CORAL GABLES – We can now officially say that the Miami Hurricanes are one of the best college football teams in America.

Both the Associated Press and USA Today AFCA Coaches Polls are out, and the ACC program is firmly entrenched in the middle of their preseason national rankings, as Miami is No. 14 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll.

This is a good thing for Miami because it has a chance to shock the world in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game on Saturday, Sept. 4 (3:30 p.m. kickoff; ABC Network) against AP and USA Today Preseason No. 1 Alabama, who is the defending national champion.

If the Hurricanes can find a way to pull off a season-opening upset win over the Crimson Tide, then they will instantly vault into the College Football Playoff and national title conversation. This will be an opportunity of a lifetime for those on the current Miami roster, including the likes of head coach Manny Diaz, graduate senior quarterback D’Eriq King, senior wide receiver Mike Harley Jr., redshirt senior linebacker Zach McCloud, senior safety Amari Carter, and quite a few others.

Miami returns almost all of their starters on both sides of the ball from last season – 10 of 11 starters on offense; nine of 11 starters on defense.

Miami (8-3 final record in 2020) will be one of three teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference represented in the initial poll. The others are Clemson (No. 3 in AP Preseason Poll; No. 2 in USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Preseason Poll) and North Carolina (No. 10 in AP Preseason Poll; No. 9 in USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Preseason Poll). The Hurricanes figure to be in the mix for both the ACC Coastal title and ACC overall title throughout this upcoming season.

PHOTO CREDITS: Miami Athletics