Miami Hurricanes' predicted finish in 2025 preseason ACC media poll revealed by the conference on Wednesday

Clemson was the overwhelming favorite in the top spot, receiving 167 first place votes. Miami was second with 7 votes, followed by SMU and Georgia Tech in the three and four spots with 2 votes each. The only other team with more votes was, surprisingly, Florida State with 4. The Noles are seventh in the media poll, which would be a giant leap from last year's 2-10 disaster. Virginia Tech was the only other team to receive a first-place vote with one.

In addition to Ward, Miami lost fellow First Team All-American Xavier Restrepo, as well as Damien Martinez, Jacolby George, Isaiah Horton, Elijah Arroyo, and multiple starters on the offensive line. Miami brings in Carson Beck, who's getting largely undervalued this offseason by many, but big question marks remain about who can step up among his pass catchers.

The Hurricanes should be significantly better on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the secondary, which single-handedly cost the program an ACC title game appearance and its first-ever trip to the College Football Playoff last season. Miami landed some crucial players in the offseason in Wisconsin CB Xavier Lucas and Jacksonville State S Zechariah Poyser, as well as a new defensive coordinator and new cornerback and safety coaches.

We'll see soon enough if Miami can one-up those predictions and reach the pinnacle of the ACC for the first time ever this year.