Miami Hurricanes finish #18 in final AP poll

It’s the Canes’ first appearance in the final poll in four years.

The Miami Hurricanes’ season is over, and they found themselves in a place they haven’t much over the last several years: ranked.

Miami checked in at #18 in the final AP poll on Tuesday morning, one day after Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 for the national championship.

I think it’s worth noting here that the Canes likely WOULDN’T have cracked the top 10 if they’d actually treated the Pop-Tarts Bowl as a game rather than a scrimmage. The top ten are the same top ten seeded teams from the College Football Playoff. Miami might have had a chance being ranked ahead of Ole Miss, who finished 11th, but I doubt it.

Regardless, it’s the Canes’ first final AP poll appearance since 2020, when they finished #22 after losing the Cheez-It Bowl to Oklahoma State 37-34. Before that, Miami had back to back poll appearances in 2017 (13) and 2016 (20). And before that, you’ve got to go all the way back to 2019 (19). What a rough century its been for Canes football.

Still, it was an exciting season thanks to Cam Ward and the best offense in football. We’ll see if Mario Cristobal and Corey Hetherman can help put together a competent defense this offseason for a step forward next season in Coral Gables.