, Ward threw for 6,963 passing yards, 48 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, while adding 13 rushing touchdowns. He expects to do more at Miami.

46. Damien Martinez​

RB, Miami, Junior
2023 stats: 194 carries, 1,185 yards, 9 TDs
2023 ranking: 92

Martinez was the highest-profile player to enter the transfer portal after spring practice, and he fills an obvious need for the Hurricanes heading into a crucial year. Last season at Oregon State, Martinez ran for 1,185 yards with nine touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards a carry. Now, he joins quarterback Cam Ward and a slew of other transfers hoping to be difference-makers for the Canes.

43. Rueben Bain Jr.​

DE, Miami, Sophomore
2023 stats: 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 12.5 TFLs
2023 ranking: 94

Bain had a somewhat slow start to his freshman campaign, managing just 1.5 tackles for loss in his first five games. But when the switch flipped, he was borderline unstoppable. Over his final eight games, Bain racked up 17 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage, a 12% pressure rate, six sacks and 27 pressures -- including nine from the interior.


Miami opens its season on August 31st at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium against the rival Florida Gators.

Right here:

and Miami is in the mix for several here

Updated 2025 Rivals250

Five-Star Countdown: Rankings Week for 2025 class kicks off

Meet the seven new five-stars

Tuesdays with Gorney: Position by position

Rivals Rankings Week: Ten biggest risers in the Rivals250

A look at all the five-stars now in the 2025 class:

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He talks about being a new five-star and more:

https://youtu.be/8gMV9GWGbZE

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Here are some additional notes from scrimmage No. 1:

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Hearing Miami is the clear leader here and a decision could come soon

In ESPN's ACC betting preview, the Hurricanes are receiving some high praise.

The Clemson Tigers are the second pick at +375. Florida State (30-1), Clemson (50-1), and the Miami Hurricanes (40-1) are among the top 15 teams in terms of odds to win the title.

ESPN's Joe Fortenbaugh's favorite: Miami OVER 9.5 wins (+135)​

This is a good buy-low spot on a Hurricanes team that disappointed in a big way last year with a 7-6 record that featured six defeats over the program's final nine games. That collapse motivated head coach Mario Cristobal to hit the portal harder than ever before, and he ended up scoring two highly coveted prizes in Washington State quarterback Cam Ward and Oregon State running back Damien Martinez. This year's schedule sets up incredibly well for a bounce-back season, as the Florida State game takes place in Coral Gables, and the road slate offers up Florida, South Florida, California, Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Syracuse. That's not going to conjure up any nightmares, especially when you consider the fact that the only back-to-back road dates (at California, at Louisville) feature a bye week between them.


Odds provided by ESPN Bet