The Miami Hurricanes enter the 2025 college football season with big expectations after nearly breaking into the College Football Playoff in 2024. Their schedule will test them early, starting with a Week 1 showdown with Notre Dame.
With Cam Ward putting up a record-setting season that made him a Heisman Trophy finalist, Miami opened with nine straight wins and had the No. 1 offense in the country. But late-season slip-ups against Georgia Tech and Syracuse meant the Hurricanes would miss the ACC championship game and therefore a shot at their first CFP appearance.
Many of the stars from that explosive offense are gone, chief among them Ward and record-breaking receiver Xavier Restrepo. But coach Mario Cristobal has reloaded with one of the nation’s best crop from the transfer portal, leading to a No. 10 preseason ranking. Stepping in at quarterback is Carson Beck, who helmed the Georgia offense for the past two seasons before an elbow injury caused him to miss out on the Bulldogs’ playoff game. If Beck is back to full health and he can build a connection with Joshisa Trader, Elija Lofton and fellow transfers CJ Daniels (LSU) and Tony Johnson (Cincinnati), UM could challenge Clemson for the ACC title.
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Those hopes would be bolstered if the defense can be more consistent. Miami has plenty of playmakers returning, led by edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe. But while they dominated early and capitalized with turnovers, the defense gave up 28 points or more in seven of their 13 games in 2024. Cornerback O.J. Frederique leads a secondary that’s been retooled through the transfer portal, adding Tennessee’s Jakobe Thomas, Wisconsin’s Xavier Lucas and Jacksonville State’s Zechariah Poyser.
There won’t be much time to work out the kinks. Notre Dame, which played for the national championship last season, comes to Hard Rock Stadium to kick off the season. Then a promising Florida squad comes in three weeks later. Miami’s schedule features a rare two byes in three weeks around a trip to rival Florida State before the stretch run kicks off against Louisville, who played a thriller against the Hurricanes last season.
November starts with a visit to SMU, whom UM could have faced in the ACC championship if not for a stunning loss in the regular-season finale at Syracuse. The ‘Canes will have a chance at revenge when the Orange come the following week. The good news for Miami is the only time it would face preseason favorite Clemson would be in the ACC championship game Dec. 6.
Miami football schedule 2025
Here is Miami’s schedule and results. All times Eastern.
*- ACC game
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami football opens with huge test vs Notre Dame. See the full 2025 schedule
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
