The 2025 ACC preseason media poll places the Miami Hurricanes second in the predicted order of finish, just behind Clemson. Miami secured **2,679 points and earned 7 first‑place votes**, held by media representatives—while Clemson dominated voting with 167 first‑place votes and 3,083 points in total
🏈 What This Means for Miami Hurricanes Football
* **High expectations ahead of the season.** Being slotted No. 2 reflects strong confidence from the media in Miami’s roster and coaching, especially after notable offseason upgrades like the transfer of QB Carson Beck and a top‑15 national recruiting class ([On3][1]).
* **Real ACC contender.** Earning seven first‑place votes (second only to Clemson) signals that while not the consensus pick, many believe Miami has a legitimate shot at the ACC title—though Clemson remains the favorite by a substantial margin ([On3][1], [CBSSports.com][2]).
* **Opportunity — and pressure.** Miami’s projected finish positions them squarely in the conference’s elite tier alongside Clemson and SMU. They’ll need to deliver consistently to meet those expectations. Tough early games against Notre Dame, Florida, and Florida State (plus ACC matchups vs. SMU and Louisville) will be key tests ([From The Rumble Seat][3]).
A pivotal season to break through.** The Hurricanes’ historical underperformance in ACC play adds weight to this ranking — they’ve yet to win the conference, and media skepticism remains about whether talent and high expectations will translate into results ([From The Rumble Seat][3], [On3][1]).
🧠 Bottom Line
While Clemson continues to stand above the rest, Miami’s presence at No. 2 with multiple first‑place votes highlights legitimate national promise — and considerable pressure. The season looms large as either a chance for Miami to finally ascend to ACC prominence or another chapter of unmet expectations.
[1]: https://www.on3.com/news/2025-acc-preseason-media-poll-predicted-order-of-finish-champions-revealed-clemson/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “2025 ACC Preseason Media Poll: Predicted order of finish, Champions revealed”
[2]: https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/acc-predicted-order-of-finish-2025-clemson-picked-to-win-consecutive-titles-over-miami-smu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “ACC predicted order of finish 2025: Clemson picked to win …”
[3]: https://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/2025/7/29/24443115/100-days-to-kickoff-acc-contender-miami?utm_source=chatgpt.com “100 Days to Kickoff: ACC Contender Miami”