The 'U': Pretender or Contender?

The era of Miami football is back! The University of Miami Hurricanes are going into their week 3 matchup against Virginia Tech with a 2-0 record, and are ranked 9th in the AP poll. The Canes bring a solid offense to the grudge match in Blacksburg, leading the ACC in pass efficiency, passing offense, and total offense. Their offense has put up ludicrous numbers against ranked opponents (Florida State and Georgia Tech), but let's not forget about their defense which has been able to hold its own. Last week against Georgia Tech, the Canes' defense held the Yellow Jackets in check from the opening kickoff. The Yellow Jackets, who are known for their rushing ability, were held to 95 yards on the ground, and a total of 11 negative plays. The Canes' defense last year gave up 472 rushing yards and 41 total points to the same Georgia Tech team. One year has proven to have made a difference for this Miami defense.

The next couple of weeks will truly tell America where Miami stands in the national championship picture. Are the Canes pretenders or contenders? Back-to-back games against Virginia Tech (ranked 11th) and Oklahoma (ranked 10th) will definitely challenge the heart and toughness of this young Miami football team. If Miami goes 4-0 or 3-1 in the first four games of this season, I can see them having an outside shot at a large bowl bid come January. Just losing one game, though, automatically takes them out of the national championship picture with the likes of Florida, Texas, and Alabama standing in their way.