247Sports writer ranks Miami as a sleeper for the 2024-25 CFB playoffs

Thanks to a two-deep that rivals any of this month’s preseason top 10, Miami has a squad talented enough to get to win the ACC and get to the playoff. It can happen. However, that’s easier said than done for a program that’s underachieved for a decade-plus, but that’s the expectation for Mario Cristobal in his third campaign. The defensive front is an obvious strength and the combination of portal purchases Cam Ward and Damien Martinez refaced this team offensively with maximum firepower.

How Miami performs out of the gate is vitally important to postseason hopes. The Hurricanes open at Florida, play Group of Five champ hopeful USF a few weeks later and end the opening month with a league clash against Virginia Tech. That’s two sleepers along with an in-state rival before two games against more-respected foes (Louisville and Florida State). Crumbling under pressure is a possibility for the Hurricanes given what’s happened the last two years with sizable expectations, but the 2024 team has a different build and Cristobal knows he has to win — now.

Miami added the cycle’s No. 1 available running back (Damien Martinez) and wide receiver (Sam Brown). That duo adds to what projects as an absolutely loaded offense that will feature the nation’s eight-leading passer from a year ago (Ward), a 1,000-yard runner (Martinez) a trio of 800-plus yard receivers (Brown, Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George) and what’s considered one of the best offensive lines in the ACC. What was already a top-25 Miami offense should take a leap in 2024 due to those transfer additions.

The Hurricanes also rebooted their offensive lineman with grabbing Zach Carpenter out of the portal to fill Matt Lee’s shoes from Indiana and this is just a little of what the portal as cam to Miami.

Cam Ward has also given odds to win the Heisman trophy.

And this is not even counting the newcomers from the 2024 class, JoJo Trader, Marquise Lightfoot, Armando Blount just to name a few dogs that are coming into this season as true-freshman.

Miami also got better on defense. The Hurricanes added one of the cycle’s top available defensive tackles (Michigan State’s Simeon Barrow), Louisville starting linebacker Jaylin Alderman and one of the top cornerbacks in the G-5 with Dyoni Hill from Marshall. Miami is still in pursuit of other impact players for 2024 – like four-star edge transfer Tyler Baron.

Miami is also returning star linebacker Kiko Maugoia and star defensive All-ACC true freshman Rueben Bain Jr. to the team.

On Tuesday afternoon the Hurricanes went and got Tyler Baron to add to their defensive line which is absolute amazing get he is an experienced starter in the SEC.

So these Miami Hurricanes coaches are not getting guys that would just be a fill in for that position, no, the Hurricanes coaching staff is getting top dogs and all will probably make a instant impact at Miami. With the addition of Baron to Miami that made the Hurricanes one of the mot dangerous defensive lines we will probably see in 2024.

What do you all think? Do you all think Miami will be a college football playoff contender team let us know.