Miami Hurricanes Push Toward CFB Elite in ESPN’s Latest FPI Rankings

Before exploring what ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) predicts for Miami, it’s helpful to understand what FPI actually signifies. Developed by ESPN, this system evaluates team strength and projects future performance using data such as returning players, past results, recruiting rankings, and coaching experience. It estimates how many points a team’s offense, defense, and special teams would contribute or detract against an average FBS opponent.

According to ESPN, its FPI system closely resembles the one Vegas uses to set its lines. Based on that model, Miami received a 17.5 FPI rating, the ninth-best rating in the country.

Additionally, Miami holds the highest rating in the ACC, sitting 0.2 points above Clemson and 5.4 points ahead of third-ranked SMU. Nationally, Miami’s rating remains strong, holding the previously mentioned position as the ninth-best rating in the country. They are ranked just ahead of Tennessee, Clemson, and LSU, while trailing just behind Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and Oregon.

Now, the big question Canes fans are all wondering: Can Miami live up to the top-10 hype, or is this rating setting them up for disappointment?

Miami faced significant turnover this offseason. The Hurricanes lost key contributors to the NFL draft, including QB Cam Ward, TE Elijah Arroyo, RB Damien Martinez, DE Tyler Baron, and kicker Andres Borregales. Additionally, their top six receivers departed via the portal or undrafted free agency.

Still, head coach Mario Cristobal responded with a strong haul in the transfer portal and has young talent prepared to step up due to several strong recruiting classes.

Miami’s roster strengths encompass some of the most critical elements in football: their offensive and defensive lines, their quarterback room, and their defensive backfield.

Their offensive line features standout players like right tackle Francis Mauigoa, PFF’s second-best tackle for the 2026 class, promising transfer center James Brockermeyer, and right guard Anez Cooper, whom Cristobal has noted may have delivered the team's best performance during Miami’s spring football period.

On the defensive line, EDGE Reuben Bain Jr. leads the charge. After a stellar freshman campaign in 2023, an injury prevented him from taking the next step many anticipated in 2024. However, if fully healthy in 2025, many believe Bain will be considered one of the best edge rushers in the country. Lining up opposite Bain is Akheem Mesidor, who was one of Miami’s top defensive contributors in 2024 and earned ALL-ACC Honorable Mention recognition with 32 tackles, 9 TFL’s, and 5.5 sacks.

In the secondary, Miami focused heavily on the transfer portal, bringing in four exceptionally talented transfers: Xavier Lucas, Zechariah Poyser, Ethan O’Connor, and Charles Brantley. All four were rated as four-star recruits by 247Sports, with Lucas and Poyser ranked as the second and fifth highest-rated transfer defensive backs in the portal for 2025, respectively. With new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman on board, the Canes are relying on this revamped unit to spark a turnaround from last year’s disappointing defensive performance.

However, as everyone knows, all these key roster pieces mean little without talent at the most crucial position: quarterback. Miami is betting big on former Georgia Bulldog Carson Beck, who signed with Miami back in January. Once considered a top NFL prospect, Beck fell out of the QB1 conversation during a disappointing 2024 season that ended with a UCL tear in the SEC Championship.

Still, Beck has shown enough flashes during his college career to believe he can return to and improve upon his 2023 form behind Miami’s talented offensive line and skilled pass-catching group.

Naturally, this is all hypothetical. FPI’s optimism may prove unfounded if Miami’s transfer haul fails to gel or Beck can’t rebound. However, given this program’s rich history and the talent on the roster, there’s reason to believe the Canes can reclaim their former status as a national championship-caliber program. A return to the top certainly isn’t guaranteed, but it’s far from a pipe dream.