The biggest difference between this team and the 2017 team (besides the obvious quarterback) is that this team can beat anyone. I’m not saying they would but this 2024 team would give any of the other top ranked teams a **** of a battle. The 2017 team was fraudulent. A good but not great Clemson team with Kelly Bryant at quarterback beat our doors off in the ACC championship game. We got whipped by Wisconsin in our bowl game our big win over Notre Dame was because they turned it over four times (including a pick six) and they refused to bring a safety into the box and allowed a very average rushing team to run all over them.
We had an exciting, opportunistic defense and a knack for pulling off miracle finishes. Our average margin of victory was only 9 points. For perspective, this year it’s 25.
This year’s team has a bad habit of playing with its food a little too much. We get too cute on offense and too sloppy on defense and it’s made for too many close games but I always feel like we’re in control even when we’re losing. No team has even come close to out gaining us in yardage. Even the games that were close weren’t close statistically.
Lastly, there’s nobody else that looks totally unbeatable. Could this year’s Miami team hold up against an be of those all time Alabama powerhouse teams? Or Even some of those Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia teams? Probably not but there’s nobody out there nearly as good as those teams this year. Part of what’s making this year so great is knowing we can go toe to toe with anyone. That, by itself has far exceeded my expectations for the season.
**** i woulda been cool with 10 wins and a conference championship game appearance if you asked me before the year. Now, it’s playoffs or bust.
