The ACC, which includes Miami, is bracing for change. Hot topics will headline media days
It’s the final year of the Atlantic Coast Conference as we know it. And beginning Wednesday, when the two-day ACC Football Kickoff convenes at the Westin Charlotte in North Carolina, the changes for 2022 — and beyond — will be dissected from all angles.
The ACC Football Kickoff, another name for the league’s media days, includes the Atlantic Division team players and coaches Wednesday, with the Miami Hurricanes’ Coastal Division featured Thursday.
Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, defensive end Jahfari Harvey and tight end Will Mallory will represent Miami along with new UM coach Mario Cristobal, making his ACC debut as the main man.
We expect Van Dyke, who for the second time in as many days Tuesday was named a preseason candidate for a major award (Davey O’Brien), to be popular. Cristobal, who has already done wonders in the recruiting world, will obviously draw a significant crowd.
Expected topics that affect the Hurricanes:
Conference realignment
In the wake of Oklahoma and Texas announcing last year that they will be joining the Southeastern Conference, followed by the recent news that Southern Cal and UCLA will leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, all eyes are on everyone else in the Power 5 — including Miami. Could the Hurricanes eventually join forces with Florida State and Clemson, the three teams projected nationwide as possibilities for bolting? What about North Carolina? ACC commissioner Jim Phillips will address the media Wednesday.
Bye-bye ACC divisions
Last month, the ACC announced a new football scheduling model that will go into effect beginning with the 2023 season. The new model is based on a structure that has each of the ACC’s 14 teams facing three “primary opponents” annually and the other 10 league teams twice — once home and once away — during a four-year cycle. UM’s primary opponents are Florida State, Boston College and Louisville, all currently in the Atlantic Division. We think Virginia Tech would have been a natural.
Name, Image, Likeness
The Name, Image and Likeness phenomenon got off to a roaring start a year ago, and has only accelerated since. Miami is a major player (Hello, John Ruiz) in the NIL realm. All three of the Canes attending the ACC Kickoff have NIL deals. And let’s not forget that the NCAA visited the UM campus in June to gather information about NIL as it pertains to the Hurricanes. We have no indication that the Canes are in trouble, but it’s a topic we’re following closely.
Recruiting
Could recruiting get any better for Cristobal? Well, yes.
At least five prominent high school players are scheduled to announce their commitments this week, including three this weekend, for the Class of 2023. The majority are expected to pick UM. Heading into the week, the Hurricanes ranked ninth nationally in the 247Sports composite, quite an amazing leap considering UM was ranked just outside the top 50 going into signing day in February. The Canes could end up among the top five classes by next week. What does Cristobal have to say about his expected bounty?
Van Dyke and teammates
Van Dyke is the name to know among this year’s Hurricanes, although the other quarterbacks — including backup Jake Garcia and recent high school graduate Jacurri Brown — are also heralded. Harvey is expected to be a force on defense, and Mallory, returning from a shoulder injury, could have a breakout season. What does each have to say about this new era at the U?
Davey O’Brien Award
A day after being nominated for the Maxwell Award that goes to the top player in college football, Van Dyke was named to the preseason watch list for the Davey Brien Award that goes to the nation’s top quarterback at season’s end. Van Dyke is one of several prominent quarterbacks in the ACC. Van Dyke, the 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year, is included in Heisman discussions for 2022. How much does he notice? And how much is the Heisman in his thoughts or goals?
This story was originally published July 19, 2022 at 10:06 AM.
