Two games.
Two emphatic wins.
And now a place in the top five.
Miami are the No. 5 team in the country
Miami have climbed from No. 7 to No. 5 in the latest AP Top 25 following Thursday night’s 77-7 demolition of Florida A&M.
The Hurricanes benefited from a chaotic Saturday elsewhere in college football, but there is nothing accidental about Miami’s own rise.
Mario Cristobal’s team have done exactly what has been asked of them.
Miami opened the season by travelling across the country and beating Stanford 45-6 before returning home and putting 77 points on FAMU.
That leaves the Hurricanes 2-0 with a combined scoring margin of 122-13.
Texas are the new No. 1, with Georgia, Notre Dame and Indiana sitting immediately ahead of Miami.
Miami are also comfortably the ACC’s highest-ranked team.
It is only September, so the number beside Miami’s name does not mean much yet.
But there is something satisfying about seeing that No. 5.
Especially when it feels deserved.
Miami’s offence is forcing its way into the national conversation
The ranking is not simply a reward for winning two games.
It reflects how Miami have won them.
Thursday’s 77-7 victory produced a school-record 856 yards of total offence, including 430 rushing yards and 426 through the air.
That came after Darian Mensah threw for 401 yards and five touchdowns against Stanford.
Through two games, Mensah has completed 41 of 45 passes for 653 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions.
Malachi Toney has 330 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Mark Fletcher Jr. bounced back from a quiet opener with 105 rushing yards against FAMU, while freshman Javian Mallory added 142.
Miami have already demonstrated they can win through the air.
Now they have shown they can dominate on the ground too.
That matters now, because the level of opposition is about to increase.
An unbeaten Wake Forest waits on Friday
Wake Forest survived Purdue 38-36 in double overtime, which means Friday night’s meeting in Winston-Salem will feature two unbeaten ACC teams.
Wake are 2-0.
Miami are 2-0.
Gio Lopez gives the Hurricanes their most interesting quarterback challenge of the season so far.
Lopez threw for 225 yards at Purdue and added 59 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including the touchdown and two-point conversion that eventually won the game.
Miami’s defence has not allowed an offensive touchdown this season.
That statistic will be tested properly on Friday.
The Hurricanes are already significant favourites, but this feels like a useful next step.
Stanford were brushed aside.
FAMU were completely overwhelmed.
Now Miami go back on the road against an unbeaten conference opponent playing under the Friday night lights.
The Last Word from Across the Pond
Seeing Miami at No. 5 feels good, but the best part is how quickly it has happened without the Hurricanes needing to chase rankings.
Cristobal’s team have simply taken care of what is in front of them.
Stanford were beaten by 39.
FAMU were beaten by 70.
Mensah has eight touchdowns without an interception, Toney has been electric and the defence has yet to concede an offensive touchdown.
Now comes another step.
Wake Forest are unbeaten, Gio Lopez is playing well and Friday night brings Miami back onto the road in the ACC.
The No. 5 ranking is recognition of what the Canes have done.
Keeping it, and eventually improving it, starts in Winston-Salem.
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