While their program is a nine-time conference champion, it has been two decades since the last one for Miami. However, that streak of 20 years could come to an end this season according to Greg McElroy.
McElroy took a lot at several teams that could end conference title droughts during a recent episode of ‘Always College Football.’ He began by noting the Hurricanes’ history as it has been since they were in their last league that they won a conference crown. That leaves them with none since moving leagues in 2004, which, at the time, no one would have guessed.
“The Miami Hurricanes – they have not won a conference title since 2003. That was in the Big East. It has been quite a while since they’ve even been in the Big East, let alone having won an ACC title,” said McElroy. “When they got to the ACC, people were saying, ‘Oh my goodness! Miami? They’re just going to run away with it every year! It’ll be Miami and Florida State every year for the ACC title game!’ That never materialized.”
It’s not even that Miami has yet to win an ACC Championship. It’s that they’ve only ever made one appearance in it since joining the conference as they made it in 2017. That ended up being one of their three straight losses to end the season after starting at 10-0 as they took a 38-3 defeat to Clemson.
However, the ‘Canes could certainly make a case this year in the ACC.
For one, Miami already made a two-win improvement between their first and second years under Mario Cristobal. For two, they rate well enough in returning production while also bringing in a Top-20 portal class, including QB Cam Ward, RB Damien Martinez, DL Simeon Barrow Jr., and DE Tyler Baron. Finally, for three, the ACC isn’t as strong as it has been in recent years, specifically at the top.
All that could now work in the Hurricanes favor of finally winning an ACC title in McElroy’s opinion.
“If you look at what they have on paper this year? Granted, I love Florida State, I love Clemson. But I also love Miami,” McElroy said. “This could definitely be the year that that long drought without a conference title comes to an end.”
Miami has had their share of letdowns of late. That’s whether in regards to the postseason or even the last six years of .500 or so football. This could be the end of that, though, with the Hurricanes having a very real chance to appear in Charlotte and win their first-ever ACC Championship.
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