2025 Hurricane Football Preseason Report

Miami Head Coach Mario Cristobal will be entering his fourth season at the helm when the Hurricanes host Notre Dame at Hard Rock Stadium at 7:30 on Sunday, August 31.

The clash between the two preseason-ranked top ten teams will be televised nationally on ABC networks.

In Cristobal’s first season at Miami in 2022, the Canes finished 5-7, losing three of their last four and finishing 3-5 in the ACC. Miami showed some promise in 2023 with an overall record of 7-5, but again faltered late as they lost four of their last five and again went 3-5 in ACC Conference play. The Canes showed vast improvement in 2024 but, for the third consecutive year, slipped up late in the season.

Miami opened the campaign in Gainesville and routed the Gators 41-17. The Canes went on to win eight more on the trot for a 9-0 start that included wins against Virginia Tech, at Cal, and Louisville, and a very impressive 36-14 takedown of the Florida State Seminoles.

On 11/9/24, a 5-4 Georgia Tech squad ran roughshod over the 9-0 Hurricanes with 271 rushing yards and pulled off a 28-23 upset victory.

Miami went to 10-1 the following weekend with a 42-14 home win over Wake Forest. Next up was at Syracuse with everything on the line. A win would put the Canes in the ACC Championship game and all but guarantee a spot in the 12-team College National Championship Playoffs.

Miami got off to a great start, taking a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter on a Cam Ward to Elijah Arroyo 3-yard TD pass. The Syracuse Orange did not give up. Two second-quarter TDs put the score at 21-14 when the halftime whistle was sounded. Thirty-nine seconds after the break, it was 21-21 on a Kyle McCord to Trebor Pena 25-yard TD throw.

From there it was 28-21 UM, 28-28, before Syracuse took their first lead, 35-28, on a 56-yard fumble recovery return for a TD by ‘Cuse linebacker Devin Grant.

UM running back Damien Martinez ran it in from the two to tie it at 35 two minutes into the fourth quarter. Syracuse responded immediately, going 75 yards on nine plays for a 42-35 lead with 9:16 remaining.

The Hurricanes drove downfield and had a first and goal on the 8-yard line. On second and goal, Miami wide receiver Jacolby George was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty that put Miami back on the Syracuse 23.

On fourth and goal from the 10 with 3:42 remaining, Miami chose to kick a field goal, hoping they could stop Syracuse without a first down and get the ball back while down 42-38. The Canes’ strategy failed as Syracuse running back LeQuint Allen ran for 11, 7, and 4 yards on the next three plays, and the Orange ran out the clock for a well-deserved win.

The loss took the Canes out of both ACC and National Championship contention.

The 10-2 Hurricanes were relegated to the Pop Tarts Bowl, where it was more of the same against Iowa State. Up 38-28 against the Cyclones midway through the third quarter, Miami surrendered a last-minute TD and fell 42-41.

The Canes went from 9-0 with total control of their own destiny to 10-3 after losing three of their last four.

In 2024, Miami led the nation in nearly every important offensive statistic. They were #1 in scoring per game with a 43.9-point per game average. They were #1 in yards per game with 537.2, #1 in yards per play with 7.57, and #1 in third-down success rate with a 56.25% first-down conversion rate.

Miami’s failures did not lie with the offense. Offensive Coordinator Shannon Dawson was named a semifinalist for the Broyles Award honoring the nation’s top assistant coach in 2024.

The defense was the obvious culprit. Miami was #68 in points allowed per game with 25.3 (30.8 in ACC play). The Canes gave up 40-plus points in three games, including the last two (42 to both Syracuse and Iowa State).

Changes were needed and changes were made. The 2024 Defensive Coordinator Lance Guidry and all but one of his assistant defensive coaches were fired. Defensive Line Coach and NFL Hall of Fame member Jason Taylor is the only defensive coach returning.

Corey Hetherman, who last season turned the Minnesota Gophers defense completely around, is the new Defensive Coordinator. Hetherman is known for his aggressive style of relentless pressure defense. He has brought aboard like-minded defensive position coaches.

Hopes are high in Coral Gables. As disappointing as the end of last season was, realistically, both the Syracuse and Iowa State games could have gone Miami’s way.

The season is only sixteen days away. In the 8/22 edition of the News Leader, Canes Corner will focus on what’s new in Hurricane Football, and the 8/29 edition will be all about the home opener against Notre Dame.

That’s it for now, be well all, and go Canes.