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CBS Sports writer projects Miami as early #1 team

DMoney

DMoney

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1. Miami​

There's no recency bias here coming out of the Hurricanes' national championship appearance. Mario Cristobal has another Infinity Gauntlet-like roster, landing his own Thanos of sorts after Duke quarterback Darian Mensah's recent transfer. Pairing Mensah with superstar wideout Malachi Toney means the Hurricanes should have an explosive attack for the third consecutive year in the passing game under OC Shannon Dawson. Outgoing pass rusher Rueben Bain's recent admission that Miami's defensive line "might be better" without him is quite worrisome for the rest of the ACC.

www.cbssports.com

Way-too-early 2026 College Football Playoff bracket projection

With an emphasis on schedules and roster talent, here's a look at next season's projected 12-team field
www.cbssports.com www.cbssports.com
 
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Season 17 Wow GIF by America's Got Talent
 
Overall 25 vs 26
25 was a player led team. Mauinoa and Bain were incredible leaders. As were big 73, agent 0 and Jakobe T. Team had a rare combo of heart and talent… I will forever love the 25 team. Here are my concerns with ‘26:

Why will we be culturally similar?

Offense
1) OL - national championship level? Watching our highlights it was truly amazing. Props to @DMoney who banged the drum for that unit all year in 25.

2) TE - mensah loves him some TE and I don’t know if we have the guy(s). Happy to never see Bauman again.


Defense
1) Jakobe Thomas - physicality and eraser. Was a bit of a liability at times on pass coverage.

2) Agent 0 - championship heart and leadership. Often times an eraser. How do we replace him?

3) Bain and Messidor - Not as worried pass rush but holy **** they crushed it against the run. Took a lot of pressure off th 2nd and third level
 
frank1886 said:
There isn’t a scenario where Miami and ND finish 1 & 2. This is how you know these lists are full of sh**
Click to expand...
its playoff seed projections. I think its possible as long as there is not more than one undefeated team and one of them is the miami ND winner.
 
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Interestingly, the last team to start the preseason as #1 and finished #1, without changing was 2004 USC.

2017 Alabama was the next closest, but lost to Auburn in the final reg season game of the year, although winning the natty afterwards.
 
DMoney said:

1. Miami​

There's no recency bias here coming out of the Hurricanes' national championship appearance. Mario Cristobal has another Infinity Gauntlet-like roster, landing his own Thanos of sorts after Duke quarterback Darian Mensah's recent transfer. Pairing Mensah with superstar wideout Malachi Toney means the Hurricanes should have an explosive attack for the third consecutive year in the passing game under OC Shannon Dawson. Outgoing pass rusher Rueben Bain's recent admission that Miami's defensive line "might be better" without him is quite worrisome for the rest of the ACC.

www.cbssports.com

Way-too-early 2026 College Football Playoff bracket projection

With an emphasis on schedules and roster talent, here's a look at next season's projected 12-team field
www.cbssports.com www.cbssports.com
Click to expand...
I actually do think that Miami is the #1 coming into the season (although they won't be ranked there), so I agree there and I could see ND recovering from the loss in South Bend from us and still being in the top 4, but I don't know that they'll be able to schooch up to #2 with the rest of their schedule being weak as it is.

I really think that recency bias is playing a huge role in having Indiana as a top 4 team. What they did this past year is historic (they're maybe the 10th best natty champ out of the last 10 years, but I digress...), but Cignetti isn't actually Gandalf. What they did was "magical" but now, they get the joys of being on everyone's radar and getting everyone's best game. Every team will be able to make their year by beating Indiana. Things fell the right way and the conditions were right for Cig to do what he did, kudos to him, but it isn't realistic to think that they'll get a redo on another magical year like this last one. They will be solid, but will come back to earth.

They will be top 3 by the end of the first 6 games because they play literally no one (might even spend some time at #1), but after that, they have some tough outs and by the end of it. I don't think they'll even play in the B10 CHGM although I do think they'll sneak into the first round of the playoffs and depending on what overrated SEC team faces them, may even get to the quarterfinals, but I will be shocked if they get further.
 
So glad Mensah is here now so he can gel and get reps in with the guys in Spring. Media seems to keep focusing on Toney & Barkate lol Vaughn and Jacobs are pretty darn good as well. One of my buddies is a Scar fan and he told me how bad Sellers and the offense was last yr, Jacobs could have easily hit 700-800 yards with a competent team. Looking forward to seeing the offense, not super worried about Oline, even in Mario's first yr with lesser talent the trenches improved as soon as he took over.
 
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frank1886 said:
There isn’t a scenario where Miami and ND finish 1 & 2. This is how you know these lists are full of sh**
Click to expand...

Yet another annual contrived elevation of Notre Dame football - I've seen this I think - all my life.

They'll fall flat on their asc at some point this season - maybe twice. They never seem to rise to their reputation.

Taint and Notre Dame - I detest.
 
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