dailyloe.com – ESPN host Paul Finebaum dismissed the relevance of the Miami Hurricanes college football program on his radio show. He made the comment in response to a caller who had been promoting the team. Finebaum stated the Hurricanes have not been relevant since their last national title. That title was won in 2001.
This claim contrasts sharply with Miami’s recent on-field performance. The Hurricanes reached the national championship game in the 2025 season. They finished that season with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses. The team earned a College Football Playoff berth despite not winning its conference championship.
Miami’s playoff run included victories over Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss. They ultimately fell to the Indiana Hoosiers in the title game. The final score of that championship was 27-21. This deep postseason run followed a strong 2024 season where the team went 10-3.
Finebaum’s remark came during an episode of ‘The Paul Finebaum Show’. He directly addressed the longtime Miami supporter on air. ‘He’s been promoting them for the last 25 years,’ Finebaum said. ‘Since the last time they were relevant.’
The program’s history includes five total national championships. Only two of its double-digit win seasons have occurred in the last two decades. Both of those recent successful seasons happened in 2024 and 2025. The 2024 season was marred by a late loss to Syracuse.
Modern college football relevance is defined by several key factors. These include access to resources and recent competitive results. Miami possesses a strong NIL infrastructure for player compensation. The school also has access to a talent-rich Florida recruiting territory.
The university maintains a recognizable national brand from its past success. Conference alignment also provides a structural advantage for the Hurricanes. They compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This league offers a clearer playoff path compared to deeper conferences.
Programs do not reach the national championship game by accident. This is especially true in the expanded College Football Playoff era. Miami’s performance places them firmly in the national conversation. Their resources and results contradict the assertion of irrelevance.[]
Source: Sports Illustrated
