Where You (Preseason) Ranking The Canes?

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One of the worst things about being in the ACC is that if we lose one game we will most likely not get a top 4 seed. They will say our schedule is too weak to justify putting us ahead of the other 1 loss teams.
 
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Honest answers only (I know so many of you are going to flood the comments with "No. 1!!!!!!!")

I've got us realistically at 5th or 6th (depending on how you feel about Georgia). The teams ahead of them:

Ohio State
Oregon
Texas
Indiana
Notre Dame

The only reason I don't have them ranked higher is because I think we are losing truly ELITE players at edge and on the offensive line. Mario and crew are doing a good job of reloading, but replacing the best two edge players in the country AND the best offensive tackle in the country (in addition to a bunch of other really good players) is no small task.

This isn't to say I think Miami can't beat those teams. I think they'll be able to hang with anyone. But those teams look more complete, at least on paper.
We just watched a generational talent in Bain. Mesidor was also elite. I can hope with the talent Miami has brought in the defense will be stout. I'm concerned about tackle for certain and chemistry. I'd say to start 8th or 9th. If things gel this is a top 4 team. It's gonna take some real off-season work.
 
Miami should be in everyone's top 3. That ain't being no homer, that is actually looking at what returns and the culture and momentum.

Miami
ND
UGA

in no particular order and then you got the rest.

I question anyone that has Oregon in their top 5. I don't trust you at all because Simp Lanning and his finesse squad will get curbed stomped by anyone that plays like the 3 above.

That ND game is going to be a great one November the 7th and might be just a rematch of the title game. ND playing for being left out for Bama and us with unfinished business.

Miami vs ND in Las Vegas folks. The most tuned in sporting event ever Monday, January 25, 2027
 
Not trying to be petty about the natty we just lost, but why do so many people think Indiana is going to be a top 3 team? Cig brought a lot of leadership with him from JMU (players and coaches), a lot of committed older players and a QB who hit his stride and won the Heisman and then the natty. Also, they were lucky in the way you have to be in order to win the natty.

I don't think they'll be a bad team this coming year - they'll be a very good and disciplined team - but so many of the things that led to them winning the natty will not be in place and the lucky stuff only lasts for so long until a team comes back to earth.

I see Indiana winning 10 this year and having a solid year, but to expect that they will just roll to another natty is a tad unrealistic IMO.
 
One of the worst things about being in the ACC is that if we lose one game we will most likely not get a top 4 seed. They will say our schedule is too week to justify putting us ahead of the other 1 loss teams.
Have you seen IU schedule it makes ours look elite , almost guaranteed to be 6-0 heading in there oSU game
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We have the 9th best odds right now on DK

Indiana +700
Texas +700
Ohio State +700
Notre Dame +700
Oregon +900
UGA +1100
LSU +1300
Texas Tech +1500
Miami +1800
A&M +1800
Alabama +2200

Nobody else is better than 35/1, with those teams being USC, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma. Michigan is 40/1 then Penn State and everyone else is 50/1 or longer.

Gators are 70/1
FSU is 120/1, same odds as Iowa, Washington, and South Carolina.
 
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Honest answers only (I know so many of you are going to flood the comments with "No. 1!!!!!!!")

I've got us realistically at 5th or 6th (depending on how you feel about Georgia). The teams ahead of them:

Ohio State
Oregon
Texas
Indiana
Notre Dame

The only reason I don't have them ranked higher is because I think we are losing truly ELITE players at edge and on the offensive line. Mario and crew are doing a good job of reloading, but replacing the best two edge players in the country AND the best offensive tackle in the country (in addition to a bunch of other really good players) is no small task.

This isn't to say I think Miami can't beat those teams. I think they'll be able to hang with anyone. But those teams look more complete, at least on paper.
Hoping bottom of top 10 for motivational purposes but realistically speaking somewhere in the 5-7 range.
 
We just watched a generational talent in Bain. Mesidor was also elite. I can hope with the talent Miami has brought in the defense will be stout. I'm concerned about tackle for certain and chemistry. I'd say to start 8th or 9th. If things gel this is a top 4 team. It's gonna take some real off-season work.
Thankfully the unit with the most concern happens to be where we have the best coaches in america for..
 
With a top 5 portal qb and several of our upperclassmen staying, we’ll be top 10 for sure.

I would argue we should be top 4 but as OP stated, losing arguably the top 2 DE (1st rounders) and the best OL (1st rounder) will undoubtedly place us in prove it mode.
 
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Miami should be in everyone's top 3. That ain't being no homer, that is actually looking at what returns and the culture and momentum.

Miami
ND
UGA

in no particular order and then you got the rest.

I question anyone that has Oregon in their top 5. I don't trust you at all because Simp Lanning and his finesse squad will get curbed stomped by anyone that plays like the 3 above.

That ND game is going to be a great one November the 7th and might be just a rematch of the title game. ND playing for being left out for Bama and us with unfinished business.

Miami vs ND in Las Vegas folks. The most tuned in sporting event ever Monday, January 25, 2027
I would replace UGA with Ohio State; they have a loaded roster still and Sayin is a year more experienced with dynamic playmakers.

As someone mentioned earlier, I don't trust Texas as a top 5 program until they prove something worth a ****.

I don't have faith in UGA's offense if Bobo is still calling plays and Searles is coaching the OL.

Indiana should be ranked #1 by default of being the reigning champ but are more likely top 5. Pressure is on Hoover to keep that ship afloat - luckily for him and that program Cignetti has stacked the deck to ensure they don't ever play anyone worth a **** in the OOC portion of their schedule.

ND - despite losing Love and Price - are as talented of a team as you'll see in America. They should definitely be top 3.

All that to say...

1. Indiana
2. Miami
3a. Ohio State
3b. ND
5a. Ole Miss only if Chambliss is back
5b. UGA or LSU (based solely on the talent on the roster and what Kiffin is bringing in)
 
It depends on how the OL gels after the 1st month IMO. We have a lot of talent and experience on the roster on both sides of the ball, but usually there's a correlation with OL starts and success. With our schedule 10-11 wins should be a given,
 
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