The 2024 season for the University of Miami Hurricanes football team has been marked by a mixture of highs and lows, as the program navigates through the challenges of competing at the highest level of college football. After a rollercoaster 2023 campaign, many anticipated the Hurricanes would make significant strides in 2024, building on a new era under head coach Mario Cristobal. As we assess whether this season has been a success, it’s important to consider several facets of the team’s performance, talent development, and long-term potential.
1. Program Stability and Leadership Under Mario Cristobal
Mario Cristobal’s tenure as head coach of Miami has been under intense scrutiny. After taking over a team in disarray, the expectations were high for a quick turnaround. The 2024 season marked another critical juncture in Cristobal’s rebuilding project. Miami’s leadership, especially Cristobal’s recruitment abilities and his focus on both sides of the line of scrimmage, showed significant improvement.
Cristobal has long been lauded for his ability to recruit, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines. With the addition of some highly ranked recruits in the 2024 class, Miami’s future looks promising, even if the 2024 season didn’t live up to championship expectations. Leadership-wise, the Hurricanes have not yet reached elite status, but there is a foundation of stability, discipline, and competitiveness that shows promise.
While Miami didn’t make a major splash in the rankings, it’s clear that Cristobal’s emphasis on culture, toughness, and recruiting has the program moving in the right direction, even if it’s not quite at the level of their former glory years. There’s a sense of patience around Cristobal, and the investment in a steady program should pay off in the coming seasons.
2. Recruiting Continues to Be a Strength
One of the most significant factors in determining whether a season is deemed a success is the program’s recruiting success. Cristobal has continually worked on bringing top-tier talent to Coral Gables, and 2024 is no exception. The Hurricanes’ recruiting class for the year was highly ranked, with significant additions to both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Miami secured high-profile recruits at key positions, including quarterbacks, wide receivers, and linemen. With the recruiting class bolstered by several 5-star prospects, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, the Hurricanes are well-positioned to compete with the likes of Clemson and Florida State in the ACC. These additions may not have immediately translated into on-field success, but they provide a strong indication that Miami is capable of returning to national relevance sooner rather than later.
Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football, and Miami has made marked improvements here. With Cristobal’s connections and Miami’s strategic position in a recruiting hotbed, the Hurricanes’ future could be very bright as they continue to develop their young talent.
3. Offensive Growth and the Quarterback Position
Miami’s offense in 2024 was a significant focus for improvement. Quarterback play, historically a strength at Miami, has been a point of frustration in recent years, and it was clear that finding a reliable leader at the position was a priority. In 2024, Miami showcased some improvement, but the lack of elite quarterback play continues to be a limiting factor.
Jaden Rashada, a former 5-star recruit, had flashes of brilliance throughout the season but struggled with consistency. The offense, overall, took steps forward, but at times was bogged down by missed opportunities, poor decision-making, and lack of rhythm. While the offensive line also improved in 2024, allowing for more time and protection, Miami still couldn’t consistently put together full games on offense.
However, the progress made in the passing game, with improved depth at wide receiver and tighter offensive play-calling, showed that there was a foundation to build on. The running game, led by a solid backfield, also made strides. The quarterback position remains the team’s most significant question mark moving forward. If Rashada (or another option) can develop into a consistent leader, Miami’s offensive future could shine.
4. Defense and Physicality: A Pillar of Success
On the defensive side, Miami has always prided itself on a tradition of hard-hitting, fast, and aggressive play. The 2024 defense was no exception. The Hurricanes ranked among the top in the ACC for total defense, with a particularly strong showing in their front seven. The defensive line, which is a hallmark of Cristobal’s program, showed vast improvement with better penetration into opposing backfields and disruption in passing lanes.
The secondary was also strong in 2024, though it was vulnerable against elite passing teams. Miami’s defense took significant steps forward, and the team showed more discipline and cohesion under defensive coordinator Lance Guidry. There’s optimism that this unit, with its strong linebacker core and solid defensive line, could be a national powerhouse in the next couple of seasons, provided it continues to develop.
One of the notable successes for the defense in 2024 was its ability to consistently create turnovers. Miami has always been a team that thrives off defensive aggression, and this was evident once again. The team’s ability to keep opponents out of the end zone and generate key stops in critical moments should be considered one of the top reasons why the season was considered a relative success despite offensive inconsistencies.
5. Inconsistent Offensive Line Play
While Miami showed improvement in some areas of its offensive line, this unit still struggles with consistency. The offensive line in 2024 did a better job of giving quarterbacks time to throw, but they remained prone to breakdowns, particularly against high-caliber defensive lines. The lack of sustained offensive line dominance, which has plagued the team for years, continued to hinder Miami’s ability to fully capitalize on offensive opportunities.
Cristobal’s focus on bolstering the trenches is clear, but it will take time before this group becomes the imposing, elite unit that Miami fans expect. The improvement was noticeable but not yet sufficient to make the Hurricanes a true offensive powerhouse in the ACC.
6. Competitive Performance in Key Games
Looking at Miami’s 2024 season, it’s clear that the Hurricanes were competitive in some of their toughest matchups. While they did not always come out on top in high-stakes games, they were able to hang with some of the best teams in the ACC and even outperformed expectations in a few games. These close losses, while disappointing, showcased the program’s ability to compete with top-tier teams.
Miami’s performance against teams like Florida State and Clemson, though ultimately falling short, showed resilience and improvement. The Hurricanes fought hard, but lacked the final execution that is needed to close out games against elite competition. These games, however, should serve as a valuable learning experience for both players and coaches. They highlighted the areas that still need attention and improvement but also showcased that Miami is not far from returning to its dominant ways.
7. Player Development and Depth
Miami’s 2024 season featured some solid individual performances, particularly from underclassmen, which will provide a foundation for future success. Cristobal has made it clear that developing players into NFL-caliber athletes is a priority, and the improvement of players like Jaden Rashada, running back Mark Fletcher, and defensive stars like Jayden Wayns indicates a well-rounded approach to player development.
The program’s depth is also something that showed improvement in 2024. Miami is slowly building a team capable of competing in both the short and long term. As the younger players continue to develop and gain experience, they will form the core of the next great Miami teams.
8. The Long-Term Outlook: What’s Next for the Hurricanes?
Looking ahead, the future of Miami football remains promising. The 2024 season, while not a championship year, was a necessary step in the rebuilding process. The Hurricanes have the recruiting talent and coaching infrastructure in place to be a force in the coming seasons. However, consistency, particularly at the quarterback position, and the continued development of both sides of the line of scrimmage will be key for Miami to elevate itself back into the elite tier of college football.
Cristobal’s focus on both recruiting and physicality will eventually pay off, as long as the team can maintain its trajectory. If the program can continue to develop underclassmen and make key improvements in areas like quarterback play and offensive line strength, Miami could be back to competing for ACC championships in the very near future.
