The Miami Hurricanes are coming off a disappointing end to their 2017-2018 season after a hot start. They’ll look to carry the early season success from a year ago into this new season.
This past season was the most successful Hurricanes team of the last decade. Mark Richt and company are clearly building something down in Coral Gables. However, to truly take the next step the Canes will need to take another program leap and enter the upper echelon of college football once again.
Miami started last season with ten straight wins. None of those ten wins was more impressive than a 41-8 beatdown of the then-No. 3 Notre Dame. Taking down one of the program’s most historic rivals, at home, in that fashion took this last season of Miami football over the top.
Swagger returned to Miami after that win and fans saw no reason this team could not enter the BCS conversation. A phenomenon, the Turnover Chain, put the nation on notice that this Hurricanes team could play with anyone. It would come down to the final weeks of the season to truly determine the success of this team.
The Hurricanes entered the final regular season week undefeated. That unblemished record did not carry over into the postseason, as Richt and quarterback Malik Rosier struggled in a loss at Pittsburgh. Miami finished with three straight losses. Clemson outclassed the Canes in the ACC Championship game and dashed any BCS hopes that were left. In the Capital One Orange Bowl, the Wisconsin defense and running game proved too much.
Ending a season with three straight losses after peaking at number two in the country was disappointing. However, this is a young team that lost very little from a season ago. The hope is there in Miami that the 2018-19 version could be even better.