Anticipation’s running high for the new college football season. Fans and analysts are buzzing, tossing out predictions about which teams will surprise and which ones might stumble.
Two teams in the spotlight? The Miami Hurricanes and the Michigan State Spartans. But they’re drawing attention for pretty different reasons.
Miami looks like a real threat in the ACC this year. Michigan State, meanwhile, is staring down a tough season with a new head coach at the helm.
Let’s take a closer look at what both teams are bringing to the table.
Miami Hurricanes: Strong Contenders for the ACC Title
The Hurricanes came painfully close to a national title last season, falling short against Indiana. Now, with quarterback Carson Beck off to the NFL, they’re hoping Duke transfer Darian Mensah can step in and raise the bar.
Mensah’s stats from last year are hard to ignore: almost 4,000 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and just six picks. That’s the kind of production that could make Miami fans forget Beck pretty quickly.
Offensive Firepower
Miami’s offense is loaded. Key players to keep an eye on:
- Malachi Toney at wide receiver
- Mark Fletcher Jr. at running back
Head coach Mario Cristobal is obsessed with building a strong offensive line, and Miami’s looks solid again this year. That should give Mensah and the rest of the offense plenty of breathing room.
Defensive Strength
The Hurricanes lost some big names on defense to the NFL, especially among the pass rushers. Still, they’ve got young players ready to step in.
The secondary, in particular, is packed with playmakers. If you’re a fan of game-changing defensive backs, this group might be worth watching.
Favorable Schedule
Miami’s schedule breaks in their favor. They dodge SMU, Louisville, and Virginia in conference play, which is huge.
Their toughest road trips are Clemson and maybe North Carolina. But they get Duke and Pittsburgh at home, and they’ll be favored in both.
Last year, Miami dropped a couple of mid-season conference games, including a weird loss to Louisville and a messy one to SMU. Other than that, they pretty much steamrolled the rest of the ACC.
With a friendlier slate this season, Miami’s in a strong spot to make a serious run.
Michigan State: A Season of Uncertainty
Michigan State’s bracing for a rough ride. After parting ways with Jonathan Smith, they brought in Pat Fitzgerald to try and right the ship.
Fitzgerald spent years at Northwestern, but his recent seasons weren’t exactly inspiring. Still, sometimes a fresh start is what a program needs, right?
Coaching Transition
The hire got some folks excited, but there are doubts, too. Fitzgerald’s got experience, but the last few years have been rocky.
The hope is that new leadership can inject some life into the Spartans. It’s a big ask, given where the program’s at right now.
Roster Overhaul
With a new coach comes a new roster, and Michigan State’s seen plenty of turnover. The transfer portal’s been busy, but it’s tough to know how all the new faces will gel.
Honestly, the talent level just isn’t on par with the heavyweights they’ll face. That’s a problem.
Tough Schedule Ahead
Looking at their schedule, it’s brutal. Toledo and Eastern Michigan are the only games you can pencil in as likely wins.
After that? Notre Dame, Michigan, Washington, Oregon—those are likely losses. Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, and UCLA don’t look much easier.
There are a couple of toss-ups against Rutgers and Northwestern. Even those feel like a stretch right now.
All things considered, hitting five wins would be a surprise. It’s shaping up to be a long year in East Lansing.
Conclusion
The Miami Hurricanes and Michigan State Spartans are heading into the next college football season with totally different vibes. Miami looks loaded and could really push for the ACC title this year.
On the other hand, Michigan State’s got a new head coach and, well, they’ve got a lot of work ahead. Their season’s shaping up to be more of a rebuild than a run for glory.
If you’re into sports betting, Miami’s odds to win the ACC actually look pretty decent. They’re likely to be the favorite in every conference matchup, which says a lot about where the program is right now.
Michigan State, though? Betting on them to win more than 4.5 games feels like a stretch, considering their schedule and the uncertainty swirling around their roster.
Want to keep tabs on how things unfold or just geek out over more football analysis? You might want to check out the latest updates and stories over at Fox Sports.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
